I went on an AR turntable 'bender' a while back. Several popped up on eBay for (what I thought) were good prices so I snagged them for future restoration/modification projects...should I ever get caught up.
I got a JVC jl-b44 in December for 211.00 shipped, got the stock head shell and a Stanton 680ee cart. Did a minor service. 320 all in. I don't feel your pain cause I never had a AR. I was tempted. Good luck anyway.
That's a sweet looking JVC. I'd love to get my hands on one of the nicer (near TOTL) JVC turntables. All I've come across so far are the entry level 'cheap' tables.
Last year was 200.00 budget each, 24lb turntables. Got a QL A7 and a DP1200 also. People are just scared of them. I like the ARs but to much money in the end
Transport bolts don't lower the carriage, they raise it. Yours was already released and all you did was remove it. In other words... to prepare for transport you tighten the screw which snugs the carriage up to the motor board. At least that's how all the ones I've seen work. I don't have an XB and my XA does not use transport bolts. Also, Aren't the AR cabinets finished wood? You're appears to be finished with vinyl covering; at least that's what I see at the corners where it's pealing back.
AR XAs are wood veneer...XBs are vinyl. I still have two XAs and and XB in the queue if I can ever get caught up. I did replace my Pioneer PL 630 with the AR XB and absolutely LOVE the table. It may just be the simplicity, but I don't see it moving down the road anytime soon. I may mod one of the XAs with a Technics tonearm (at least that is the plan). Maybe this summer I'll get around to it :)
