You just can't go wrong with this baby! (Technics SL-1200MK2)

Member Name: slapster

Product:	Technics SL-1200MK2
Date:	26/04/01 (1193 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: EVERYTHING

Disadvantages: NOTHING

Back when I was about 14 years old, I wanted desperately to have two decks and a mixer. I couldn't afford them and quickly found out that stripping the wires down on the cables of two record players and taping them together didn't work!

Now that I am a grown up and have managed to earn a few quid I decided last year to make my chilhood dreams come true. Whilst I did reseacrh other decks, I plumped for the Technics SL1200 MKII. To be honest I went for the 1200s over the 1210 purely because I thought that the only difference was the colour and I like the silver ones! I believe that there is a technical difference between the two but not one noticeable to most users.

I am V V V pleased with my decision. Even though I am novice in terms of my skills, I can see why pros have chosen these decks for so many years.

If you are starting out I would urge you to save up enough cash to buy SL1200s, here's why.

You will be clumsy with you fingers when you start. You'll press the records much harder than you need to when cueing, you'll be heavy handed speeding up or slowing the turntable, you'll probably knock and budge the decks when you panic realising that your live mix sounds like a horse winning the Grand National! BUT buy a decent deck like the SL1200 and it will take the punishment.

Why? Well basically the construction. The Deck plate is heavy aluminium which is driven by a very powerful high torque motor. This means that it will not lose the fight with your fingers and slip mat when cueing up a record. It gets up to speed in well under a second meaning you will be able to plant that killer bass thump bang on time into your mix. the base of the unit is also very heavy (dont try and lift both of them at once when you pick them up form the shop)which means it wont transfer a knock to the plate and subsequently the needle if you bang your hand against it in a moment of madness.

I have not ha
d any detectable pitch slip with either of my decks in over a year. freinds have bought similarly priced alternatives and have had to compensate during the mix for this kind of problem. When you are starting out you do not want this problem making the whole business even more confusing.

The deck passes a lovely pure signal from the cartridge needle combo to your mixer.

You will, by buying the decks, automatically become an unofficial member of the "I own an SL1200" club with the internet being a tremendous resource of enthusiasts ready to share tips on getting the best from your deck.

if you are buying for the first time, and are a newbie user, do what I didn't. Ask the shop to talk you through correctly balancing the tone arm and fitting the cartridge. It is a straight forward procedure but get it slightly wrong and you will percieve problems with your deck like needles skipping on an intro bass beat, that are not a fault of the deck at all.

Downsides? None really at all. I guess I'd like to see a pitch control that doesn't have a zero % click thing, i.e. a smooth -8 to +8 travel, I think they may even have one now!

Anyway, I love mine, sometimes I just clean them and look at them to say thank you for the hours of punping pleasure they give me.

Sad but true.

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