Peter_F Posted July 14, 2013 Posted July 14, 2013 (edited) After speaking about it on some other threads I thought I would start a dedicated thread for my budget L75 project. I had been considering the Lenco L75 project since this time last year, and like many others I had read very good reviews about the modified Lenco giant killer turntables. Their recent price rise on the secondhand market certainly surprised me and TBH I don't think their current market value make them a viable project. The trick I guess is to pay what they're worth, not want the market value is. The interesting thing for me was that you hear good and bad comments about pretty much all hi-fi, but I couldn't find any negative comments about the modified Lenco's, which I found interesting in itself. Given the price of a secondhand L75 I wasn't prepared to pay a stupid amount of money for one and then pretty much destroy it to improve it, which is essentially what you have to. I also wasn't interested in having a L75 with the original metal top plate and retro fit an arm, that was never going to be a real winner IMHO. I also considered the PTP kit, but TBH I wasn't convinced that it was necessarily any better than using the factory top plate and removing all the excess garbage that potentially holds the L75 back. Plus with the PTP you lose the different speed settings. With some assistance from SNA members I managed to get enough bits together (and then some) to finally build a budget pimped L75. I had no idea that the plinth would so bloody painful to build. In my mind the pimped L75 should be made to allow it to operate fully functional as it did from the factory, whilst exploiting the best features of the unit. The L75 IMO does have a very good motor, platter and bearing, which is pretty good damn start for a killa TT! Originally I was going to do what most of the modders on the Lenco Heaven site had done and that was to remove the on / off lever and replace it with a simple on / off switch. This would have made life much easier and would have also been an improvement as well. I didn't like the fact that removing the on / off lever meant the idler wheel was permanently engaged or in contact with the platter and motor shaft. I expect it would have been okay but it was just one of those things that niggled me. In my mind the pimped L75 had to have a look, a feel, a sense of professionalism and had to be a joy to use. It is my opinion that you can have looks and sound quality and just because it is DIY it doesn't have to look DIY. Anyway here's some build pic's but I must admit it has been very time consuming so far! My pimped L75 started out as just a factory top plate with some bits and pieces but I had limited knowledge at what I was getting myself into. After removing the excess or unwanted real estate... And I start with the R&D... Finally the layers take shape and things are moving along. I went with a MDF / chipboard composite. Updates later.... Edited July 14, 2013 by flemo
blinky Posted July 14, 2013 Posted July 14, 2013 Looking very promising and I like your decisions regarding the top plate.
brownemi Posted July 14, 2013 Posted July 14, 2013 Looking good and nice neat cutting there. If not already thinking about it, building an IEC plug for the power is a good idea and makes it look more professional.
Peter_F Posted July 14, 2013 Author Posted July 14, 2013 Looking good and nice neat cutting there. If not already thinking about it, building an IEC plug for the power is a good idea and makes it look more professional. Yes mate a quality IEC socket is in the mix.
Upfront Posted July 14, 2013 Posted July 14, 2013 Looking good mate! Looking forward to seeing the finished product! Keep the photos coming.
shaky Posted July 15, 2013 Posted July 15, 2013 ^^^What he said. It's good to see the build up and progressing.
New Sensations Posted July 15, 2013 Posted July 15, 2013 Colour me intrigued: You cutting yr own plinth?
Guest Muon Posted July 15, 2013 Posted July 15, 2013 This should be great family viewing, if you are a family of one like me Go flemo
Peter_F Posted July 15, 2013 Author Posted July 15, 2013 This should be great family viewing, if you are a family of one like me Go flemo Don't worry mate, the Mrs isn't too happy with the amount of time I'm spending the shed lately! Anyway a few more pics... Thought I would try something a bit different with some of the crap I having lurking in the shed so I went for 60mm solid jarrah corners.. Jarrah attached and now it's getting heavy... Did somebody say IEC socket... 3
Guest Muon Posted July 15, 2013 Posted July 15, 2013 Ooo...yeah, I like the Jarrah added Wish I was as good with wood.
Gordon Macfarlane Posted July 15, 2013 Posted July 15, 2013 Ooo...yeah, I like the Jarrah added Wish I was as good with wood. Same here Ian , wood/ metal work were just classes we had to do in first year at high school, hated it at the time as I was all thumbs as a teenager. Have got better over the years but Pete's work is of a very high order. 1
Guest Muon Posted July 15, 2013 Posted July 15, 2013 I was worse with metal, I really! sucked working with that side. Yup, agree, Pete does really well, and I can't wait to see this at the end
Peter_F Posted July 15, 2013 Author Posted July 15, 2013 Thanks guys, but it really is a labour of love so it better be worth it! Anyhoo the top is ready for laminating... And so is the bottom... Ooh, it's starting to feel like a turntable now!
shaky Posted July 15, 2013 Posted July 15, 2013 The jarrah framing around it looks superb, flemo. Looking forward to seeing the finished product
Upfront Posted July 15, 2013 Posted July 15, 2013 So let me get this straight.... The MDF plinth is covered in jarrah and the jarrah plinth is covered in MDF???? It's madness!! Looking good though mate!
Peter_F Posted July 15, 2013 Author Posted July 15, 2013 So let me get this straight.... The MDF plinth is covered in jarrah and the jarrah plinth is covered in MDF???? It's madness!! Looking good though mate! haha, yes mate I have been breathing in too much adhesive fumes! 1
Peter_F Posted July 17, 2013 Author Posted July 17, 2013 Now I have laminated top.... Some funky granite colour laminate for the bottom.... Still deciding on the final shape of the metal plate, a bit more trimming I think.... Jarrah facia, I'm still deciding whether or not to stay with a small bullnose profile or a bigger profile.... 1
Guest Muon Posted July 17, 2013 Posted July 17, 2013 Ah man.... this is going to be a sweet table I was wondering what you were going to dress the top with.
rocky500 Posted July 17, 2013 Posted July 17, 2013 (edited) Looks great. Is this what you mean bigger profile? I like the way you have it. Edited July 18, 2013 by rocky500
Peter_F Posted July 17, 2013 Author Posted July 17, 2013 Looks great. Is this what you mean bigger profile? I like the way you have it. Yes mate that's it! Yes I think less is more but it's a pity that most of the jarrah is under the laminate.
Grimmie Posted July 17, 2013 Posted July 17, 2013 That's looking truly sensational Flemo, good to see that your making such impressive progress. I should come around and get the recipe for this off you then maybe a bit of motivation virus to start mine. As much as I do love the Jarrah finish and it would look perfectly suited to my room with its jarrah trim, I am hooked on the all black look for stereo equipment. That laminate is excellent as you have it but the large bullnose would be serious class.
Grumpy Posted July 18, 2013 Posted July 18, 2013 wow! you are a clever fella, looks like an amazing job you are doing there. Wish I had your skills.
Peter_F Posted July 18, 2013 Author Posted July 18, 2013 Excellent work, Pete. Love the jarrah surround. Cheers Wally, wonder how it will compare to a LP12 when it's running? That's looking truly sensational Flemo, good to see that your making such impressive progress. I should come around and get the recipe for this off you then maybe a bit of motivation virus to start mine. As much as I do love the Jarrah finish and it would look perfectly suited to my room with its jarrah trim, I am hooked on the all black look for stereo equipment. That laminate is excellent as you have it but the large bullnose would be serious class. It's a lot work Ged so it better sound okay ! wow! you are a clever fella, looks like an amazing job you are doing there. Wish I had your skills. Cheers mate but I think its more a case of patience than anything else.
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