Linn LP12 turntable

Turntable suspensions are not designed to intercept foot falls, they are designed to isolate from the motor and higher frequency vibration. I used to have a AR which I literally could bang on the cover while playing and the tt would play on without skipping. But walk by it on the suspended floor would cause it to skip. Don't walk heavily by it while playing if it cannot be wall mounted. This does not need to be an issue. 

Let’s see. With what “higher frequency” did you bang on your AR? Most likely the frequency was 1Hz. A footfall is also 1Hz. So why shouldn’t the same suspension that filters out one one also filter out the other? What’s with F=ma? It’s true and always valid, but what did you have in mind? If you want to describe the force developed in a spring, don’t we want Hooke’s law, F= -kx? I’m assuming a well tuned spring suspension already. But of course a spring suspension needs to be damped; maybe that’s how a problem with footfalls might arise… if the disturbance sets the suspension into oscillation that is not damped.

The problem with LP12 upgrades is that the cost of an upgraded LP12 puts it into competition with a lot of newer turntables which, depending on the listener, may or may not be better. In its original form, the LP 12 was nothing special at all - woolly bass and sloppy sounding and lots of people who were not deafened by the hype preferred a Rega 3. It has gotten better over the years, admittedly. BTW, even back in the 80s when people were upgrading from the Grace 707 to the Ittok, the bearings in every 707 I ever saw were shot. Admittedly, they might survive with a high compliance MM, but most 707s were sold with the Supex 900 MC.

I would think the Linn is a no-brainer because it would likely be sellable for around the same amount if you were less than satisfied. 
 

I had a similar opportunity around 1993.  I had been using a Rega 3 and was generally happy but still wanted a serious TT the likes of which I couldn’t afford.  One day, my favorite salesman at CSA Audio in NJ called me and told me to get there now.  He has a pre-owned Linn LP 12 that was being traded in for a newer shiner TT.  It was basically unused for the 2 years he owned it.  They wanted $900 and the LP12 TT’s at that time we’re going for >$3K. One of the best purchases I ever made for my system.  A different league from the R3.  Everything on the Linn works as it did 30 years ago.  I know there have been many upgrade possibilities since then (this was pre-Lingo).  But my biggest problem has been getting my digital playback to come close to the pleasure I get from my Linn,  I’ve spent way more on my digital playback which appears to be a bottomless pit for spending money.  

At the $2400 price, provided that all upgrades have been done properly, IMHO you're getting an incredible bargain. There's a sense of realism that the LP12 has that has always made it stand out from other turntables.  The mere fact that it has been around for half a century and continues to be one of the more popular hi-end turntables only serves as further proof of this.  Especially since this turntable faces competion that is far more expensive and oftentimes not as good.  

Best of luck with the LP12 if you decide to purchase it! 👍