Dj'ing Hints, Tips and Help by Recess - Learn to DJ

This page has been created basically by cutting and pasting from a newsgroup string. I don't know who asked the question, but the guy who gave the answer (André Huisman) is basically God like in his knowledge of all things deckish!!

I sometimes wonder whether he gets pissed off at all by all the people who ask his advice on the newsgroups, but he always seems knowledgeable, and helpful. If there's ever anything technical that you want to know more about, then it's an idea to get in touch with the alt.music.makers.dj newsgroup, see if he'll hang on anything you ask in there.

Anyway, here's the reply he gave - changed only a little for spelling.

"........... I've seen a lot of people selling/buying used 1200's on the net in various discussion groups.

Does anybody have any practical advice about cleaning up and/or servicing used turntables once you buy some used turntables from somebody? It would be great if someone could give details on what to do for different levels of service that needs to be completed depending on the shape of the turntable........."

Some-one asked this question a while back. The "half written" answer was just sitting in the "send later" basket. I thought I'd send it anyway (though it's not quite finished to my taste).

Moderately used - clean dust off, oil and lubricate (whatever that may require):-

Remove platter, put a small drop of sewing machine oil on the center spindle (near the brass bearing) and place the platter on the spindle again.

Only if you've gotten the TT pretty cheap. Otherwise it wouldn't be really cost-effective.

Get a can of compressed air, get a degreaser can (that's a can with a solution that dissolves gunked up grease). First use the compressed air to remove the excess dust. Now use the grease dissolver to dissolve any grease/gunk deposits in the tone-arms bearings (don't forget the base bearing as well). Now dip a needle (a sewing needle) in sewing machine oil . Tip every bearing with said needle holding a small droplet of oil (redip after you've tipped a bearing of course).

Check the base lock. It should be locked (you can find it at the base of the tone-arm). Now jiggle the tone-arm. There should be NO play on it. If there is, HAVE it removed. Don't do this yourself. You might have to replace the bearings (or the entire tone-arm).

Remove needle (keep cartridge inserted) and level the tone-arm till it floats. Push gently downwards. It should move up and down in an evenly fashion after you've let it go. If not, left and/or right bearings are shot. Set anti-skating to 1 grams or so. Place tone-arm closest to center of TT (remember it's still floating in air). Let go of the tone-arm. It should "float" back to the arm-rest in an even fashion. If NOT, top and/or bottom bearings are shot. Either have the bearings replaced (if possible, I don't know (I've once repaired them (put in new balls; this was in my hobby days of course ;-)) or replace the entire tone-arm (is overkill but often easier to do than replacing the bearings).

Check platter for bending. Rotate it. It should be flat. look at it from the side (with your head level to the top of the TT). It shouldn't move up and down while it rotates. If it does then someone has used it as an arm-rest. You could try to bend it back by pushing at the opposite side of the lowest position (hope you know what I mean, use common sense). If not, check if the center spindle is still straight. If not, you need a new spindle assembly. Otherwise you might need a new platter.

I actually have one of those in the shop right now. The owner (a club) wanted me to service this one. I don't think I'll bother though.

Second hand: You'll always have to guess what you get. You don't save all that much most of the time. Better is to save up for a few new ones. If you're lucky you'll find a few that have been used by someone at home (a NO DJ kind of guy). If you're lucky ;-)