A while ago I was contacted by a potentially new LP12 owner. He saw a mid-eighties Sondek for sale. The owner indicated that the unit did not switch on, and I immediately figured that this could be an easy fix. For the most part the unit looked reasonable. It had been in storage for some time, and definitely needed a bit of TLC. Closer inspection showed a few flaws, likely caused by exposure to the sun. Here are some images of the unit.
The lid needs a bit of polish and the owner has already started with the process, as can be seen below.
The arm fitted is a Basik Plus and apart from a small bit of plastic missing from the lift mechanism, it seems to be in good condition. The missing plastic can be machined.
There is some damage to the armboard but this can most likely be fixed by carefully polishing the finish.
The new owner is currently restoring the plinth. This is a beautiful fluted Afromosia plinth and all it needs is to be coated with teak oil. It may require quite a few applications to allow the wood to absorb the oil, but this takes time. The rest of the plinth is in good condition. There are no seam splits on the corners and the plinth benefits from the additional corner bracing that was added to these models around 1984-1985.
The next steps
With the unit not working, it gives the owner time to clean it properly. The top plate needs a bit if cleaning, the platter can do with a wipe, and the mat can be cleaned (with either cellotape to remove surface debris, or careful vacuming). After this, we will investigate why it does not switch on and seek our trusted Linn expert in Pretoria to test the Valhalla board to find and rectify the fault. It could be something as simple as a fuse or a capacitor that must be replaced. I am sure that within a short while we will post images of the completed restoration, and get feedback from the owner himself. Looking forward to it.
The revived LP12
We are pleased to report the latest on the LP12 refurbish. What is great about the LP12 is that it allows you to work with the unit. Unlike many other turntables or digital transports that you put down and then have no real interaction with, the Sondek is different. Here are some images:
As you can see printed in the corner bracing, we have the date the unit was produced, along with the signature of whoever was responsible for it. Great that the owner shares this detail with us, and a valuable bit of information!
The unit was taken apart and stripped down to the plinth. Given that it has the beautiful fluted appearance, it deserves some real refurbishing. It was sanded down in steps, and then coated with a brand new coat of varnish.
Update, 16 September 2024
It is becoming really exciting to see this LP12 being refurbished. The client informed me late last week that he received the parts he purchased from Cymbiosis Audio Consultants in the UK, and the parts arrived way sooner than he thought, with no problems at all as it was shipped using DHL. Thus, he was able to continue, as seen below.
The new armboard has been fitted, a Linn original.
The plinth has been restored and after being sanded down and then treated, it looks brand new.
The armboard looks absolutely gorgeous, and the arm lift has been fixed by machining a new black plastic cover. Refer to the older photo closer to the top of the page so see how it looked. Not only did the client get the replacement armboard, he also purchased new hinges, a felt mat, and bearing oil. Despite us not being able to source this reasonably in South Africa, it is good to know that there are options available to us. I am looking forward to the next chapter in this exciting refurb process.