Technics SL-M3 Linear Tracking Turntable Repair & Service

[@TexTom1981]

I'd forgotten about these beauties. These Technics, the Revox, Pioneer/Phase Linear tangentials were engineering and aesthetic masterpieces.

[@johnburrows5535]

Original SL-M3 owner here (purchased 1984 and still running strong) and I am so impressed by your knowledge of this turntable! You know as much or perhaps even more than a Technics trained technician from the 1980s! I wish you were close enough to me to give my turntable a "once over" checkup, but sadly I am on a different continent, the other side of the world!

[@williamlegall2988]

Even Technics/Panasonic cannot afford to do this magnificent arm thing, ever again. So no matter what one might spend, we're stuck with (basically), antique arm technology, no matter how refined and expensive, it currently is. These Technics Linear Arms function to perfection, once lubricated and leaky old caps are replaced. Great information on this video. With each lube & cap replacement, it's good for flawless performance, for a couple of decades. It's the Lexus of turntables!

[@Drinkyoghurt]

It's crazy to see what prices are being asked for barebones basic turntables these days. It's often just a motor on a plate, many of them are belt driven and have a single speed motor so to change speeds you need to take off the mat and change the belt. Audiophiles justify it by saying it's more involved, I just think it's more annoying.

[@stephenjerome4135]

Wow what an absolutely stunning turntable. It looks amazing and very well built. I bet that beast is heavy to pick up. Great work, thanks for showing this engineering masterpiece.

[@CannedBeats]

Absolutely beautiful. An engineering masterpiece.

[@thomaskershaw9914]

WOW! What a brilliant technician! So glad I found this site, can't wait to see more! Sweet turntable.

[@xjman114]

I have this TT.....absolutely love it and I use it a lot. I got it from a friend I was stationed in Germany with back in 1992 for $50! Now they're going for between $1200 and $2100 USD! Neither one of us knew what we had! He just wanted to get rid of it. Still not a scratch on it...perfect condition although I probably need to service it and I want to upgrade the P-Mount needle. I only wish I had kept the original box and molded foam....I tend to move around a lot.

[@pclayton5063]

I just gave mine to my son this weekend. Bought it in Germany new for $285 just prior to coming back to the States in 1985. Once stateside I might have used it twice (moved on to CDs) and it had been collecting dust ever since. Definitely the best turntable you could buy at that time. Forgot how heavy it was when I cleaned it up. I would have ebayed it for a healthy profit but also didn't keep the boxes so didn't remember how to disassemble it and packing properly would have been difficult so lucky son. He has just discovered an interest in LPs so the next trip to see him he'll get 450 LP's to work through. ;-)

[@andreasnielsen1825]

Looks simply amazing, thank you so much for showing us the inner works of this beast of a machine.

[@timthomson9376]

I used to own one, it's of the few audio items I wish I would have kept. I got mine in the 80's for $250.

[@fatboysonny]

Great video. A wonderful machine, well done!

[@robertdonald7190]

Great work - gorgeous turntable!

[@LiquidAudio]

Many thanks!

[@Trojan0304]

A beauty, thanks for sharing

[@voltare2amstereo]

Hey gold of retro groves on lp and cassette , you can then use it on KZbin

[@RetroView66]

I have a Sony PSX-800 that is my TT grail but I would like to try some of these Technics...

[@williamwood3694]

I had purchased this very model Technics SL M3 back around 1983 - 1985 while stationed in what was then known as West Germany. It was paired with a Kenwood M2 amp and C2 preamp with matching EQ. 3 pairs of Cerwin Vega speakers D-9, D-8 and a smaller pair of bookshelf models. Speakers went to my oldest son and everything else BUT the turntable went to a very good neighbor of mine when I upgraded to a Sony Home Theater system that and my latest receivers (Marantz) were both equipped for phono use. While watching your video, I got the bug to do a little service work of my own. And now for some reason my tonearm is all sorts of out of adjustment? If I could find out how to adjust the arm at rest and such I am hoping to get back to start with a freshly clean and lubricated turntable.

[@mescko]

Frankly, for vinyl playback you should have kept the C2...you won't find a phono section in any modern receiver to hold a candle to it.

[@williamwood3694]

@@mescko Mescko, you'll be happy to hear that since my post I have managed to locate and replace the Kenwood M2, C2 and the EQ with the very same vintage equipment. The speakers are a single pair of POLK A7s.

[@pollyandhecuba]

I have just opened up my Technics SL-j3 turntable (approx asking price today on EBay £150), because the arm needs servicing. The linear tracking mechanism is exactly, and I mean exactly the same as the arm mech in the SL-M3 pictured (asking price today on EBay £1600). Considering the price new for these two machines probably had a similar relationship, considering the tone arm is largely responsible for the sonic quality of a turntable, I would have said to anyone at the time buying one of these beasts; ‘they saw you coming, son’.

[@LiquidAudio]

Thanks for your comment, though there's a bit more to this. The Technics linear trackers sound different from one another, the chassis, platter, arm and motor are all different and significantly contribute to the sound and the M3 is the best sounding of the lot. The actual linear tracking mech is similar across the range, but there are some detail differences according to model. I listen to everything I work on including many dozens of Technics linear trackers and I can report that the M3 sounds very noticeably better than the J3, but they are all nice machines. Enjoy yours!

[@spacehopper77]

Liquid Audio I also own both an M3 and a J3, while I like the superior functionality of the J3, I agree that based on sound quality the M3 is far superior to the J3. So much so that I use the M3 and a Micro Seiki as my main living room record players.

[@peter.pan53]

Here in Germany I'm owner of the same model. One problem: the lift will drop down too fast. How can I make this slower?. Thank you for your Video!

[@snatcher420]

I have this one from when I was station in Germany back in 1988, purchased it new. Had been stored away and now the Cherry wood Panel has come off one side. Looking for some one to replace the cherry wood or change the color completely? Any suggestions for here in the USA. Or where i can get the panels to diy? Still works fine.

[@LiquidAudio]

Great work holding on to this lovely machine. I can't recommend anyone over there but maybe another reader can. The deck will also need service, this maintenance is critical so hopefully you find someone who can do both!

[@freepress8451]

Thanks for sharing

[@Foxrock321]

Obviously you’re in Perth Au. I’m in Colorado, where does one get their SL 10 serviced in the states?

[@LiquidAudio]

Good question, wish I had a good answer, hopefully someone in the comments will know!

[@AhitagniDasgupta]

Loved it :)

[@SRX2004]

This was made between 1984-1988. Original price was $450.

[@mickdejay5183]

I have one of these and I am getting wow and flutter. Sometimes if I tap the platter it is ok. Then returns to wow and flutter again. I also noticed that the lamp on the strobe goes dimmer at each point I get the wow/flutter. Any Ideas?

[@LiquidAudio]

Only that the deck needs expert maintenance and adjustment at this stage of its life, which is quite normal. Hopefully you have a good local technician who can look at this for you. These really are classic turntables and becoming quite collectible now.

[@williamlegall2988]

The future was here with the SL-M3 and SL-7 and I refuse to go back to refined, though antiquated tables, that are flooding the market. Each time I buy an improved cartridge, I put any of my many M3's or 7's on repeat, for a day or two, with no record wear. The sound quality is "off the scale" once properly serviced, ONLY by one that has intimate knowledge with these particular units. If not, they will disappoint, mainly due to being four decades old.

[@dannyilaya8432]

If the owner will sell that, I'll buy it !!!!!!!

[@LiquidAudio]

I don't think he will but thanks Danny!

[@mhp9843]

I have one for 2k USD if you are interested.

[@ingenfestbrems]

Same motor as in 1200-1210s

[@nicetarek]

one like from me for the accent ;)

[@segasonic9117]

What a stunningly beautiful piece of hardware. I couod use the "they don't make them like that anymore" comment here, but it is so redundant. There has been nothing as high end and gorgeous as things like this and the Denons and Victors etc since the 80's or mid 90's. To me, "high end" does not exist anymore. Look at those ridiculous turntables that cost $54,995 in this stupid country. They are ugly and will never compare to the Japanese works of art of "The Bubble" era. I miss "Made In Japan" :( I think that for me, the last great high end piece of engineering was the Pioneer HLD-X0 LD player. Shame I only own the X9 >_< One day.... All I could hear in my head when you were mentioning "greasing the shaft" was Archer (H. Jon Benjiman) saying "Phrasing!!)

[@jogmas12]

Segasonic91 regardless what turntables look like today the concept is still the same and today’s modern turntables, even some costing as little as $300 can and will do good job of playing vinyl. Basically, according to Edgar Villchur, inventor of the Acoustic Research 3 point suspension turntable of the 1960’s, a turntables’ job is to “stay out of the picture “ and if it has low rumble, wow and flutter it will do that. Today’s modern turntables have very low rumble, wow and flutter even lower than the ones they built in the 1970’s, check the specifications!!!!

[@jogmas12]

Segasonic91 .......as an example.... I have an Acoustic Research turntable I bought new in 1985, walnut veneer plinth and 4 pound platter. With modern breakthroughs in materials it can be modified to perform better such low resonance tonearm board, platter and T bar suspension. The tonearm is a Jelco/AR design but that can be easily switched out to install a better tonearm. Nevertheless, I have seen some modem turntables, some costing about what I paid for this one back in 1985, adjusting for inflation, that can rival my turntable in terms of lower rumble, wow and flutter even though for the day that my turntable was made it had very low rumble, wow and flutter for its day. And that’s really what it all comes down to.

[@moodyga40]

sl1200 motor unit

[@jamesveach6918]

yep bunch of crazy people own youtube it, our music