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Repair or replace my

I have a Rabco ST-8 straight arm turntable, marketed as a harmon/kardon when they were still a real audio co. It is, to say the least, not a youngster; I purchased it in 1978., but it has always worked well. It currently is sporting a Signet TK7e cartridge that was installed in 1982 (yes, 1982).It has a few creaks and groans, which probably means it needs a new belt, lubrication, and some alignment to the arm, and the very thin fixed RCA cables need replacing. The issue is should I spend the money to fix it up, and upgrade the cartridge, or just get a new TT?
The prices for new TT's seem totally outrageous, or perhaps I'm just showing my age and how out of touch I am with the current audio market.
Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.
Also, any recommendations for a repair facility in the Los Angeles area?
pjsugar
celtic66
1,612 posts
 
Linear tracking of that vintage had a nasty habit of wagging back and forth which actually destroyed the groove walls of the record. Studer Revox used a completely different system of linear tracking which did not wag and cause this irrepairable effect. Souther was more sophisticated and also did not affect this condition.

I would guess that your collection has sustained that damage and going to a new turntable would reveal that. Tough call here as I would not recommend repair. Find a Rega as suggested and find out if the collection is still listenable.
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
I still have my ST-8 and it works about as well as it ever did. It doesn't compare sonically to my present rig, but my present rig cost about 20 times more (not including 30 years of inflation).

Repairs are likely to be difficult to arrange, but if you're generally satisfied with the sound when it's functioning correctly it can't cost much to inquire (except time and frustration).

Buying a different rig will be much easier and will get you playing music faster. If your time is of value, that't the way to go.

OTOH, if you enjoy being involved in a project with uncertain time frames and outcomes, looking into repairing the ST-8 may give you endless pleasure.

Either could probably be done for a similar budget, though the sky's the limit (barely) if you decide to go for a different rig.

If you decide to check out replacements, be careful what you listen to. Many rigs make an ST-8 sound pretty lame... and some of them cost more than you could possibly believe. It's a slippery slope that leads to the high end, which has no price limits whatsoever. Caveat emptor!
speedy9194's avatar
speedy9194
10 posts
 
I have that same turntable and I still use it, If I were you
I go ahead and try to fix it yourself. If you go to www.vinylengine.com there you will find the service manual
as well as the owner's manual. You can still get the belts for
this turntable online as well as a new cartridge. Also there
is a knob on the back of the tonearm to adjust tracking. If you want the cables replaced I would have someone install two
rca jacks on the back and you can use any interconnects you like. I did this with my hk st-7. You could buy a new turntable but I don't recommend it, I would buy a used turntable.
I recommend: Revox B790,791, pioneer PL-88FS, Technics SLQL1/SL-10(p mount cartridge only).
I wouldn't recommend a Rega, I sent it back because the s's
were spitty and the speed was fast. It's your decision, you
can go either route.
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