New (to me) Dual 1249 turntable

[JPMacG]

I have a Dual 1249. I used it for many years and thought it was excellent. But after 25 years disuse it has developed hum on one channel - probably a contact problem somewhere inside. I'm not enough a fan of vinyl to spend time on it. I might have some of the parts that you need. PM me if interested. Shipping cost to Canada might be prohibitive.

In the heyday of vinyl some audiophiles would count the number of times a new record was played. After a certain number of plays, like 10, they would sell it used as they thought the audio quality had deteriorated. My neighbor was one of them and that is how I got most of my albums.

 

[great white]

I have a Dual 1249. I used it for many years and thought it was excellent. But after 25 years disuse it has developed hum on one channel - probably a contact problem somewhere inside. I'm not enough a fan of vinyl to spend time on it. I might have some of the parts that you need. PM me if interested. Shipping cost to Canada might be prohibitive.

In the heyday of vinyl some audiophiles would count the number of times a new record was played. After a certain number of plays, like 10, they would sell it used as they thought the audio quality had deteriorated. My neighbor was one of them and that is how I got most of my albums.

I might be interested in the whole player if you're willing to sell. Never hurts to have a parts mule around when dealing with old equipment. Shipping is what it is, I just accept it as "the cost of doing business" these days...I would guess somewhere around $100-150 bucks for shipping. Money is a little tight these days, but I can probably scrape together some cash for a parts mule.

 

[JPMacG]

I'll take it out of storage later today or tomorrow. I can send photos. Please PM me.

 

[Mill Lee farm]

We always used D4 record cleaner in the DJ booth. The holy grail of fluid.



My dad's BIC turntable and my Technics SL-B??? (no, not a 1200MKii... the S-arm rotary knob pitch control) have been sitting unused for over a decade at least...

 

[Eddyde]

I still have, and use, that same Discwasher cleaning block I've had since the 80's, though the fluid is long gone... I actually have a newer one that came bundled with a recently purchased Audio-Technica turntable, but it seems like a cheap imitation, the old one works much better.

 

[Mill Lee farm]

It was bugging me so I went and checked after work:
Dad’s BIC is a ‘bet drive 960’
My Technics is an SL-B2

I should probably get around to cleaning them up and packing them proper. Dad bought the BIC in Japan during Vietnam (Navy) and the original box is buried somewhere else… I should get it back in there….

(The CD Stomper kit probably dates the era of placement….)

 

[frugalguido]

Those BIC's were quite the hit when they first came out in the market. I liked the simple look of them.

 

[frugalguido]

If you liked dishwashers then you need these, Pool rafts.

 

[great white]

So I got the 1249 all cleaned up and running. Using an rpm meter revealed it was running fast, but only a few rpm over 34 rpm Lowest it would go is 36 rpm, not matter what I tried. Not good when lp ‘s run at 33 1/3 rpm.

Turns out when someone swapped to the 860 motor (in an attempt to cure the double speed issue) they must have sourced it from Europe. European models got the 860 motor instead of the 840. Later in the run, the 860 motor became standard on NA models and was the warranty repair fix for double speed 840’s.

Now, an 860 isn't a problem, as the 860 will run on 50 hz (ie: Europe) or 60 hz (NA). While the motor will run on 50 or 60 hz, it runs faster on 60hz. So Dual put a different size pulley on the NA market ones. Use the motor with the Europe pulley and the platter runs too fast.

Sourced a NOS North American market pulley, popped it on and rpm's are tickety boo now.

 

[RaisedByWolves]

Not exactly.

The center label stands proud of the playing surface. Drop one record (level) on to another and the labels contact first. They're made that way on purpose, mostly so if you set the record down on the table, the sound grooves don't get damaged (or at least give it a chance not to damage the grooves). There's also the air cushion that is formed between the two parallel surfaces that slows contact as the record falls. Won't do anything to accelerate the record, but it does lessen the impact force. Lastly, the sound is down in the groves, not at the top of the crests. So even if the vinyl contacts vinyl, it's highly unlikely to damage it.

Stackers are useful if you have a bunch of people over and want to have some music in the background. Stack up the albums you want to hear and let it go. Or, load up something like the Springsteen box set and let it play them all. When it's done, flip the stack over and play the other sides. Great if you're doing your chores around the house.

Certainly not an ideal setup though as the "stacked" record can get induced vibrations since it's not sitting on the platter mat but rather on a slippery surface. There's also the change in VTA as the stacked record requires the tone arm to ride at a different angle, changing the angle the needle rides in the grooves. This can change the sound reproduction in a couple ways, none of them good.

But damage? Far more likely to damage your vinyl with a worn or poorly aligned cartridge/stylus, not setting the tracking weight properly, messing up things like antiskate, or not properly cleaning them.

Me? I'll probably only use it once or twice. Just to prove to myself that it works. I'm like that with most of my vintage equipment (lathe, sewing machine, vehicles, record players, etc); if it had an option available when it was first sold or specific owner/service manuals, I want it in my collection, mostly because I just want it complete.

The reason you don’t see these on good quality “modern” TT s is due to wear to the label you mentioned.

The value of the record will be diminished, especially if rare virgin vinyl is involved can be significant.