Was walking through an antiques store in Dullstroom looking for surplus World War II era cyanide capsules for medicinal purposes (to end my life if the wife took me to another shoe/clothes/leather/art shop) when I came across this oldish CEC STP - 69 turntable. I liked the serial number so i thought what the hell, I like wasting money so after haggling at bit (read they wouldn't budge on the price which really offends me) I tried a new tactic: I told them it was mine that had been stolen a few weeks back. That got her worried, she said it was unpossible, they bought it at an auction to which I said that the ripped out RCA's (only wires dangling out the back remained) were still in the back of my amp. I felt sorry for the woman, no actually I thought she was going to keel over, so I told her i was joking and paid her, my wife bless her soul said I had her on the ropes, I could have liberated the turntable and walked out walked out before she dropped. Got called a woes for being nice too. Damn, forgot to ask for the cyanide. Sooo, back home, I told the sack of nails to make a fire and braai so that I can work on the TT, she immediately put glue on her lips, guess we having Nandos later on. I then plugged it in and it turns, no smoke, that wiped the "you're an idiot" look of the SO's face and she stomped off really disappointed. Now to the technical stuff, I figured out it should at least turn at a predetermined speed so I tried counting at 45, I gave that up after puking twice and got to 34 at the 33 RPM setting. That's less than 4% fast so that shouldn't change Pink Floyd into the Bee Gees and time is money after-all, so if the LP plays faster by my reckoning I can listen to 4% more music, another plus. Told old bramble bush this and now she's threatening to never leave if I continue being an ass. I took a look at the pointy needle thing under the magnifying glass and even I can spot that prestick's not going to keep that straight. Says Audio-technica, made in Japan, only a serial number but no model number. The thing that holds the needle (is that the correct technical term?) seems to be made of ceramic, so the question is, where do I get me a new one? Secondly, seeing as how it has RCA cables, can I assume that this can plug straight into a phono input on my amp and if not why not. The cable is not quite the same quality as the free stuff that you get with Dixon components so would it be of any use to change that to something that costs more than R0,25c p/m? Probably the question I should have asked first, is if it is even worth the R450 I paid for it or should I turn the lid upside down and use it for cat litter? Lastly, should I take it apart and oil /clean/hammer anything or should I leave it as is while it still works (it might not afterwards). Any and all assistance, kind words of encouragement, offers to sell appropriate cartridge, tune up tips etc will be appreciated, even if only to unite against evil so that I can play my wife's worst songs over and over again on it.
Ciao
Pierre
Ciao
Pierre
