Is there a difference between Linn LP12 lingo 1 vs lingo 2 other than the case?

Earliest versions of the Lingo 2 were identical to the Lingo 1 ( known as the shoe box) except for the case. Later versions were slightly modded as to how the board was connected and mounted and a few other minor aspects...leading to a difference in SQ.

If I'm not mistaken, later Lingo 2's had SMD devices. One of the big knocks on Lingo 1's was the filter on the line inout spewing out lots of crud. I have a very late Lingo 1 (power button is different from early ones), which I bought new, and surprise, no line filter on the input. I had my Lingo completely recapped in 2019 and it's working great. The recap was precipitated by an issue I started to experience at 45 rpm which per the trouble shooting guide (finally found it on line), it was indicative of a failing phase. Recap and now 100%. Botton line, in my experience, Lingo 1's are not all alike and Lingo 2's are not all alike. 

Both zavato and daveyf are correct. Here is a bit more detail. The Lingo 1 was introduced in 1990 and was modified for safer operation in 1995 around serial number 10000. The Lingo 2 was introduced in early 2001, serial number 614522 on, and was the same circuit as the Lingo 1 in a larger Linn LK chassis. In Fall 2001 the main circuit board was significantly reworked using SMD's, serial number 656968 on, which resulted in better sound quality. The Lingo 3 is the same updated board in the newer Linn AV chassis.

I think we need to acknowledge that the Lingo 4 that is the current version of the Lingo is far beyond the earlier versions in terms of Musicality. If you are considering buying a used Lingo version 1 through 3, do not give any more than $700-$900 because the Lingo 4 is 80% of the musicality performance jump of the much more expensive Radikal upgrade. The Lingo 4 is $2100 and transformed my Lingo 1 into a very serious analog front end not to mention that every blessed one of my records have an openness and musicality to a degree that just wasn't there before.

You will NOT have the same TT as you did before when you move up to the version 4.

I wasn't expecting this kind of improvement without having to buy the Radikal.

And you get a new motor with the Lingo 4.

How does one recognize Lingo 4?

Thanks,

Robert

@robob  Lingo 4 is contained in a much thinner box (slimline) than any of the other Lingo's. 

Have to agree with @dfarmer - the lingo 4 is a massive and impressive improvement over my prior lingo 1.

And as @daveyf said- the 4 is in a very slim box. Google it and you’ll see it looks unlike anything else Linn. Linn “split” the lingo by housing part of the circuitry on a board that fits within the turntable (think valhalla) and the rest of the circuitry in an external box. There are 2 other ways the lingo 4 is a significant departure from earlier lingos- the 4 uses a 12v motor while previously a 120v motor was used and the 4 does use a tach for servo control as does the Radikal (but in a way different from the typical direct drive scheme). Since it is a synchronous motor its speed is locked in both by line frequency which is tightly regulated and the tach. It’s a built in redundancy.

 

Wouldn’t the 12V motor be a DC type?

@lewm - the Lingo 4 has an AC motor; the Radikal has a DC motor