Buying a used Technics SL-1200 - Tonearm Issues

In this video we check out the tonearm on the Technics 1200. If it’s bad and needs replacement, you might still buy the turntable, but know that you’ll need to factor in the cost of the tonearm replacement.

[@gabrielvalenzuela40]

Probably damaged it worse slamming the tonearm back and forth like that

[@DJFixNYC]

come on by the shop and we can show you why we are not slamming the tonearm back and forth.

[@thesiamface]

@@DJFixNYC great test! Im checking out some 1200, and watching reviews, this kind of info really helps rookies like me, I saw a test in which the tonearm goes to the center of the plate when the anti-skate is at '0' point, why it didn't happen in this case? thanks in advance!

[@manukkee]

@@thesiamface Your turntable has to be levelled at 0 first, with the bubble level. When the tonearm is at 0 gr weight and 0 antiskate, it should stay still if the turntable is levelled. Sometimes with 0 grams and 0 antiskate, it can move to the right, but this is usually not a problem, but the antiskate spring needs to be calibrated. I would be more worried if the tonearm does not move at all or it is loose in the bearings. I had quite a few MINT sl 1200's with the tonearm moving towards the right with 0 grams and 0 antiskate, but never encountered one that moves towards to the center., but it could be that the antiskate spring is not sitting in the right position, so you would need to open the turntable and look under the tonearm for that spring, there is a video on youtube on how to calibrate the antiskate spring. Still if the tonearm is strongly pulled to left or right, it could have damaged bearings...:(.

[@marcelomandiola2530]

Gabriel valenzuela , TIENES problema con la technics ?

[@pstentertnmt]

Yeah, I'll just smack my tonearm around to see if it has issues, said no one ever.

[@DJFixNYC]

🧀⚾️

[@wreignone]

2004 new years eve. Will never forget it! So i was asked to dj at a huge party.. Hired 2x technics decks off someone i thought i could trust. The ahole gave me not 1, but 2 broken decks! With this exact issue, our new years ended up being a chillout session listening to records on a pair of stantons. I was so pissed.

[@ko5mask]

helped me a lot as always ! thank u very much cheers

[@kidsonicofficial]

ah crap. Another expense lol. I'm gonna have to get a grant or a loan now.

[@yorkemar]

Er... that damages arm. In doing that you can break things. Only way to test antiskate is to do it with stylus, cart and headshell on the end of a record or something.

[@DJFixNYC]

If you are ever in town, stop by the shop and we'd be happy to demonstrate why the method you suggested is not the recommended way to test tone arms.

[@RefactoringRyan]

Going to look at my first used set soon, thanks for the valuable information.

[@Eyeballpaul84]

You get?

[@djc3949]

Hey nice video, got a big problem with my 1200's , one of my Tone arms feel heavier than the other, I have the same needles and cartridges, but 1 feels heavier. Any idea ? Thanks

[@DJFixNYC]

usually the first thing we look at are the bearings in the arm. If they are seized up in any way, you can see issues like the one you have described.

[@thebourgyman]

Thank you so much for the video! I have an SL-1200mk2 that had what seemed a broken tonearm, as it could barely play records without skipping (it would constantly spring back to rest position whatever I would do in terms of calibrating/anti-skating). Checking the bearings is something that never came to mind as I assumed they were broken/missing. Turns out they were intact, and that the arm was simply loose/misadjusted! After recalibrating everything, the SL-1200 works like new. You saved me a new tonearm!

[@zzforshort]

Hey, thanks for this video. I was wondering about this as my tonearm does not seem overly stable ... and was confirmed recently to have issues w/ the bearings. While it's not quite as bad as the one in your video, the pivot/pin (whatever it's called) is definitely a bit wobbly and I don't think passes the test you performed. So... what to do? If it's not repairable, what are the best options?

[@jedi-mic]

What size ball bearings are they? where's the best place to buy bearings sapphire preferably

[@petergreen8400]

upgrade to roller ball bearings I do it all the time easy fix

[@masomenos66]

Which roller bearings do you use?

[@WestCoastDP]

OK, tells us which bearings you use.

[@taiwanluthiers]

For the second turntable, I have a 1200 with similar issue, bearing is dented, and if you swing the tonearm it snaps into the middle with quite a bit of force. The fix is rip the bearing out, use a reamer to ream that hole to exactly 5mm, taking care not to go too deep. Then press in a MR52ZZ bearing in its place. This will save the tonearm, and it will function correctly. MR52ZZ bearing costs about 20 cents each, and the reamer is going to vary depending on where you get it. But DO NOT use a drill bit. Use a reamer. You can make quite a bit of money doing this fix to turntables with this issue because the bearing it comes with is very nonstandard, and is made of some really soft material that is easily dented. MR52ZZ bearings, even the cheapest Chinese ones, are made of hardened steel and ground to a very tight tolerance. They will likely last far longer than the turntable.

[@djblack7079]

All you have to do is tighten up all three sides if that don't work then you need a one

[@rokagrooveradio8429]

Hi mate, my problem on my 1210 mk2 is you can twist the arm asin it must be the screw underneath the tonearm but how do i get to it, do i need to take the whole tonearm out from underneath? any help much appreciated thanks

[@Robertocamero785]

Hi, I had a similar issue. I put my turntable on its side with the tonearm at the top end. You can't get at it with a screwdriver so I used a phillips bit to finger tighten the small screw. Not ideal but it fixed my problem.

[@Davehiphop]

Hi, all please can I get some advice. The tone arm one my left deck seems to be lower and at a slight angle when not in use. Its not the black lifter (my technical term) as it does not rest on this. It is just sitting in the Black tone arm lock mechanism. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

[@frunkfrankly]

Sounds like you need to use the height adjustment. It's the large slightly "grippy" ring that encircles the entire tonearm base. On the right side of the tonearm base there is a small lever that says "lock", you need to slide that into the unlocked position so that you can freely turn the large height adjustment ring. You'll see the entire base move up, or down, as you adjust the ring accordingly. When you've got things perpendicular slide the lock lever back into its locked position.

[@thiskingbusiness]

yeah dont do this with your tonearms

[@StephenSpivack]

If one needs to replace just the tonearm tube - and not the base / the rest of the tone arm - what would you recommend? Does the entire assembly need to be replaced?

[@DJFixNYC]

It is possible to just replace the tube and not the base.

[@petergreen8400]

easy repair

[@djc3949]

Easy how ?

[@Hi-Tech-Ray]

@1:55 As myself who works on 1200s as a passion and hobby, I have found another cause to this problem in addition to the Tonearm taking a hit! As per the instructions to the Shure's M444 cartridge there is something which misleads 1200 users (especially Scratch DJs) to do more damage to that bearing. Shure states in regards to absolute 0 anti-skate to loosen the outer ring and to make the pin tighter! Users should be aware not to follow those instructions to avoid this damage! Technics 1200s are the best out there, people should treat them that way!

[@DJFixNYC]

We are neither familiar with the M444 cartridge (did you mean M44-7?), nor any instructions from Shure regarding making any adjustments to the outer ring or "pin." But in any case, you are correct in avoiding making any adjustments to those two areas.

[@Hi-Tech-Ray]

I meant M44-7, sorry for the typo. at this time I cannot find my copy of that documentation... However I can not find that copy online.. I do remember seeing mention of it BUT I will bet Shure eliminated it from their documents since numbers of DJs kept ruining their bearings to cover themselves! One day if I should find it (of course it will be when I don't need it) I will be more than happy to share a copy with you!

[@reesescalante3802]

It is true to just tighten the gimbal bearing pin can pop the bearing on the seat as well do damage to the lower bearing. I have been repairing sl1200's over 40 years and have all the specialized tools to rebuild replace or exchange parts on the arm it takes time to reset all gimbal mounts and when I remove all parts it is No easy way to reset the arm it takes time and you have run test to make sure that tracking is set also the anti-skate must be set as well all this leads up to a complete rebuild so the arm is like New. I have done many tables and I know of many dj that still use there tables to this day. I still have 4 first generation units and over 12 others that are all working! Take care of your tables and the will last forever. As a note no matter how bad a table maybe it can be brought back to life! I've see many a dj that thought the table was non repairable but Yes it can be fixed. Good luck and keep those tables going!!

[@aortiz1105]

@@reesescalante3802 my tone arm wants to go away from center towards the testing point. Do I need try do something to fix it.