Phantom Supreme to 4Point-14?

When it comes to Vintage TT's and Imports from Japan for the present purchasing environment, Do Note:

As a result of my very recent experience of purchasing my beloved Vintage Japanese TT Models direct from Japan, of which one has a Stainless Steel Machined Platter and one has a Heavy Plinth (Added Weight).

The latter half of 2023 is presenting ludicrous shipping costs to the UK, I suspect these will be reflected in most long haul flights.

Combine these incurred shipping costs with the 'to be' added 25% Import Duties and it is not long before the cost of the Bargain find, will become appreciated in cost by close to 150%-%175 Uplift to the purchase cost.

Then there is the Gamble on the condition of said purchase, I expect an individual to have to add another £60-80, without any shipping costs for the Platter Spindle  Bearing Investigation/Service, this should be considered a mandatory work to be undertaken. Start adding exchange parts due to deterioration or misuse, and the cost can easily increase by £50ish. 

For the full Overhaul/Modernisation of the Platter Spindle Bearing, to the level of performance I see as being extremely attractive as an addition, especially using modern Materials, Extremely Tight Machining Tolerances and Lubricant selected to optimise the overall function of the parts, I expect to be paying out £150-£200 for this, if no complications are met, and this is without any shipping costs included.

I would not know how to predict what a complication might need in monies parted with to correct the issue discovered. I am aware that Fatigue Fractures in a Spindles Bearing Housing has been discovered as a really unwanted condition, and abraded Spindles as well as scoured interference fit Balls at a Spindle Base are commonly encountered.

The above are reasonably easy to deal with, but will be more costly, in either version for the correct skill set to carry out the tasks. Obviously the Cracks in a Bearing Housing present a completely different challenge.

The 'Fly in the Ointment' and most difficult to detect is the Electronics being with a fault, Investigation into this, where the working circuitry is optimised for the performance, is not for the novice EE, or even the EE that is adept in EE tasks.

If such an EE as above does want to try there luck, I'm not to stand in their way by being discouraging.  

For my own peace of mind, and for my owned models, the Electronics are best left to the time served EE, who has a history of being hands on and proven record of really knowing what is what.

It to me seems that if a Import TT of any Vintage, or a Vintage TT is purchased without a well known history, the idea of assuming it is fit for the purpose of being a ancillary in the Vinyl Replay Trilogy, that can have the other two supporting ancillaries come with a combined value of £3k - £10K, is a very high risk assumption. It is something I would certainly not be carrying out or encouraging.

All 'go to' TT's from a Vintage era, used by myself, are only put into regular service   after having being dealt with, either Mechanically or Mechanically/Electronically,  by a renowned specialist who's works come heavily recommended.

I would predict for a Vintage DD TT, a basic investigation and odd swap of component to be of a Cost of £180ish, a Model with many faults needing discovery and correction can easily sweep upwards towards £500, and again no shipping is added to these costs.

For the novice, trying to work out what they have bought into.

If the TT switches on and rotates, placing an ear to the chassis/Platter area will/will not produce a audible noise from the mechanical function of the TT.

 A Stethoscope placed on the Chassis/Plinth will be a very valuable device to pick up audible sound, but to the novice user, the sound produced might cause alarm to them, even if a only minor case.  

If Mechanical Sound is detected by the ear, the Chassis or Plinth can be gently touched to feel if vibration can be detected.

If a Speed Rotation is wanting to be checked, it is best not to rely on any inbuilt speed control devices. It is best to use a off board independently powered Strobe  device.

By using a Standalone Strobe device Speed Fluctuation will be seen with immediacy.

What will not be known with immediacy is whether the fluctuation, is resulting from the Electronics for the Mechanical Interface in the Spindle, i.e, a very worn Spindle Bushing can create a eccentric rotation, which will manifest on the Standalone Strobe as a fluctuation.

I am wed to Vintage TT's for nearly 30 Years, starting with Idler Drive and continuing with Idler Drives for quite a period of time, and in the past 10 Years moving over to Imported Vintage Model DD TT's from Japan.

I will not discourage anybody from the experiences that can be created, the more the merrier who shout from the Roof Tops their newly found satisfaction.

From my end, it is best for those that are new to the idea, are the ones receiving guidance to become individuals that have something to attach a Caveat Emptor approach to.

Knowledge is Power, or in case of Vintage TT's, it can be a case of keeping the hard earned in the Bank. .    

@nandric I stated " From my end, it is best for those that are new to the idea, are the ones receiving guidance to become individuals that have something to attach a Caveat Emptor approach to. "

I certainly don't believe you fall into that as a demographic.

The Country Japan, as did Germany, bounce back very quickly in relation to becoming production Power Houses, following the Second World War.

Their Mainstream Industries R&D Departments in all areas of High Yield Sales Items has been a phenomenal success in the advancement of Technologies being adopted in a particular era.

No other Industries from any Country were able to compete, with the qualities being associated with the end products.

Japanese Motorcycles trounced all over indigenous Manufactured Motorbikes, pretty much being the demise of many Brands, with numerous years of being specialists behind them.

This most likely occurred from Electric Toasters to Electric Sewing Machines.

Dept born from Greed hit the Countries Inflation, which got them down on their knees. One does not need to look to far beyond their Room Window, to see that little bit of 'History Repeating Itself'.

In the UK in Premises owning Millions of Pounds worth of Food Stock and annual Turnover of 100's of millions if not Billions, there are Food Banks for customers to donate food items to, set up by the Check Outs. Work that one out, I am totally Bamboozled by it. 

I am an advocate of not encouraging any individual to take on something that is assessed through 'Rose Tinted Glasses'.

@lewm like your self, I am wed to Japanese Vintage TT's, I have these bought on one occasion from within the UK and all others from abroad.

Many SP10's once seen in the UK were ripped out from Radio Station Booths and sold on with the Consuls produced for the Studio with a Built in Power Supply.

I know many who got on the SP10 MkII Ladder this way, but I chose not to use this as the method. For the record SP10 MkII's were commonly seen in the era selling for £150-200. If you were willing to take a Job Lot, £90ish per unit is a accurate reflection of the asking prices.

In the UK today, a TT bought at this time and being one that has ended being put to use as a more conventional TT design, can easily acquire £1500 as a sale item.

What I do know is that many TT's from these vintages, especially ones removed from Radio Stations, have undergone some sought of patching up to have them appear seemingly conventional.

The 'under the hood aspect' is certainly an unknown, and to the individual not time served and not having a clear direction on what would be a good practice following a purchase, especially the individual being fantastical about the idea of buying into TT's that receive reports on the impact made, like those from myself.

The idea, that such good reports are a result of buying a TT only are very very wrong. In my case there is a support required from other parties, to get onto the Starting Grid and eventually Pull Away successfully from the Start Line.

It is this Beat that is sent out from my Drum.