Hackjob

Back in the early to mid-eighties Technics began revising their core consumer turntable lineup, creating the MK2 series of SL turntables. These were, and often still are, regarded some of the highest quality and most feature rich turntables ever built. While the lineup has largely been overshadowed the monumental success of the MK2 SL-1200, there's one model that's held in nearly as high of regard: the MK2 SL-1600. Here's how I got along with one.

I recently came into the possession of a vintage Pioneer turntable. Specifically the semi-automatic, direct drive PL-518, one of their most venerable turntables of the late 1970s. Despite it's initial, relatively innocent appearance however, this deck was a long way from spinning LPs again thanks to the horrors of unchecked humidity. Unfortunately for me, the rust and rot was just the tip of the iceberg.

  I don't think I'll be able to outdo this one anytime soon. By complete dumb luck, I stumbled upon a rare and completely bonkers Sharp VZ-3000, just a short jaunt down the interstate from where I lived. Not knowing a single thing about what I was getting myself into, I parted ways with $100 and loaded this monster into my car. What ensued was months of trying not to rip my own hair out in the hopes that I could bring this unique machine back from the dead.

  About two months ago, I scored two direct drive turntables for $60: a Pioneer PL-518 and a Technics SL-1600 MK1. Either one of these decks alone would've been a steal at the price, and a huge upgrade from the old Garrard 770M I was spinning LPs on prior. Unlike the Pioneer (which has been such a nightmare that it deserves it's own post), the Technics managed to survive it's two decades of horrible storage in relatively great shape. It just needed a little love.

One of my favorite pastimes is scrounging around on online secondhand marketplaces and thrift stores for interesting gadgets worth bringing back into peak working condition. There's a certain satisfaction about finding some battered old throwaway and turning back the years of neglect to find something genuinely useful, or at least super cool. In some cases, it's a chance to visit a bygone era and bring a piece of it back to life. This Garrard Model 770M turntable was certainly all of the above.