I’ve been busy with LP12’s through the lockdowns and sourcing parts and building them has become a bit of an obsession.
First I updated my existing Sondek with a lovely new and very characterful Linn Oak plinth and new top plate and added an Urika and Karousel. So far I’m lukewarm about the Urika and prefer the Superline. Cartridge choice isn’t settled yet though. A work in progress really.
Spec is Radikal, Kore, Ekos 1/Skale, Urika, Klyde
Next I built all the old parts into a Majik spec deck to sell. It’s a really nice starter LP12.
Spec is Majik PSU, Cirkus, Majik/Jelco arm and cable and an AT120e/II
The next one up was catalysed by the acquisition of a Grace G-707 because I always wanted to hear an early LP12 configuration. I bought an early donor deck that had the correct Grace armboard but it needed a lot of attention. It’s turned out really nice in the end. Lovely old skool LP12 sound and a real history lesson for me. I doubt I’ll keep it much longer but it’s been a fun project.
Spec is Grace G-707, early white liner pre-Cirkus bearing with spot welded subchassis and a refurbished non-corner braced plinth. The only bit of modernity is the Valhalla. Cartridge is a Shure M75ed with a NOS original stylus.
Next one was something I decided to build for my brother. I noticed that there were a lot of cosmetic second Rega RB303 being sold off cheap so that decided the arm. Then I found a tatty corner braced plinth that needed a bit of TLC and the rest of the parts came together quite readily. For an entry level LP12 it sounded absolutely ace and my brother was delighted with it. It was so good I’m thinking about doing another.
Spec was corner braced plinth with a late black liner pre-Cirkus bearing and glued sub-chassis, Hercules II PSU, Rega RB303 and an AT3600L cartridge.
Finally the parts came together for the deck I was meant to be building all along. I did have a Naim’d LP12 in the past and fancied another so the hunt for the parts started with the chance acquisition of the Chris Harban Wenge plinth. Someone had hand varnished it! Sacrilege! A light rub down and wax polish has it right again. Then I found an aluminium one piece sub-chassis/armboard for an Aro that had been apparently made by some enthusiasts in Germany. Basically it’s a very close Keel/A clone as far as I can tell. The Aro took me about 8 months to source and it came after a chance conversation with someone over some LP12 parts he was selling. He’d had the Aro serviced at Naim over 10 years ago with an ESCO rebuilt Troika and never got around to building his dream deck. I jumped at the chance! It came with a Prefix although I haven’t used it yet. I needed to source the arm cable but got exceedingly lucky when someone responded to a wanted advert. Finally a mint Armageddon 2 topped off a dream spec LP12. It’s playing through the Superline and I absolutely love it. My very best LP12 yet.
Spec is Woodsong Wenge plinth, Tiger Paw Khan top plate, Keel-a-like, Karousel, Aro, Troika, Trampolin II, Armageddon 2.
That’s all for now, I have a few more plans cooking but I’ll need a bit of consolidation first.