"lordy" wrote in message
...
On 2006-09-04, Keith G wrote:


I'm not peddling the SL3200 in particular, it just so happens there's a
couple on eBay atm and I've got one myself.

If I had to 'rcommend' an eBay Technics deck on a price/performance basis
it
would probably be the SL1600/1700/1800 series - fully auto, semi auto,
manual variants of the same deck - based, I believe, on the original
SL1300?? But you won't go far wrong with any Technics, Pioneer or Denon
DD
deck that *looks* the part on eBay - trouble is you don't know what
they're
like until you get them! The trick is to try and get one where the cart's
worth having anyway!!

SL1310 any good?



Yes, but at what price? If you have an eBay auction in mind, post a link
here - no-one here's going to compete with you and will serve as a 'notice
of intent' (ie 'bagsy' it). This one claims a clean lid (desirable and not
always available) and 'excellent condition' - it would certainly do me from
'eBay appearances' and I would definitely bid on it:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Technics-SL-13...QQcmdZViewItem

With 5 days to go, I would expect it to fetch at least 60 quid and quite
possibly double that if things heat up. Fully auto might put some people off
(not me - I'm using one myself atm) but it's luxurious/lazy and means there
is less likelihood of damage to record or cart from careless handling. (ie.
Er Indoors could use it!! :-) The cart is not easy to identify from the
picture (could be a Shure M75HE2) so there is no 'safety' in that unless you
ask the Seller to tell you what's written on it. Mostly the carts on these
decks are at least OK and needles easy enough to get.

With these older Technics decks the 'xx10' numbering usually means 'black'
finish and Mk2 usually means that at least some of the controls are outside
the dust cover for easy access and, er, easy dust-gathering. The 1300 is
'Servo' speed controlled (not Quartz) which doesn't actually mean a lot in
terms of performance and it is one of the more 'budget' offerings with an
original RRP of 350 USD - the top decks reached prices like 1400 USD, by
comparison.

One thing - when these auto and semi-auto decks have been moved the
mechanisms get confused and will very likely act od first time or two - just
gently let them work themselves out with maybe a little finger support, 'til
they get their bearings!

One other thing - if you can't satisfy yourself the Seller can pack the
thing properly, go and collect it it! (Ask here if you want the details
explained!)

In a word? If the one you are thinking of is the above auction or very
similar, grab it and forget all about flimsy planks, belts and buzzy little
motors forever!! ;-)