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Thorens TD-165 value

klamsoss

klamsoss

Be willing to fail and try again.
I'm trying to figure out what a reasonable price is for a Thorens TD-165. The unit in question has a QLM 30 cartridge with unknown hours. Original tonearm. The unit works, and plays.

The wood base has some chips and is dirty, as is the top, metal platform which also has a few scrapes and minor dents(I understand the metal top on the TD-165 is prone to showing scrapes and other cosmetic imperfections). The dust cover is functional but does have minor damage to one of the hinge points. Someone two-sided taped a stylus brush to the metal on top, and there is a little brush attached to the headshell, as was popular for some in the 70s and 80s.

I know the 160s are excellent and can fetch a lot of $$ but I'm not really very familiar at all with the 165 so I have no real gauge for price. What can you good people contribute to my understanding?
 
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I got so many helpful responses here! Really makes the dollars and sense portion of this forum valuable.
:dunno:

Eventually I made the purchase for 200 bucks. The table needs a new belt, feet, the dust cover is cracked at the hinges, so that needs to be fixed, and I am thinking it will also need some motor work because the speed is weak and variable. The cartridge is also damaged at one of the mounting points but that's not a big loss because it isn't a particularly nice cart anyway.

Just figured I would leave a reference point for folks in the future.
 
Thanks for that!

For future reference, you can get a general idea of value by going to ebay sold or HiFiShark sold. But condition is always a big factor. I think you did alright!

I had one in really good condition I sold for $350 a couple of years ago. It was initially a trade for some speakers I had, and I fixed it back up.
 
Hey Bilbo, thanks for the reply.
I checked hifishark before buying. It's often hard to find recent enough data there to feel confident, and descriptions can be... vague.

I paid probably 30 bucks too much. This thing needs a belt, feet, the reinforcements for the hinges, possibly new suspension springs, and a new cart.
It's not quite a basket case but it's not a player, either. If I wasn't a diy person it would have been a very bad buy. Probably $250+ to have it fixed up at a shop. But since I'll do the labor myself, it's an okay, but not good buy, for me.
 
It's a good thing you are handy then. Its not unusual to find one of these like that. As long as the plinth is in good shape, the shaft is straight, and both the inner and outer platters are decent, and the dust cover can be reinforced, you will be fine. If I remember correctly the outer platter is metal and the inner is something else? Is yours the one where you can swap partial arm/headshell?
 
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