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MICRO SEIKI BL-91LC TURNTABLE


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Item: MICRO SEIKI BL-91LC TURNTABLE - GUNMETAL PLATTER
Location: Brisbane
Price: $7,500.00
Item Condition: Beautiful condition.

Reason for selling: Need to purchase a house
Payment Method: Pickup - Cash, Bank Tfr, COD Only
Extra Info: Rare item

This is easily one of the most beautiful BL-91L's I have ever seen.

The design of the Micro Seiki BL-91 and BL-91L were the inspiration for many high-end tables built by many manufacturers, including VPI, Luxman and many of Micro Seiki's later machines (BL-101, BL-111).

This table came to us with some cosmetic issues. An extra armboard hole had been drilled into the plinth and there were numerous nicks and small gouges across it. The plinth was meticulously rebuilt and restored back to original condition and balance. It was then re-veneered with 3 mil South American Mahogany, re-stained and sealed with 4 coats of hand applied satin polyurethane. The plinth is gorgeous. I was having trouble getting photos to accurately represent the finish quality.

The isolators (mounting feet) of the BL-91L are Micro Seiki's top-of-the-line MSB-100's.  A strip of matching mahogany has been added to each foot for additional aesthetic dressing.

The very, very rare original dustcover is in 9/10 condition and has been polished and a protectorant applied. This is a wonderful, heavy duty cover with 3/16" thick front, top and back and 1/4" thick sides. Movement is like factory new and the cover stays up as it should.

Gunmetal is an alloy of brass and tin and was very popular with Japanese high-end turntable manufacturers in the 1980's and 1990's. It is expensive to make but is very stable, quite beautiful to look at and harder than pure copper.
The platter on this turntable has been upgraded to solid gunmetal with additional mass added to the underside. This is a $2200.00 upgrade. The platter weighs 22 lbs (10 Kg's) and it has been re-ground and polished to a mirror finish by MIRROR FINISH POLISHING in Kearny, Missouri. The platter was then sealed and two coats of protectorate added. The added weight to the platter increases it's moment of inertia by almost 40% and this platter spins like a breeze in Summer.

Though not needed, the original Micro Seiki DISK-SE platter mat is also included. Some audiophiles consider this the best platter mat ever made.

All electronics were checked and two new "proper" sized belts were obtained. Because of the additional weight of the gunmetal platter, the inexpensive BL-91 belts will not work as well.  The proper belt is just slightly longer and stiffer. The platter will start-up a second or two slower but will run so much better, last longer and the belt will not pull incorrectly against the pulley.

The tonearm shown in the photos is a Micro Seiki MA-505LS. This is a 282mm effective length tonearm wired with silver wire from the factory. It is a perfect arm for this turntable and has been performing beautifully during my use with a JC Allaerts MC1 cartridge.

THE MA-505LS IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS SALE BUT WILL BE OFFERED SEPARATELY. THE MC1 CARTRIDGE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS SALE.

The BL-91L uses a larger diameter armboard than the BL-91; the A-1500 series armboards.  This table will come with the A-1501, suitable for many 282mm Micro Seiki tonearms, 282mm SAEC arms, Audio Technica AT1500 arms and the Grace G-660P tonearm.

The A-1500 armboards are not as plentiful online as the A-1200 series, but they are available.

This was a 117 volt, 60 Hz machine imported from the US personally. A power transformer brings it up to Australian standards

Also included is a colour duplicate of the Owner's manual for the turntable.

I very much wanted to keep this table in my personal collection.  I have to make hard decisions but we need a house first. This will be someone's opportunity to own a beautiful example of one of the truly classic turntables ever built.

 
 
Pictures:

MS BL-91LC.jpg

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I have had no problem with the turntable and the stroboscope is right on the mark. I have used a "Power Tech Plus" stepdown transformer converting 50w 240VAC to 110-115VAC. I have a new unopened transformer (I bought as a spare in case) and a plug converter. There are 2 T handles to use when lifting the platter off.

The tone arm head is a Micro Seiki also but will go with he arm. 

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Please find attached some more quick snaps using my mobile camera. They aren't great and I haven't "burnished" the turntable for a couple of weeks. (been busy packing for a house move!). If I turn 180 degrees and snap a photo, it will be boxes roof high!

If you need me to take any more photos that you want just email me via this forum. I might be a tad slow in getting a reply done (comes with age), but anyone wanting a real look at this TT, I'll be happy to furnish what ever info required. AG

BL-91L right side.jpg

BL-91L arm pivot.jpg

BL-91L left at 45a.jpg

BL-91L left at 45.jpg

BL-91L left up at 45.jpg

BL-91L arm pivot left.jpg

BL-91L Front right.jpg

BL-91L Top Front 45 angle.jpg

BL-91L platter mat.jpg

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Oh, there is a Perspex dust cover and the cover hinge for the cover. I also have a spare as the original cover got cracked in transit. I haven't bothered changing it as I use the TT every day. It's a beautiful bit of furniture, but I use it for it's musical qualities.

I will be posting a MS BL-1500 DD and a Nakamichi Dragon CT Turntable soon also. It has taken 6 months to come to a decision for a keeper. The keeper is a Kuzma Stabi Ref 2 (Stogi Ref anr and MC1 cart). I will miss the others as I have treasured them all including my very first TT, a JVC QL-Y5F DD. I still plays beautifully as well, just not AS beautifully as the others. AG

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  • Volunteer
13 minutes ago, Marc said:

Your profile says you are in Brisbane, yet this ad is identical (word for word) as this one which the seller says is in Iowa. Which is it?

https://picclick.com/Micro-Seiki-Bl-91Lc-Turntable-Gunmetal-Platter-132604676172.html

 

Which also is the same as this one (word for word): https://www.ebay.com/itm/132604676172

The eBay listing has been removed 

the first link has the TT marked as “sold” 

 

..........

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