The Linn LP12 over the years

I've been very fortunate to work on all manner of LP12's and recently, have been forced to reconsider how the thing sounded forty plus years ago before the Ittok appeared.

Be warned if considering an old one. Old plinths can part at the seams, non-screwed mounting blocks before 1982 can work loose with dire sonic consequences, main bearings can be excellent still, but some are knackered now and mid 80's examples may have missed a non-official recall. The guru at Cymbiosis won't touch certain bearings for this very reason. The spot welded sub-chassis with plywood arm-board can work well with a Mission 774 or Hadcock (and may also work well with a Grace 707, but not the way we fitted them at the time), but sounds dire with an ittok and other massy types. Motors tend to last well depending on the thrust components fitted but Valhalla boards DON'T. Years of 24/7 running destroys the caps and not all can be successfully serviced. In fact, the original simple supply plus ferrites can 'sound' better than a Valhalla kit to some. At least the two speed Hercules board can be drop-fitted in, but the motor is still fully powered and vibration isn't reduced.


Anyway, decent examples over the years can make LP's sound enjoyable and entertaining. Course you can get better, but better ain't always 'nicer to listen to' so each to their own.

That is the 'LP-12' i would only ever entertain. Sounded great with the Grace 'G-707'. I used to have a rare Black 'G-707' with 'F-9' Cart. I was never a Flat Earth guy i just like the Deck/Combo at the time. 

You live & learn, Shame a lot never learn. Pretty much all Grace arms were great IMHO.

Aye the last versions of the Mayware was great, early ones had a flimsy Head shell in comparison.

If people don't like the plastic head shell on the 'G-707' they could have easily opted for a 'G-727'..Pretty much like a 'G-707' but with a plug in head shell.

I have a good G707 here but sad to say, outside of an early LP12 pre glued sub chassis and laminated armboard, it screams too much in my experience. Sounded great with an ADC XLM/ZLM style cartridge as well as the ubiquitous Grace F9 MM's and Supex 900E MC, but the resonant low mass design and VERY frail exit cable (only around seven very fine strands in the + wiring in the cable which can easily break) makes it little better than an 'Improved fixed head' SME 3009 to be brutally honest.

I sold and set up countless Maywares in my time and forty years or more ago, a Sonus Blue worked beautifully in it, but I can't get enthusiastic about it today. I do appreciate that Andr'e has had much better results in his projects (hope you're keeping well and safe sir!).

Westie and I have chatted about this and from personal crap here, PLEASE try not to kick stuff out on a knee-jerk! I've been doing some (for me) deep thinking about gear I've owned, loved and sold, usually for financial reasons and one notable pair of active speakers I wish i could have kept, sold for love, marriage and a total subsequent life change... need I say more I've NEVER had such good sounds at home since and I'm pissed about it now. I'd like to have kept my Revox plus master tape copies, but CD's of the material I had on tape sounded better (less grainy) and despite the looks, the thing would just be a dust collecting ornament now.

I look at my vinyl players and nearly weep over the loss of the Notts Analogue deck I once loved. In recent times I've grown to hankering after an LP12 deck cobbled together out of traded in parts just for old time's sake - I have a reasonable 1982 screwed-block plinth, so that's a start I think I know enough about the sodding things now to be able to get acceptable sounds from such a cobble if I get the arm right Having said that, the precise pitch stability of a serious idler model (301, 401, Lenco) is highly tempting as long as colouration, noise and feedback related low level shit doesn't get in the way...

A shame it seems that Tiger Paw are no more. The top plate worked with typical plinths of any age and the magnetic bearing aid which reduces the load on the bearing point by 75% or so was also a good idea imo. The Javelin tonearm was a delight, being easier to handle with less wobble than an ARO and far, FAR better to my ears than a current £1600 or so Akito which sounds as grey and grainy as ever to me..

Hey Ho...