Pioneer turntable?

[eskimo]

Anyone know anything about the front-loading Pioneer PL-44fs? 'Cause I just bought one (my first table) and haven't a clue.

[Steve Hoffman]

That's a belt drive machine I guess. I had a PL-12d that I used for years.

If you need a new belt for it try this website:

http://www.elexatelier.com/pioneer.htm

[eskimo]

Yes, belt driven, thanks for the link. I'm going to get it tuned up--and of course I'll need to buy some vinyl. I haven't a single record, but they're been so many good comments about turntable sound (and I've newly fallen in love with an old Pioneer RT-707 reel to reel) that I had to give it a shot. Should I consider this a good quality unit or something that needs upgrading? I really have no idea how records should sound; the last time I was around a table I was about 3 years old.

[Steve Hoffman]

My PL-12 was the bottom of the line unit and I kept it for 10 years, happily. I'm sure the 44 was a better machine, but I can't find a picture of it anywhere on the Net. Put a nice Shure cart in it and take 100 dollars and go buy some records. I bet you will be able to find 40 good albums for that amount somewhere....

Have fun.

[eskimo]

Here's a link to the only picture I was able to find:

http://www.jhepple.com/ae_tutor4.htm

[mikelakers]

Originally posted by eskimo
Here's a link to the only picture I was able to find:

http://www.jhepple.com/ae_tutor4.htm

Oh my god! I remember lusting for one of those back in the 80's, how much did you pay Eskimo?

Also, welcome to the Forum and "vinyl world":thumbsup:

[eskimo]

$50. Needs a belt. Have any idea where it fell in their line, specs, etc.?

I can't wait!

[mikelakers]

Dunno much about it at all, it just look too cool back then.

*p.s. Be sure to get a good cartridge and have it properly mounted.

[eskimo]

Will do. Looking at Shure and Grado. I'll let you know how it works.

[Ronflugelguy]

Originally posted by Steve Hoffman
My PL-12 was the bottom of the line unit and I kept it for 10 years, happily. I'm sure the 44 was a better machine, but I can't find a picture of it anywhere on the Net. Put a nice Shure cart in it and take 100 dollars and go buy some records. I bet you will be able to find 40 good albums for that amount somewhere....

Have fun.

I used to have aPL 12-d, traded it in on a luxman table I bought from Sound Center in Woodland Hills. steve do you know Paul Karbel? I wonder what ever happened to him, they had the biggest bunch of MOFI lps I've ever seen! This was around 1980.

[Irwin Mainway]

Speaking of which, I just bought a used PL-10 on eBay yesterday. I hope its a decent table. I got rid of a lot of records in the late 80's and have recently decided to get back into vinyl again. Just picked up a Decca Tommy today for 5 bucks. Woo-hoo!

Thanks for that belt link, Steve.

Where is the best place online to pick up a shure cart?

Just looked at the elexatelier site... DUH...they carry cartridges too....:thumbsup:

[Steve Hoffman]

I remember the Sound Center. Wow, haven't heard that name in a while...

[quadjoe]

Originally posted by Irwin Mainway
Speaking of which, I just bought a used PL-10 on eBay yesterday. I hope its a decent table. I got rid of a lot of records in the late 80's and have recently decided to get back into vinyl again. Just picked up a Decca Tommy today for 5 bucks. Woo-hoo!

Thanks for that belt link, Steve.

Where is the best place online to pick up a shure cart?

Just looked at the elexatelier site... DUH...they carry cartridges too....:thumbsup:

Irwin:

I owned a PL-10 from 1975 until 1997, and it was a great TT, very basic and simple and nothing to go really wrong. I "upgraded" to a Technics DD table which uses p-mount carts (most of which suck, but I found a decent Stanton and AT) and i still miss the Pioneer. I've been outbid on eBay twice now (was that you???), but I'm going to keep trying.

Also try www.garage-a-records.com for Shure carts they seem to have very good prices and a knowledgable sales staff. They also carry the full line of Grado cartridges which I also like.

[BradOlson]

NorthernLightFX (you know where the link is on Steve's site) does carry the full line of Stanton cartridges and the 680 EL II is the cheapest of the HiFi carts Stanton makes and sounds great.

[Damián]

My .02 here..

I had a front-loading Aiwa turntable with me from the early 80s to sometime in the mid-90s. The unit seemed well built (it was a DD model), got quite a bit of use and served me well.

But when it broke, what actually turned it unusable was the clunky front-loading mechanism, for which of course there were no replacement parts. I guess the model was looked upon more as a 'novelty' than as a serious playback unit.

If your turntable has a top cover (mine had), my personal suggestion is that you operate it by hand -ie. do not use the front-loading mechanism-. You'll probably save some wear on the mechanism.

For a while I also thought about the effect all those 'extra' parts (the front-loading stuff) might have had on the sound, what with resonances and all, but I guess I was being too picky.

As for a cartridge, I haven't tried the ones the guys suggest but if you want another name to look up, I'm really satisfied with my Audio Technica cartridge, model AT110E. I ordered mine from Mantra Audio (no affiliation). Cost me about $37 w/ shipping.

Hope you enjoy your re-entry into vinyl

Damián

[TommyTunes]

Originally posted by Steve Hoffman
My PL-12 was the bottom of the line unit and I kept it for 10 years, happily.

I used a PL-12D with a Shure M91ED cartridge from about 73 to 82. Very reliable table.

[Irwin Mainway]

Originally posted by quadjoe


Irwin:

I owned a PL-10 from 1975 until 1997, and it was a great TT, very basic and simple and nothing to go really wrong. I "upgraded" to a Technics DD table which uses p-mount carts (most of which suck, but I found a decent Stanton and AT) and i still miss the Pioneer. I've been outbid on eBay twice now (was that you???), but I'm going to keep trying.

Also try www.garage-a-records.com for Shure carts they seem to have very good prices and a knowledgable sales staff. They also carry the full line of Grado cartridges which I also like.

Well, I picked up my turntable while on vacation last week. It's in great shape. It even came with some promotional material and the original manual. I plan on firing it up later on tonight if I have a chance. I'll scan and post the brochure later tonight.

Sorry, but it probably was me outbidding you, Joe. :( Seller was in Mason, MI. Thanks for the advice, everyone!

[quadjoe]

Originally posted by Irwin Mainway


Well, I picked up my turntable while on vacation last week. It's in great shape. It even came with some promotional material and the original manual. I plan on firing it up later on tonight if I have a chance. I'll scan and post the brochure later tonight.

Sorry, but it probably was me outbidding you, Joe. :( Seller was in Mason, MI. Thanks for the advice, everyone!

Glad you got it! I don't really mind being outbid on eBay as I always bid the maximum I'm willing to pay. You win some, you lose some, c'est la vie!
You will love the Pioneer, it is a good TT even by today's standards (of course it isn't as good as a $1000.00 esoteric TT, but then you didn't spend that).

[-Ben]

Originally posted by TommyTunes


I used a PL-12D....from about 73 to 82. Very reliable table.

Hey me too, although I used mine from 75 to 88.
BC

[Irwin Mainway]

Here's the brochure... :thumbsup:

http://homepage.mac.com/jimdye/PL-10a.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/jimdye/PL-10b.jpg

[quadjoe]

Wow! Irwin, that is soooo nice :) you should be very happy. I wish you many years of enjoyment with the PL-10.

[eskimo]

Update ... the 44 is at the shop. We thought at first that it only need belts, but the repairman says there's a problem with either the switch (which he can fix) or with the cartridge. Since it's a linear tracking arm with a strange floating magnet inside, for which of course there are no replacement parts, there is a question as to whether it will be useable at all! So much for my $50 steal. Any hints or ideas?

eskimo

[Geoman076]

hmmmmmm....... You may just have to bite the bullet and purchase a new turntable. Best Buy even carries 2 different models, and Sears also I believe. That way you don't have to worry about things not working, tracking down a new stylus, etc, and you can enjoy getting into the vinyl thing.

If your into Rock from the 70's, 80's and 90's. Let me know what vinyl you're looking for. I have ALOT of it! Once you get your turntable I'll get you started with the vinyl.

Good luck!!

George

[eskimo]

Yep, the coil is gone. The repairman said that it had been taken apart before and that there were screws floating around loose inside. This for a TT that "just needs belts". Famous last words! I do have my hands on a rather nice Pioneer 12D, which will match my other vintage Pioneer gear, so cross your fingers that it works okay.

I'm interested in 90's rock, George, and would love some help with my collection. Thanks for the offer!

[Beagle]

Wow, that PL-10 pic brings back a lot of pleasant memories! It was my first proper turntable. I was a teenager, and upgrading from the all in one system with Garrard/ceramic cartridge affair. I couldn't believe the improvement in sound. I wanted to spend up to $250 on a fancy Dual, but the salesman talked me into the $99 PL-10, as my components were of the rather crude 'starter' variety.

I still have the 45 RPM adaptor with the overhang guage on it.