Pro-ject Essential: Service & Cartridge Installation

We will service this entry-level turntable from Pro-ject and install an Audio-Technica AT-VM95E cartridge on it.

[@PoppinWheeliez]

A lot of times when working on turntables I find goodies and missing pieces inside the plinth. To date, the best find was an original v15 with 2 original styli in packages. You never know what you can find inside the plinth. It's definitely a benefit to working on Dual 12 series tables. Dr.Casette describes how windex is better for cleaning belts because it does not dry out the rubber on rollers and belts. I used to use IPA on belts, but now use windex and it does a fine job. I always boil them first. 5 mins. I work on tables daily and I love p-mounts and never understood why people poo poo them. I just picked up a SL-QX200 with a pmounted shure and it sound fantastic.

[@TurntableGuy]

Duals are a great place to hide all sorts of goodies.

[@PoppinWheeliez]

​@TurntableGuy Did a little 1226 today and the stacker spindle was poked inside the plinth. Shame the 45 adaptor was not in the plinth.

[@cassettedecksresurrection7204]

There is a finger lift for the headshell that is hold by the screws of the cartridge but obviously it's missing... Very simply made turntables those projects...if you want a decent project turntable you must go from the project debut model and above... Keep up the good videos ✌️

[@pat72118]

Thank you.

[@alanarmstrong2323]

Fingerlift is above tonearm mounted to two cartridge mounting screws

[@adalbertus777]

www.project-audio.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Essential-1.jpg

[@jro7075]

I have the pro-ject debut 3 with metal platter that I switched to acrylic cause changing speeds is lifting heavy metal platter was always worried about metal platter falling out of my hand and scratching wood finish I got my platter used which saved a lot of money and it came from a rega planar TT but was told it would fit my pr0-ject ,I know why the felt mat is thin cause the tone arm will not be level when playing records I tried to replace mat cause original was very thin but doing so you can see how cart was not level with record it was higher than the counter weight but using acrylic platter worked out for me you don't need any mat and I believe that bearing is fixed in there I have the same set up the only thing is that whenever I see vids on people doing an unboxing on this type of player they do not tell you that bearing has to be lubricated on mine yearly or 6 months if used a lot the minute I got mine I added just one drop of oil into bearing just for my ocdish ways its important so it takes a second to drop oil in there so what JRo who ever had that one lost finger lift they all come with one

[@marktubeie07]

Pity that finger lift is missing - as mentioned by others, it's a metal piece mounted above the 'pretend' headshell. Not a fan of Project - I know simple can often be a benefit, but I just think their budget line is a bit _too_ budget.

[@pat72118]

Hi, just curious what record is playing at the end of the video?

[@TurntableGuy]

Max Webster - Universal Juveniles

[@dylanpruett2652]

It's missing the finger lift pece

[@nicklisac4667]

All the illustrations of Project Essential turntables show that they have a finger lift.

[@hoobsgroove]

A complete no no having a slip mat that loses your bass definition and cause it extra flatter. You could use some double sided tape to hold it down, if you can stop the mat with your finger quite easily then no it's no good the stylus is doing the same thing in heavy bass notes. And no you don't want a belt to be sticky I wouldn't use acetone, putting your belt in a bag of talcum powder that can be good but depends on the climate if you have high humidity probably not a good idea otherwise it's a good idea you want grip not stickiness. And even some alcohols like methylated spirit can cause cracking of the rubber so be careful what you're using rubbers contain oils you don't want them to dry out. washing up liquid and water is best. Best mat I found is blu tac Three pieces around the centre spindle about an inch and a half diameter and the rest made into a star of David about a quarter of an inch from the edge of the platter. A table like that would benefit from copper mat or an acromat zorbatheen rubber. I believe it should have a carbon fibre moulded to the as a left, You could use a piece of string cotton coated in wax, drill a hole in the centre tire knot underneath the cartridge lift it from the middle

[@johnkendrick7304]

That project essential turntable is absolute garbage

[@mstorrente]

Watching this I realize today's machines are an absolut piece of sht.....they give you nothing for your money....vintage is the better option in terms of quality/price ratio without any doubt at all. The worst Dual is better than this garbage.

[@TurntableGuy]

Agreed

[@PoppinWheeliez]

A dual 503-1 is effectively the same look with 10x the capability.

[@tonysvinyl2214]

Who buys these things? They are absolute garbage for what you pay for. They are ugly for one. They could not even give a real platter mat with this thing. Its even lose moveing around on the darn thing. SO you get wow and flutter all over the place from it to. I dont even know how much this thing was but it aint worth a dime in my book garbage.