I've  owned a Gyrodeck with an Audiomods tonearm quite happily for a few years now but DL members favorable comments around the Technics SP10 had me curious about direct drive turntables so when one became available I took the opportunity.

In good running condition but painted battleship grey and a plinth that had seen better days.  I knew it was a project which is what I was looking for but it just happened to come with a rather good tonearm. 😉

On arrival I set it all up and ran it for just long enough to convince myself it was a project worth pursuing (this didn't take long).  

It was dissasembled with the first bonus being both the deck and the power supply having already being recapped at some stage.  The motor and bearing assembly were left with Richard Krebs for him to work his magic while I went to work on the rest.  The deck was stripped and repainted and a new plinth made from offcuts from previous projects being a layer of 18mm Baltic Birch, two layers of 25mm standard ply all sandwiched between a couple of sheets of 6mm MDF. Then veneered with some more leftovers.  Anigre on top and something else on bottom that's been lying around so long I've no idea what it is.

This really tried my woodworking skills which are basic at best and I really only had a concept in my head with a rough sketch up to work from.  The end result is structurally sound but cosmetically average.  I ran into problems getting the finish I wanted on the top half which was a black ash look with a satin finish.  On sanding back the shellac with 800 grit to take the gloss off it rubbed through in places to show white patches (no idea why as I drowned the veneer in black wood stain).  I tried refinishing it once but same thing happened so I've decided to settled for the 'distressed' look for now.

Aug 21, 2021 22:02:39 GMT 12 harvey said:

I've  owned a Gyrodeck with an Audiomods tonearm quite happily for a few years now but DL members favorable comments around the Technics SP10 had me curious about direct drive turntables so when one became available I took the opportunity.

In good running condition but painted battleship grey and a plinth that had seen better days.  I knew it was a project which is what I was looking for but it just happened to come with a rather good tonearm. 😉

On arrival I set it all up and ran it for just long enough to convince myself it was a project worth pursuing (this didn't take long).  

It was dissasembled with the first bonus being both the deck and the power supply having already being recapped at some stage.  The motor and bearing assembly were left with Richard Krebbs for him to work his magic while I went to work on the rest.  The deck was stripped and repainted and a new plinth made from offcuts from previous projects being a layer of 18mm Baltic Birch, two layers of 25mm standard ply all sandwiched between a couple of sheets of 6mm MDF. Then veneered with some more leftovers.  Anigre on top and something else on bottom that's been lying around so long I've no idea what it is.

This really tried my woodworking skills which are basic at best and I really only had a concept in my head with a rough sketch up to work from.  The end result is structurally sound but cosmetically average.  I ran into problems getting the finish I wanted on the top half which was a black ash look with a satin finish.  On sanding back the shellac with 800 grit to take the gloss off it rubbed through in places to show white patches (no idea why as I drowned the veneer in black wood stain).  I tried refinishing it once but same thing happened so I've decided to settled for the 'distressed' look for now.

Absolutely stunning, well done, amazing work and restoration

Manager & Product specialist at Rapallo AV & HI-FI

Go Harvey,
Nice skills. 
Distressed = 'character'  so all Ok, now part of your TT's provenance.

"I see music as a lifetime affair." [Rory Gallagher]

Hi Harvey,

Welcome to the Technics SP10 club !

I like the first photo

+ Kudos on the Lyra

Rest of the system ?

Hi Michael,

Aqvox phono
BAT VK3ix pre
Pass Labs XA250.8
Zaph Audio ZRT 2.5 way speakers

Ones and Zeros are looked after by Antipodes S30 & S20 and a Denafrips Ares ll.

I planned to only keep one TT and sell the other (then put the proceeds into a new DAC). Forced into a choice I would keep the SP10/Wand combo. It really has a wicked sense of timing and digs deep into the music. I know its cliche but I'm hearing things on records I've not heard before. I also have a Shelter 501 that hasn't seen the light of day for a while and suspect this with the Gyro/Audiomods would be more forgiving on bad recordings, plus this setup is just so damm good looking I don't know if I can bring myself to part with it. Does anyone else around here run two turntables?

If I can be faffed I may also build an armboard for the Audiomods and give that a run on the SP10.

Yep, got a Technics SL-7/Ortofon MC200 as backup.

Monsieur Citroen has 4-5 tables to choose from

Two in the main system, Aura and 401.

Its handy for using different carts. You can use one for serious listening sessions, and another for not so pristine records or for more casual listening so that you don't wear out your good cart so fast. i also have one for mono.

Your Aqvox can take two, and with the Wand and Audiomods arms you can't readily change carts, so why not use both tables?

Yes,can't bear to part with either!
401 in bamboo plinth with FR64fx and Technics SL1000 Mk2 with SME3 and spare arms with mm cartridges in them.

Also use two turntables, each though it’s own input, one mm and other mc, on Perreaux VP3 phono. One is a Valhalla LP12 with Ittok arm, Denon DL103R, the other fully manual Yamaha YP-D9 direct drive, micro seiki arm with Ortofon 2M Black.

Aug 22, 2021 23:54:50 GMT 12 Citroen said:

Two in the main system, Aura and 401.

Thought you had more...

Well Tempered gone ?

Sound Burgers

I said two in the main system.

I do have a few other setups and some not set up.

Amadeus sold about 18 months ago. Still got 2 Sound Burgers, an L75, a Pink Triangle, a JBE, a Pro-ject 2XP, a Thorens 125

Oh and an SP-25 and AT-120

harvey that Lyra is a cart to behold. One of the best bang for the money available today IMHO.

And the Wand arm sounds great! (but a PITA to set up re: weights)

Aug 23, 2021 18:23:03 GMT 12 Citroen said:

Oh and an SP-25 and AT-120

Garrard SP-25?

What MKxx if so?

Mmm, ok so not such a silly idea after all.

If I do keep it I'm going to have to build a new rack to fit them both on.

Citroen - yes I've owned it for a while now and love it, hence the Shelter not getting much use.

Aug 23, 2021 18:36:42 GMT 12 harvey said:

Mmm, ok so not such a silly idea after all.

If I do keep it I'm going to have to build a new rack to fit them both on.

Citroen - yes I've owned it for a while now and love it, hence the Shelter not getting much use.

You built a plinth...a rack will be a doddle!

Aug 23, 2021 18:27:44 GMT 12 RdM said:

Aug 23, 2021 18:23:03 GMT 12 Citroen said:

Oh and an SP-25 and AT-120

Garrard SP-25?

What MKxx if so?

3

Aug 23, 2021 18:41:41 GMT 12 Citroen said:

Aug 23, 2021 18:27:44 GMT 12 RdM said:

Garrard SP-25?

What MKxx if so?

3

It's just that I have an old battered Mk I (and or maybe II) that had the heavy cast platter, before they went to the cheaper pressed steel one in Mk3 and beyond.

Somewhere I have a pic of the two platters upside down next to each other for comparison. It seems to me that they could be swapped.

I think my MKI/II is pretty much beyond restoration, but I thought that at least the platter (if not the whole carcass) might go to a good home.

Edit: (I mean, beyond my getting around to restoring it!.)

I'll dig up pics tomorrow.

House full of turntables !



Lyra prices have gone up

Delos is now $2275, not the super bargain it used to be.

Very nice, distressed look is cool.

I also love a big chamfer, not easy to veneer something like that!

www.jeremyyoungdesign.com

Thanks Jeremy.

The distressed look is growing on me.
There are a couple of other minor cosmetic issues bugging me, but will live with it for now.

I'm thinking if I build a new rack to accommodate the Gyro I'll buy a sheet of compressed Bamboo ply so will have some left over to build another plinth and use the learnings from this one.

Agreed on veneering the chamfer which is why I didn't. I thought about it but given the afore mentioned issues decided it wasn't worth the trouble.
If you look closely you can tell so will give it a go on version two.

Looks very smart harvey ! Great job. 👍

Aug 22, 2021 13:32:14 GMT 12 michaelw said:

I like the first photo

So do I.

I had a girlfriend once who convinced me to paint a lot of or in the end a few things black.

Brown, wood, out of date &etc. Later, I had to disagree. Some wood is very nice as it is.

However, I'm happy that my self constructed stereo hifi and record shelves remain black.

Whether against white walls or dark red velvet curtains, they seem to work.

Re the white stains coming through - was the previous wood veneer lacquered?

The first photo shows the plinth the table came with, not sure what wood it is but it is quite heavy. If you look closely it has a cut outs for different tonearm sizes, I think Simon was using it as a test bed for his arms so looks pretty naff. It's going in the bin unless someone wants it?

I prefer the recess mounting of the deck and largely copied the styling from the Accoustand SP10 plinth below.

No lacquer on the veneer, it's really got me stumped. I applied 3 coats of black Briwax spirit based stain, a light coat of oil and then Shellac.

For next level rack building inspiration.

Making a layered plywood hifi unit

WOW WOW WOW!!

Harvey, I'm looking at that first photo and wondering if it's one of my late father Ken Newton's SP10s.🤔 He had 2, one in a 50mm thick oak plinth and the one I inherited in a 40mm plinth. 

When he had it it was fitted with a Dynavector arm. Could it have ended up with you?
What you have done looks fantastic btw 😎

Aug 26, 2021 8:32:10 GMT 12 Citroen said:

For next level rack building inspiration.

Making a layered plywood hifi unit

Seriously cool, I can only dream of having the tools and skills to do something like that!

Aug 26, 2021 17:44:38 GMT 12 snewt said:

Harvey, I'm looking at that first photo and wondering if it's one of my late father Ken Newton's SP10s.🤔 He had 2, one in a 50mm thick oak plinth and the one I inherited in a 40mm plinth. 

When he had it it was fitted with a Dynavector arm. Could it have ended up with you?
What you have done looks fantastic btw 😎

Oh goodness, yes it does look the same. Measures in at 50mm as well.

I've checked my correspondence with Simon and he got it off a chap by the name of Andrew Clarke who has also passed away. He thought it was oak as well. Did your dad build the plinths? Does seem a shame to bin it but it has seen better days but I can't think of anything I could repurpose the wood for. At least you know the deck has gone to a good home. 👍

that's a nice piece of wood.