A while ago I was contacted by a potentially new LP12 owner, Werner Swanepoel. 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 at the time of purchase.
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.
A note on the corner bracing: Up to about 1984 LP12 plinths did not have corner bracing. It was implemnted as a result of some plinths bcoming skew, or joints pulling apart. Now Linn was quick to point out that the bracing is in fact an upgrade and makes the unit sound better. We can have a long discussion about this. Anyway, if your unit does not have the corner bracing and it is structurally sound and does not wobble, leave it as it is. Your older plinth does not have the required recess to fit the corner bracing, and from what we have read, adding it afterwards does not in any way make the turntable sound better. Save yourself the hassle, and possibly damage to the plinth, unless you really feel you are up to the task.
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 one from stainless steel. 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.
Update, 4 December 2024
I received the following photos of the completed project:
The Valhalla board on the original unit did not work anymore. However, this does not mean it is bust. It may still be revived for future use or sale. We were able to source one from a fellow LP12 owner. A quick chat between buyer and seller, and the job was done.
This is a simple but effective solution to an old problem of the LP12 – the inability to access the tonearm's cable. Not only does the hole in the base board allow access to the cable, but it also serves another vital service, allowing air circulation for the Valhalla board that can become quite hot.
Isn't this just beautiful? The refurbished plinth looks like a million dollars.
While some parts may have been purchased new, the older components often merely need a bit of TLC to make them look like new. This turntable is definitely not meant to be hidden out of sight and will be centre piece of the owner's living room.
A few different views are given here and below.
The owner says the Linn cartridge installed is still in good condition.
If you are wondering how the lid can look so good, the owner says he got some Liqumoly Kratzer Stop that works beautifully. Use it with a micro fibre cloth, put in a bit of effort, and it is as good as new. Given the price of a new LP12 lid, this solution is certainly worth investigating.
The latest addition to the turntable upgrade is a really nice Ortofon 2M Blue. The 2M range, consisting of the Red, Blue, Bronze, and Black, are all stellar performers at their particular price points. I remember testing a 2M Red years ago on a Rega P7 turntable and it sounded fantastic right out of the box.
Summary
Owner Werner Swanepoel has shown that he has the skills to refurbish just about anything to do with the LP12 and offers free advice and guidance in this regard. If you need anything machined, such as the armlift Werner did from stainless steel, or you want to refurbish your plinth, polish your lid or whatever, feel free to contact him on swanepoel.werner@gmail.com for more information.