What sort of service/refurbishment is usually required for these things, the usual? Anything special?
I don't think that the bearing requires lubricating. There are basically no after market modifications, because they were built way beyond common expectations from the blueprint stage.
Let's not fall into the trap of thinking that the 750 = 2000 models either. The 750 was what it was. The only options that could be used with it were the arm lifter the record weight the vacuum platter and the like. The stock GT 2000 was designed for a 40 pound platter (the gunmetal one). The stock platter on the GT 2000 (the 14 pound one) was massively underweighted for what the bearing was
designed to cope with. The 750 was designed for its 7 pound platter. GT 2000 designed for 40 pound platter. GT 2000 was designed for outboard power supply, the one mentioned in the link that davidro posted. The designer in that link discusses the braking function that he designed. That braking function is only available to the GT 2000 when it is utilising the outboard power supply. The power supply also boosts the sound quality of the GT 2000. The boost to the sound quality is the number one reason why any GT 2000 owner should move heaven and earth to get the optional power supply. That option is unavailable to the 750, because the 750 was not designed to utilise it at all. No boost means 750 does not equal 2000.
The stock 2000 was like a supercar which was intended to be further enhanced with performance enhancing add ons that could be purchased from the factory at a later date. The 750 was like a very good car that could be further enhanced with better seats and a better sound system. The turntable that built the GT legend was the 2000 ( the even better 2000x came a few years later). The GT 750 was built down to a price to tag along on its big brother's coattails. The 750 inherited the GT name but none of the performance enhancements. The motor was a shadow of the 2000. The platter was not anywhere like as well made. The bearing wasn't designed to support a 40 pound platter.
Unlike the Technics 1200 models, one is unlikely to find any concerning bearing wear in a 2000, because 99% of them were bought with the 14 pound platter on a bearing designed to carry a 40 pound platter. That means that the bearing, and motor were massively understressed. This diminishes the requirement for servicing.
Where you see the figures quoted for the moment of inertia at 1.2 tonnes per centimeter squared, that is with the 14 pound stock platter. It is a shame that they never quoted that measurement with the 40 pound platter. Since the motor was designed for it, the figure must have been phenomenal.
All in all the GT 2000 is a stone cold bargain at the prices it sells for in Japan ( between $900US to about $1400US). If anybody doubts that the 40 pound gunmetal platter has any effect upon the performance/sound quality of the turntable, they should reflect upon the fact that
the gunmetal platter alone without the rest of the turntable usually commands prices of $2500US
or higher in Japan. If it gave little or no improvement to the performance, why does it fetch
more than twice the price of the turntable itself? Surely 30 years after the turntable was introduced there would be plenty of evidence that the gunmetal platter was not worth buying, or offered little in the way of improvement? The opposite would appear to be happening. It would seem that the improvement offered by the 40 pound gunmetal platter was worth having even if one had to pay a fortune for it. The platter usually lists for about an hour before it is bought at those prices. Such is the insatiable demand for it in Japan.
This is why the GT 2000 is held in such high regard in Japan. As stock it is extraordinary. With the added enhancements it must be amazing. Both myself and Arkay have a version of the outboard power supply. Without using it one would wonder why there was any necessity for it. There is nothing to criticize about the sound. After connecting the power supply, you KNOW that it will never be unconnected again. Aspects of the 2000's sound that you would never imagine would benefit, take a leap beyond the already unimpeachable quality of the stock turntable's massive virtues.
Can you see now why this turntable was a huge success on the Japanese market? Even those who bought the stock TT would have been hearing the buzz from guys who had then bought the power supply, the gunmetal platter and probably the cradle, and would have been swayed by the reports of crazy good performance from the improvements. I have spent lots of dough isolating my 2000 on 14 Clearaudio Magix mag-lev footers and I can vouch that its performance jumps when the plinth is given first class isolation. How much more must be in store with the gunmetal platter? I live with one and use
just one of its add on features. I have no desire to try any other turntable.
I would like to experiment with replinthing the motor, this would facilitate utilising other length arms and I feel further improve the sound quality. I will eventually buy another GT 2000 in order to do this.
The value of the GT 2000 primarily lies in its motor, the ability to boost the performance with the 40 pound platter plus the electronics which enable it to use the outboard power supply. There are many ways that it can be isolated (to extremely good effect), so I don't regard the ultra rare cradle to be a necessity.
I was looking on the k-nisi site, and it says that the weight of the
stock GT 2000 with the cradle was 60Kg. That is 132 pounds. If you add the gunmetal platter you can make that 158 pounds. Let's see you lift that!!
:tears:
