Five Sensational Turntable "Hacks". 

My albums & turntables have been stored in a hot garage for 23 years. I just broke them out and they have suffered very little. I'm very lucky & grateful!

Great video, thanks.

nice one

Removing that stylus guard would reduce the cartridge weight a bit, and remove a potential source of unwanted vibration.

In mijn taal, zegt men "Hakken". :-)

I know about using magic erasure on the stylus to clean it. interesting.

I've done a few dust covers with an automotive headlight restoration kit. Other that deep gouges and cracks, they turned out like new.

My hacks are something I learned when I was selling stereo equipment in the late '80s - early '90s. Make sure the platter is level before beginning to make any adjustments to the tonearm tracking force or anti-skate, and make sure the surface you place the turntable on is stable, solid and away from speakers or other potential sources of vibrations. To level the plinth use a bubble level on the platter near the spindle, then add paper or cardboard as shims under the feet, as needed, until the bubble is centered. Make sure you do this without the dust cover, or else its weight in the open position may throw off the measurements.

Lead is a known neurotoxin. If you adjust the counterweight more than once per month, I advise you to cover it in electrical tape.

Great ideas, especially converting the hinges, I liked that one the best. I have that Technics turntable and I'm glad I don't have to part with it. Thanks for the help.

Turntable isolation hack: Semi-inflated small bicycle (or pram) tube under a heavy slab of timber, with your turntable on top of that. Work a treat!

The Anti Skate Hank is just wrong. Anti Skate must be done in the groves of a record not a blank track. Get a test record from Hi Fi News. It has test tracks for Bias Setting(Anti Skate)-300Hz tone L+ R at 12dB next track same 14dB next track 16dB and up +18dB. Using this you should hear an even signal from both channels simultaneously. if there is hint of instability(distorted or buzzing sound) on channel or the other then adjust the bias(Anti Skate) as needed. This is how bias(Anti Skate) should be set.

Thanks for the tips. The blu-tac was one I had not seen before. Keep making the great work!

Awesome. Here's another hack... on stylus, a bit of alcohol with distilled water mix, in a small bottle. Dip stylus brush in solution, shake off, and brush styli. Check in a high powered micro-scope for end results. Re-brush with zero-state solution. Amazing results.

Ammonia based window cleaners will damage the plastic. I have found cleaning old dust covers with warm water and a mild dish soap then applying a product called PlastX it’s found in any auto parts store it’s used to restore headlights.

"Skating", the force created by drag on the inner side of the stylus causing it to ride up the inner groove wall. Placing a stylus on a blank surface does not emulated the skating force needed to set anti-skating most accurately. I use the "Audio Symphony: Check Up Your Sounds Vol. 1" RCA Japan RVL-1. And for stylus cleaning get some AT-607. Looks like a finger nail polish bottle and includes the cap/ brush even. Your stylus and cantilever will shine and it does not damage the elastomer. I have a USB "microscope" attached to my plinth right by the stylus resting spot. I can see a magnified image of the stylus before every play.

Acrylic polishing paste can work great on these lids to get that glossy shine back. I only used it partially on ms SL-1210 for an inside scratch caused by the retractable light before I got hinged for the cover. Use fine sandpaper to smoothen out deeper scratches and the apply the acrylic polish over it. It will be shiny again within a few minutes and at least will greatly reduce the visibility of the scratched area.

Love the lead tape idea.

I like that electronic scale! Couterbalance are not always precise i think Thanx 4 video

A secret tip regarding Shure V15 type 3,4 and 5 if you buy a stylus from Jico in Japan, you can easily set the VTF to 1.5 gr without it damaging the cantilever and the suspension. I love those cartridges. I also think you should try different headshells it actually does a part on the sound reproduction one of my hifi friends tries different types of headshells for each cartridge he buys.

I use a 12" Laser Disc for checking anti-skate.

Blue Tack is excellent for cleaning the stylus as you mentioned, however it’s best to build a small pedestal with the Blue Tack on top to use next to the platter rather than putting the Blue Tack directly on the platter

The easy way for the lid to look a lot better is to use Pledge to buff the lid. Apply it on the lid every few weeks to keep it looking almost like new if it was only lightly scratched to begin with. Also the tube where the counterweight screws in and out is sometimes hollow giving you another stealth way to make it heavier at the end of the tonearm without getting close to the lid.

If the blue tack is too ... tacky for you, of course the best is the Onzow which is designed specially for stylus. But it can be pricey (I saw $80 in some places... $40 in others). Now, I haven't tried it but on some audiophile forums I saw people recommending Resonance Gel pads (that are used for drums. Seems to work like the Onzow and you can get a 6 pads for about $7. Now, the neat trick to go along with: want a case for your gel stylus cleaning pad? head over to the dollar store and grab a pack of the Listerine-like strips, empty the little case and the gel pad will fit right in. So it stays clean when you don't use it and it makes it much more convenient to use.

I use a blank side record to set my anti skate but for some reason there are people who think this does not give an accurate setting. I never understand why they think this as it does, in my opinion, perfectly illustrate the purpose of anti skate in action.

I have just ordered lead tape as in hack # 2 . I got a Dual 506 2nd hand and I replaced the head shell so I could use a 1/2 standard cartridge , to balance the tone arm I added some nuts for weight and taped them on with black tape , but I like your lead tape idea better , I think it will be a winner !

I have dune the exact thing to two of my turntables adding extra weight to the counterbalance and it works well

If you buy some Mothers scratch remover from an auto parts store and use a drill with a polish wheel Velcro attachment you can remove a good majority of your surface level scratches. I have had success with Turtle Wax head light renewal as well but by hand it takes about an hour to buff a dust cover.

In addition to adjusting the balance pressure level with the counter weight you can also set the cartridge back further in the head, ( I noticed it was kinda in the middle). Also, I was picking up some speaker stands from a local audiophile the other day and he had a technics sl1300 and sl1350 that he had acquired with no dust covers, but he told me he found a website that sold new clear dust covers for around $40 each, of course I didn't bother to ask him what website.

i used Novus number 2 scratch remover for my lids, Heavier scratches the recommend #3 Heavy scratch remover...

You probably could have found an auxiliary weight online somewhere. Most of these 70s and early 80s direct drive turntables came with little auxiliary weights that you would slot or screw onto the back of the tonearm, to compensate for heavier cartridges and head shells.

All (I’m pretty sure) Technics counterweights have interchangeable threading but don’t weigh the same, so when I had the same problem as you I replaced the weight with a heavier one. I like your solution, though. The Technics auxiliary screw-in weight that is available also makes it impossible to close the cover.

the force from a groove is actually slightly different than a grooveless surface, but it's a start anyway...

Dave, now I'm curious to see your record cleaning hacks.. ;-)

Adding additional weight to a tonearm counterweight, increases the effective mass of the arm. Care must be taken, if a medium to high compliance cartridge is going to be used.

I use a mini level on the flat surfaces near the platter and almost always need to adjust the feet or shim them after relocating the turn table.

There is a product that drummers use call moongel damping pads or resonance pads. They are sticky just like the Oznow zero dust stylus cleaning pads that cost $40 but the moongel's are only $7.00 for a pack of 6.

Enjoy your videos, What do you do with severely damaged speaker corners. What do you clean nasty circuit boards, I want to hose them down with a fire hose . Can you recommend any books on vintage receivers repair? Thanks for your videos, they are great. Jim W. Living on Tulsa Time

Hack 2, use a lighter Headshell, that crap cheapo Headshell you are using weighs 10 grams use a 7 gram Headshell instead and leave the counterweight alone

why on earth would you check the downforce before balancing the arm ?

To clean stylus I drop needle into a magic eraser

I love my SL-D2. I'm looking to swap it out for an SL-D3, because I like fully automatic turntables.

Thanks

You really need to have the pivot point of the arm at records surface level that would have reduced the amount of weight as well could go forward and less overhang as much as possible you can use a big thick bolt with a nut superglued and some Cotton bit of blu tack stop it moving and hang it. You want to bend the the headshell between 5 - 7 degrees and a 10-mm spacer of balsa wood between headshell and cartridge so can get the rake angle back. Reducers in a Groove distortion pitch stability is better jitter on the record is better. Can try it with a slight wedge of bolster Wood cut to the angle as well if you don't fancy bending or have got a fixed headshell.

Toothpaste might also work on dust covers. I've used it to polish scratches out of watch crystals.

Technics make the best decks

Love the video BUT white polishing compound isn't wax. You have to bear down with it while you polish then buff to a shine. If you don't it will leave a haze.

Generally good tips with little fault in them. Curious, what Anti Skate setting did you need on your SL D2 for the Shure test track and what VTF setting did you use during it?

I use Moon Gel instead of bluetack.

For cleaning the stylus I use a small block of Styrofoam..... gently lowering The Stylist on to several times.

He's trying to hack his foot off

I actually put blu+tac on a quarter and clean stylus every other side .

The antiskate needs to be set higher, as the groves will accelerate the arm inwards over and above the setting you have from the ungroved track on the record - try an extra .75g-1g The best way to check is using the azimuth alignment track on the record and measure the signal levels so they match _+less than 0.5db or better hopefully you should be able to get it within 0.1db.

Here's a suggestion. Show us how to clean records using wood glue.

Bruh. That dad joke intro 🙄😝

Nice ideas. Does this get toxic lead on your fingers?

The Shure V15 III is not designed to be used in that quality of turntable, it is designed for very low mass arms eg: SME series III, Linn etc. Using in that turntable will put undue stress on the stylus. Better have a quality cartridge that is designed for that type of arm.

Excellent video. :) Thanks. My 45 year old turntable does not have VTA adjustment. this might be responsible for the syblance I suffer on some records. Anything I can do about this? Another Question: I noticed you removed the rubber platter before checking the stylus force weight. Was this necessary?

I don't think that shure cartridge is an upgrade bro I did like you tip for Setting the anti skate I do have a test record I need to check that out

You can just get a wight that is made for the techincs tone arm for like $10

Hi, can You plase share the Ebay link to Buy the hinge replacement for a technics turn table. Thanks

Q: Why did you go backwards???? Shocked. Most people chuck the Shure for the new and improved Ortofon red, blue, bronze and black. I love Shure. Only thing I use. Just shocked.

just float the cart and adjust anti-skate accordingly

Wonder if a headlight cleaning kit wouldnt work on a dust cover.

It bothers me that you often show a turntable on top of a receiver. Back in the day that was discouraged. It keeps the heat trapped in the receiver and adds unnecessary heat to the turntable.

0:21 Dude you came within a couple inches of slicing into your right calf!

I have to disagree with your method of anti-skate checking. First, setting the anti-skate so the stylus does not move when placed on a smooth surface such as the Shure test record proved to be incorrect. It would be fine if you want the very tip of the stylus to have correct anti-skate pressure. How ever, that only applies to contact with the very tip and not the sides of the stylus that actually touches the record. Under normal operation where the sides of the stylus touch the groove walls, the actual pressure should be a slight inward force if you measured on the smooth surface. Infact, after I about my VPI Scout 2, and after talking to VPI, I found that this tone arm actually needs NO anti-skate correction at all. They proved it if you must use it, but do not recommend using it. So I don't. And the way this tone arm with my Ortofon Quintet Black with shibata stylus plays records is outstanding. If you must use anti-skating, I suggest using the track on the newer generation Shure test record on the test bands with a segment from Brazil 66 called "Mas Que Nada". It is a test of both sibilance tracking and anti-skate balance. A very hard recording to track correctly. Good luck with your records. They are great fun to just watch as they play.

STOP SAYING "SO"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dont be so greedy with commercials

What a crap all that stuff about inferior vinyl media, no matter what your do it always will sound crap, turntable and vinyl is inferior to digital