HiFi Subjectivist ¦ Audio Forum ¦ NVA User Group

Not really DIY, but I thought probably the best place to ask for advice on the repair of a vintage hifi item.
So I've just returned from collecting a Technics SL-P1200 ASC version. I've ensured it's switched to 240V, and I've pressed in the lock shaft. I've connected it to power and the main display has not come on but certain buttons, such as auto-cue, have indicator lights which come on when pressed so fuses not an issue. Tried inserting a CD, but nothing, not spinning and no noise of laser mechanism tracking.
Just done a very quick google search and the name of Mike Laister comes up near to York, specialising in technics and items of hifi nostalgia. I was wondering if anyone has any experience of Mr Laisters work or any ideas where I may be able to get this thing working (north yorkshire preferably, and cost is very much an issue).
First impressions are; it's MASSIVE. It weighs about the same as a pair of A80s! It looks huge also, I'm not sure it's going to fit on top of my target stand (where my current CDP has acres of room). It's in pretty good nick, one major scratch and a few smaller, all buttons and sliders present and correct and it's still got all its wobbly isolation feet. And it just looks so cool, a great bit retro control panel for playing music, great big knob, satisfyingly precice chunky buttons, and an AA class technical diagram on the display (for whatever good that does ).
Fingers crossed it's recoverable .
Thanks

Good luck. This was one of the best, broadcast based, players of its time, although Technics wasn't represented in 'Top End' UK dealerships for the usual reasons (it was the Ab Sounds and path Premier lot as well as the terrible two who sucked the life out of the better Jap brands).

You may well find a BANK of fuses inside for all I know (my Philips/Marantz 94 based Micro Seiki certainly has), so may be worth checking each with a meter, as good looking fuses can actually be open circuit sometimes.

I really hope you get this beastie going again for not much dosh. I don't know exactly how it may stack up these days, but it's one hell of a lovely thing to own IMO Maybe some care with supply isolation (a thorny subject by many players of this era dirtied the supply they were connected to - I use a [Farnell sourced] Roxburgh 6A rated filter on mine which won't slug a source component at all but will a fair sized power amp!) and because they're so cheap, possibly a ferrite or two on the interconnects you choose, as most players from this era used to send all sorts down the screens of the signal cables according to an ex-Panasonic Sales manager I once knew. Obviously the preceding will be user and system dependant, but just thought I'd mention it in case...

Best of luck. Picture please.

Belay that. Straight out of Star Trek series one! Fantastic looks.

Macca has got a faulty one as well, between you you might get a working one.

Jerry has just aquired one as well and when I was in the pro shop the other week they had one in for repair (although they couldn't fix it). Couple of other AoS members have them also, some working some not. Well worth repairing it if you can but I am told that if the logic circuit is fried then it is game over.

Well I afraid to say that things are not looking too good in this department. It's been on the back-burner whilst I've been dealing with car issues (I fucking hate fucking money-pit cars ) But having located a service manual (not ASC) online I've had the lid off and had a little rummage around. There seem to be two obvious issues.
The ribbon cables (of which there are many) have become very stiff and somewhat brittle, and many have come away from the little blocks which hold them in connection with the PCBs. I've re-installed a fair few, and most of the lights on the display have now come on. I reckon that with some hot-glue, some new cables and a fair bit of time I could probably make a fair go of resolving this issue.
However the second issue is i think more serious and possibly terminal, Two of the PCBs (there are at least 14 ) and some of the internal screws are showing signs of corrosion/salting. It's not extensive, but particularly and unfortunately on the main PCB connections to the laser mechanism. I have no idea how it's been stored over the previous years but it looks like it's not been dry.
And that's is all before being able to assess whether any/all the mechanical components are functional or not, I'm guessing that if it's been stored somewhere where it's been allowed to get damp then probably not .
Mike Laister who was a specialist in restoring Technics and "nostalgic" hifi has retired recently due to ill health, that's my a-plan down the toilet. I spoke to his wife a little bit and she gave me some contacts, unfortunately they've either also retired or are not very inclined to take on something you can't get ready access to parts for. That's my b-plan down the toilet.
It's really far to complicated for me to DIY, and I'm feeling abit discouraged as (like most people) I really haven't got the time to be figuring it out.

Toothbrush and Isopropyl alchohol, or get a PCB cleaning fluid from ebay. If it is some sort of salt no problem, but look at nearby electrolytic caps as dried electrolytic fluid (electrolyte) looks just like that and it may be cap leakage. Can you take a close up photo of the board area and post it here.

Everyone who has one it seems is having problems with them, MartinT's one he just got is duff as well. I think these units are just over complex, old, and not very reliable it seems.

I must say this must be the FOM .....But fuk know's why, they all seem to be - Broken / about to break down / and a nightmare to fix.
Its amazing the amount of folks willing to jump on the band wagon at the drop of a hat & a few fond memories.
Get a Marantz - Job done....

jammy395 wrote:I must say this must be the FOM .....But fuk know's why, they all seem to be - Broken / about to break down / and a nightmare to fix.
Its amazing the amount of folks willing to jump on the band wagon at the drop of a hat & a few fond memories.
Get a Marantz - Job done....

If only it were as simple as just getting a Marantz...My SLP1200 cost me £145 delivered and I had about a year of trouble free use from it during which time I discovered it is pretty much the best CD player I have ever heard by a significant margin. Jerry's is working fine and he concurs with my view - and unlike me he has owned a fair few 'high end' players in his time. It is not all about fond memories. I don't think the players are inherently unreliable but you have to remember these are pro machines and most will have tens of thousands of hours put on them in broadcast studios prior to ending up in some enthusiast's home 30 years down the line. Consider how many people on forums are looking for replacements for multi thousand pound Naim players that have only lasted 5 years and probably no more than a few thousand hours of light domestic use. Some of us just like to try old kit for the sake of it, just to see what it is like, if we take a hit now and then we just chalk it up to experience.