FAQs

Q?

Do your restored record players come with a guarantee?

A.

Yes, all the players I have for sale come with a 6 month guarantee, the only exclusions being the cartridge and stylus as these are classed as 'wear and tear' items.

Q?

Why vintage? Surely these modern reproduction players I see in the high street are just as good?

A.

In a word - no. The modern reproduction record players you see in the high street are world apart from their vintage counterpart, both in terms of quality and reliability. Many vintage brands have been bought up by large faceless companies over the years and only the name remains - the quality and reputation these brands worked hard to retain are a thing of the past. Sure they 'cash in' on the look, but cheap electronics, poor construction and acres of plastic are the order of the day. The quality of materials are so high in vintage record players that it would not be financially viable for a modern company to reproduce them to the same standard, the tooling alone to construct the metal mechanism found in the deck would be 100's of thousands. So if you want a record player that's built like a tank and will last for years vintage is the way to go, there will never be a modern version built to the same standard.

Q?

I’ve bought a vintage record player from a car boot / market / auction site – it lights up when I plug it in, is it safe to use?

A.

Absolutely not! Some of these things are over 50 years old, yes they are well made and reliable, but they're old! As with anything in life with a few years on it it needs a bit of maintenance. You wouldn't jump in a 50 year old car that's never been touched and expect to drive it down the road would you? Above all else there is a serious safety issue, some of the components inside your record player will 100% need replacing, best case scenario if you continue to use it these components will cause significant damage to the rest of the amplifier, worse case scenario is your own personal safety - nothing is more important! If you have recently purchased a vintage record player via these methods and you're unsure please contact me to discuss how I can help.

Q?

I already own a vintage record player but I haven’t used it for decades, it doesn’t work at all so surely it’s fit for the bin?

A.

Not at all, because these things were built so well in the first place 100% percent of what's found inside is repairable, they weren't manufactured in the disposable society era we find ourselves in now. The hardest parts to source are cosmetic, such as knobs and manufacturer logos etc, but if you look in the right places they are available. Often all that is required is a good service and a little bit of love to get them going again, after this they'll be good for another 20 years or so. Please contact me to discuss how I can help.

Q?

I own a vintage turntable ‘separate’, are these the same?

A.

Although it's true they fall under the same vintage banner, turntable 'separates' are in a different class, they are designed as an add-on to an existing audio system. Vintage record players are in all in one solution with the amplifier built in, think of classic names such as Dansette if you will, so you can't really compare the two. But I do love a bit of vintage hi-fi so if you're having problems with your turntable please contact me to discuss how I can help.

Q?

Can you repair my TV / DVD Player / Stereo System?

A.

Sorry I only specialise in vintage audio and rarely if ever touch anything modern. However if you have something made in the 80's give me a call and I may be able to help. For anything made in the last decade or so I recommend contacting Clifton Green TV who are based in York - 01904 795839.