LP12 Support

A resource guide for Linn Sondek LP12 turntable owners in South Africa

LP12 Support

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We offer advice and technical support to anyone in South Africa who owns an out-of-warranty Linn Sondek LP12 turntable or would like to purchase one.


The Linn Sondek LP12 turntable is a classic that has stood the test of time. Like good wine, a LP12 ages well. In fact, many of the original LP12 turntables manufactured in 1973 are still around. Most have been upgraded to later specifications.

Technical Support: The LP12 fundis on this website are enthusiasts that have spent a lot of time with their turntables. Many are also technical wizzes who understand the technology driving the LP12, and can service these units to get the best out of them.

Service and upgrades: It is not advisable to transport a LP12 turntable using courier companies. Instead, we put you in touch with recognised individuals in your area, where you can take your unit to them to have it serviced and upgrades performed. [ More on services we render... ]

Spares: Your LP12 is a fantastic product, but it will eventually require replacement parts. Motors and power supplies, belts and mats, armboards and tonearms, and cartridges – these are normal items you can replace or upgrade, although obtaining these items can be difficult.


Latest News


  • Friday, 6 December 2024, 11 am: Twice in the space of seven days we have been able to connect would-be buyers with sellers who have excellent LP12s for sale. The latest was this morning. By Friday afternoon the new owner had collected a beautiful turntable. Once we have the photos, we will publish them here. Watch this space.

  • Wednesday, 4 December 2024, 9 am: An older LP12 has found a new home! We reported on 19 September 2024 about an enthusiast who found a LP12 in a fair condition and refurbished it. The process has now been completed.

    Refurbished LP12

    [ Have a look. I think it looks gorgeous! ]

  • Friday, 29 November 2024: Another pre-loved LP12 has found a new home, much quicker than the new owner thought.

  • Read on

    Not always easy, but sometimes things happen very quickly

    The Linn Sondek LP12 is becoming a relatively scarce turntable in South Africa, given the rise of the product to almost cult status, and the vinyl revival that just does not seem to wane anytime soon. Here at LP12 Support we do what we do because we have a passion for music, vinyl, and the LP12. There is no financial incentive at all. Let me explain how sometimes the impossible can happen.

    On Wednesday morning at about 8 am I received email from someone who has long been into serious hifi, but never analogue, who felt he now wants to experience what it is all about. He said that he is looking for a LP12 in pristine condition and does not want to struggle building up something from scratch. I promised to look around. After only one email sent, and a search online, I found a pristine LP12, exactly what the client said he wanted. What attracted me to this unit were the specifications. For the price, it was a bargain.

    I forwarded the advertisement to the potential client, who contacted the seller immediately. The deal was done right there and all that remains is for the new owner to collect the unit, located some distance from his home. The whole process took less than an hour and as the new owner said in a reply email, he is now the proud owner of a Linn Sondek LP12. I will wait to reveal the details once the client has received his unit and has given permission for them to be posted here. I am sure he is going to be very happy.

    I have learnt a few things from this experience. There are still some excellent pre-loved LP12s available. You just need to know what to look out for. Of course, there will be sellers who want to make a ton of money selling junk, hence I stress that if you want to buy one, contact us so that we can investigate first. I can spot a scammer a mile away.

    These units do not have to cost a lot when available as stock. Usually “stock” means it is a LP12 that has not been tweaked and changed so much that it hardly resembles a LP12 anymore. Any decent 80s model with a Valhalla power supply, Basik or Ittok arm, and with a plinth that looks like it has been taken care of, will do. If you are in the same situation as this new owner, contact as and we will see what we can find. Maybe you are the next lucky owner of a pre-loved Sondek.


  • Friday, 4 October 2024: Yet another LP12 has found a new owner who will surely appreciate that he got the bargain of the year! Read more about the process to refurbish this beauty.

Older News

[ Find older news here... ]

About the LP12

Yes, you can do it yourself


  • Wednesday, 20 November 2024: If you are looking for an excellent resource to upgrade your LP12, Dave Cutter's YouTube channel is what you need. We reported a while ago about a fellow-Linnie who upgraded his Valhalla power supply to a much better Minos [ More about it here... ]. Dave did the same, but installed the higher specification Zeus, essentially the same unit but with some advanced electronics. Below are the videos in the two-part series in which Dave explains the process and warns us of some do's and don't's.





LP12 Stories

We share the stories of some LP12 owners.

The Linn Sondek LP 12 was always a dream of mine as a young lad growing up. I also somehow had a little fear deep within me, as I always assumed that one needs to be a technical expert to own an LP12, as it was rumoured to be a very high maintenance piece of Hifi equipment.

Life moved on but I still had this deep yearning for the Sondek LP12 and that feeling never went away. After speaking to the LP12 gurus on the LP12 site, I realised that my fears are far from reality. With time and patience I finally have my very own piece of musical history, a 1985 stock standard Sondek LP 12; and it proudly forms the centrepiece of my setup. The wait was well worth it. Listening to an LP plays to my soul and not my ears.

Testimonials 6

Muks Naidoo

New LP12 Owner

The biggest mistake I made during 40 years or more of having hifi components, was selling my LP12 years ago. I regretted that decision. Circumstances prevented me from getting another LP12, but the moment it was possible, I bought a pristine unit made in 1982. My vinyl days have restarted, maybe not in the way I used to enjoy the hobby, but this time I am sure my LP12 will outlive me.

Testimonials 1

Andries

Web Developer, LP12 enthusiast

When I first saw the silhouette of the Sondek LP12 in the mid nineties I was obsessed with how it looked. This of course sparked a fiery interest in the turntable and its story, and in 2016 I got my first LP12. It has been a love affair since then.

Testimonials 2

Dewald

Electronics Expert, LP12 enthusiast

What we do

Our various Linn fundis supply a range of services. All are perfectly capable of servicing your LP12 by performing maintenance, or add new or replacement parts. Some will offer more services, especially where non-original Linn solutions are used, such as modified suspensions, power supply solutions, and tonearms.

Classic LP12 Turntable

General maintenance

Have an expert look at your LP12, check the main bearing, add oil if necessary, check the position of the motor, test the startup speed, check for speed consistency, and perform a general cleanup.


More general maintenance information...

Keel Subchassis

Subchassis and suspension

Suspensions are subject to movement such as lateral and vertical upsets. In time, the suspension needs to be checked, springs tightened, the main bearing and platter checked, and the armboard levelled at all four corners. We can offer upgrades where relevant, else suggest expenses relating to smaller items that form part of the subchassis and suspension.


More on suspensions...

LP12 Motor

Power supply upgrades

Each time an upgrade is made to the power supply, the objective is to provide a smoother operation, and more effective isolation from disturbances through your home's power feed.


We can assist with upgrades to power supplies, such as the Minos and Zeus.


Motors and power supplies...

LP12 Bits and Pieces to Upgrade

Various upgrades

Some owners decide they want a new plinth for their trusted turntable. There are a few experts that can build a new plinth in the finish of your choice. Even if they do not go this far, they can service the plinth, deal with nicks and scuffs, and generally make the plinth appear as good as new.


More miscellaneous information...

The Team

This website is not a business. (See our disclaimer...) It simply aims to be a quality support site, assisted by enthusiasts who enjoy their turntables. Here are some of our LP12 fundis who are ready to help you. If you need assistance, we advise you to contact the LP12 fundi closest to you. As we said elsewhere, sending your priceless LP12 by courier is just about the worst mistake you can make. Apart from having to pack it properly for its journey (Few of us have the original packaging material our turntables were originally delivered in.), the courier company is not going to treat the parcel properly. Rather just take it yourself. Here are some pointers before you drive off, to ensure that even if you take it yourself, mishaps and expensive repairs can be avoided.


  • Remove the outer platter. Protect it properly with any soft material. Be careful that it does not slip out.
  • Insert pieces of folded cardboard under the inner platter so that it is lifted up by about 1 cm. This way the central shaft's contact point does not touch the bottom of the bearing. At the same time there is little chance of spilling bearing oil.
  • Remove the tonearm's counterweight. This protects the arm's bearings, even if the arm is tied down.
  • Cover the cartridge. Nuff said.
Andries Oberholzer, LP12 Owner
Andries Oberholzer, Owner
Web developer and general contact
084 531-8046
Dewald Visser
Dewald Visser, Electronics Designer
LP12 Fundi, Pretoria region
072 039-5379
Wayne Roux
Wayne Roux, Audio Expert
LP12 Fundi, Johannesburg region
072 336-5599
Leander Van Rooyen
Leander Van Rooyen, Audio Expert
LP12 Fundi, Stellenbosch region
082 088-6688


Let us share some information about our team of LP12 fundis.

Andries Oberholzer, is me, just the web developer, but with a keen interest in music and vinyl. My vinyl days, like with many others, had its ups and downs. I started with decent products in 1983 when I upgraded from a Pioneer rack system to my first decent hifi. Lemmie Davis from Soundlab in Milpark patiently sat with me, a student at the time, for many hours and allowed me to listen to systems I could never afford (LP12/Ittok/Asak frontend, Naim amplification, and Linn Kan, Sara, and Isobarik speakers) but man, they sounded unbelievable. What I bought eventually was something more in line with my university bursary payout – a Rega Planar 3, NAD 3020A, Boston A40, Linn Kan stands, and Monster speaker cable. Later on I would sell these and go digital. It sounded excellent, but the same passion was never there again, until the second Planar 3 came my way in 2004, then the first LP12 in 2006. We often do stupid things. I admit that being out of the loop with vinyl for many years was one of the stupid things I did.

If you are in the Pretoria area, Dewald Visser is the man to contact. There is little he cannot do. I was fortunate enough to chat with him about the development work he has done for the LP12 sub-chassis. I saw the parts, and let me tell you, the build quality is exceptional. Dewald designed the various parts – sub-chassis, armboard, base, and top plate. Along with the smaller bits like springs, spacers, bolts, and nuts, this is a formidable kit that will let your LP12 really shine. While the bad exchange rate makes it expensive to source parts from abroad, it is great to see that locally there is immense talent. Dewald also builds his own amplifiers, and services just about any product that has to do with audio. More information is available on Dewaudio.

I have known Wayne Roux since 1989. In 2004 I bought a Rega Planar 3 (my second one), and Wayne installed a new motor for me. In 2006, he coaxed me to look at a LP12 and in no time I was the owner of a mint unit with an Alphason HR100S tonearm and Ortofon Kontrapunkt a moving coil cartridge. That was most definitely the best turntable I ever owned. Wayne is passionate about turntables, cartridges, phono stages, and vinyl, and has helped many fortunate LP12 owners to get the best out of their equipment, and many others to get a LP12. If you are in the Johannesburg / East Rand area, Wayne is your answer.

Leander Van Rooyen is a legend in the hifi industry in South Africa. He gets his passion from his father, who, along with Lemmie Davis from what was then Soundlab, was one of the first people to bring Linn products to our shores. Leander recalls that his dad knew how to perfectly set up a LP12. The apple certainly has not fallen far from the tree. We are delighted to have Leander on board. He brings a wealth of knowledge about the turntable and hifi in general. It is great to hear that there are individuals who are still passionate about spinning the black stuff. If you are in the Western Cape and your LP12 needs a bit of TLC, contact Leander without delay.

If you are experienced in working with LP12 turntables and would like to join the team, send us your details and we will list you here.

Your questions answered

Here are some common questions we hear all the time, answered as honostly as possible.

  • In time the suspension will sag. This is simply gravity doing its thing. Your suspension needs to be adjusted at all three points. Doing this yourself is risky. First, you will not have the required jig to mount the turntable onto so that you can work from the bottom upwards. Second, even if the unit has been switched off for a while, if you touch the capacitors on the power supply, you are toast. Rather contact any LP12 fundi in your area. They will know what to do.

  • Discolouration is sometimes annoying, but it is normal. As your platter ages, it loses its original shine. It is protected by a layer of lacquer. Do not remove this unless you really must do it. Some owners like a shiny, almost chrome, appearance. If you must do this, let us suggest the best way so that you do not ruin your very expensive platter. Learn more...

  • The first place to start is to see if the power is switched on. If the red LED shines, but dimly and you have a Valhalla board or an external Lingo power supply, eventually the capacitors dry out and must be replaced. This is an easy fix, but ony by an experienced person. Do not touch your Valhalla board or any other electric components under any circumstances. Touching those capacitors can be fatal.

    If you think the capacitors are in order, have the motor checked by a LP12 fundi. Sometimes all that is needed are a few drops of oil. Note that Ordinary Joe cannot do this himself as it requires taking off the bottom plate, removing the motor, and using the right oil.

  • There are many scammers out there who will take you for a ride, or just someone who does not know what they are talking about. Before you commit to buying a LP12, here are some pointers:

    Online photos: You can spot a scammer a mile away. If there are five photos, for example, and each shows a LP12 with a different power switch, arm, cartridge, platter, and so on, it is probably not the actual unit for sale. I see this on Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace every day.

    Price: A LP12 with a standard Valhalla power supply and Ittok cannot cost more than about R30 000.00. Any more than this is a ripoff. Check the serial number as a guideline to see when it was manufactured. See this article for an indication of milestone changes.

    Ekos Mk 1 tonearm: As good as the Ekos arm is, earlier versions, notably the Mk1, had problems with the bearing and grease. This is impossible to fix locally and owners who had Ekos arms with sticky bearings sent theirs on extended trips to Linn in Scotland.

    Function: Arrange to see the unit yourself and let the owner (a) switch it on – check the startup speed. Anything more than five seconds from 0 to 33 means the power supply's capacitors or on their way out, or that the belt is worn out.

    Arm bearings: If possible, ask the owner to rebalance the arm. This should indicate if there are possible issues with the arm's bearing. When balanced but without applying tracking weight, the arm should float in a horizonal position. A slight, very soft tap towards the middle should show the arm moving smoothly. Anything else may show that the bearings are suspect.

    General impression: Ask to listen to at least a few seconds of music you know. This will tell if the motor is stable, and if both channels work.

    Appearance: Look out for obvious signs of wear that is more than usual – the plinth, lid, top plate, and arm board should be reasonably clean and clear of any dents or scratches that may indicate abuse. If there are signs of abuse here, chances are good that more sensitive parts may have been damaged.

    If at all possible, ask a more knowledgeable friend to go with you to check out the unit. Remember that even if things look OK, you are buying the unit voetstoots (as is, with known and unknown defects) and once it has left the seller's location, what goes wrong is for your expense.

  • This is a very effective and easy fix. Take some teak oil and a sponge. Pour a small amount of oil on the sponge and carefully smear it around the plinth. Using a sponge ensures the oil penetrates the grooves. If you live in a dry climate, you may have to do this every few months.

  • It could well be that the Valvalla power supply, if you have one installed, is acting up. It happened to me when I bought my LP12 in 2023. Startup was slow, and on the first play it ground to a halt ten minutes in. It turned out that the Valhalla board was faulty. I had it recapped by one of the Sondek fundis, and it is now perfect.

  • The Axis and Basik turntables and excellent units in their own right. Sometimes though, they are a little bit harder to service, and spares are even more difficult to obtain. However, it is often only the power supply that gives problems and, like the Valhalla board on the LP12, it can be recapped and will function as new. If you have one of these turntables, then of course we will assist where we can.

Contact

LP12 is not a commercial business entity, but part of the Andries Oberholzer Consulting group of activities, and we do not have a shop or store. We cannot guarantee that we can source spares. We rely on our LP12 fundis to assist owners of LP12, Basik, and Axis turntables. Feel free to contact us on info@lp12.co.za for general enquiries, else contact the various LP12 fundis listed in the team section.

Location:
Montana Park
Pretoria
0182

Call:
084 531-8046