SF_Mark
New Member
This weekend I finished (for now) a 4 month project of finishing rebuilding a TD 124 Mk1 table that was in pretty bad shape. I started a couple of years ago, but life got in the way. Started again in the new year. Hours of research on the web, lots of good advice and in particular help from AK and VE members. Huge shoutout to AK member adnick in Texas who saved the vintage ESL tonearm and provided excellent guidance through a lot of the project.
2 years ago I had oiled the main parts and replaced the belt and idler wheel, but that didn't help much so I put the project on hold.
The tonearm was a mess.
Fast forward past the motor rebuild, bushing replacement, cleaning and oiling, and lots of electronics rework, the new matte rosewood plinth came from Moldova. This thing is a beast. Table fits perfectly, almost too perfect with little options for cable and power routing so I decided to do some work and make a RCA port on the back side.
Apparently the original owner didn't place the tonearm correctly so with the fixed ESL headshell, there was almost no overhang (thanks for catching that adnick). Much research, measurements, and some math, more measurements and fit-ups and I finally (gulp) drilled the hole in the new armboard.
Shown here during the first run up and tuning with a carbon fiber headshell. This old ESL uses an EMT pin configuration which makes them next to impossible to find. I have another aluminum version on order that will be paired with a Pickering XV-15 cart.
The finished (nearly) product with the original ESL headshell and Shure Cart
The RCA connectors mounted on ebony wood in a recess I routed/chiseled out. Yes, that's the original power cord and yes, I will upgrade it later. I just wanted to play this beauty.
The rubber mat was brittle and in bad shape so I thought I'd try a high end acrylic mat. So far, I like the sound of it with both cart setups.
And with the carbon fiber headshell.
Thanks again to everyone who answered questions, and posted their experiences on this forum.
2 years ago I had oiled the main parts and replaced the belt and idler wheel, but that didn't help much so I put the project on hold.
The tonearm was a mess.
Fast forward past the motor rebuild, bushing replacement, cleaning and oiling, and lots of electronics rework, the new matte rosewood plinth came from Moldova. This thing is a beast. Table fits perfectly, almost too perfect with little options for cable and power routing so I decided to do some work and make a RCA port on the back side.
Apparently the original owner didn't place the tonearm correctly so with the fixed ESL headshell, there was almost no overhang (thanks for catching that adnick). Much research, measurements, and some math, more measurements and fit-ups and I finally (gulp) drilled the hole in the new armboard.
Shown here during the first run up and tuning with a carbon fiber headshell. This old ESL uses an EMT pin configuration which makes them next to impossible to find. I have another aluminum version on order that will be paired with a Pickering XV-15 cart.
The finished (nearly) product with the original ESL headshell and Shure Cart
The RCA connectors mounted on ebony wood in a recess I routed/chiseled out. Yes, that's the original power cord and yes, I will upgrade it later. I just wanted to play this beauty.
The rubber mat was brittle and in bad shape so I thought I'd try a high end acrylic mat. So far, I like the sound of it with both cart setups.
And with the carbon fiber headshell.
Thanks again to everyone who answered questions, and posted their experiences on this forum.
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