LP12 help in Florida

Posted by: Bhoyo on 26 September 2003

Chaps:

Linn dealers seem to be thin on the ground in the Sunshine State, despite what the official Linn site claims. I need my trusty LP12 serviced and a rebuilt Troika reinstalled (once I get around to sending it to Expert Stylus).

Does anyone here have any recommendations or suggestions?

Thanks,
Davie
Posted on: 26 September 2003 by ejl
Davie,

Contact Rick at Audio Alternative in Colorado; a long-time and very good LP12 service expert. For a base price of around $100 (I think), he completely disassembles the deck, cleans it, and rebuilds it. It has to be shipped, I know, but that's pretty much your situation anyway.

The guy does an excellent job and has worked on these since the 70's.

Website: http://www.audioalternative.com/

There's nothing in the deep south -- I've tried. I once called the new Linn dealer in Birmingham AL with a question about Saras. They replied that they didn't carry record players.... .
Posted on: 26 September 2003 by Bhoyo
Thanks Eric. I'll get in touch with Rick. It's surprising that, for all the money in the South, there is a dearth of decent hifi dealers. Having said that, I have discovered a good Naim guy - John Geisen, of Wellington Audio.

Davie
Posted on: 27 September 2003 by Stan Rhinehart
Hi Davie,

I understand your frustration in trying to find a good LP12 shop in the south! But, good news! The new Naim dealer in Charlotte, NC - Jim Cash of Imagine Home Audio - is a former Linn tech and will service LP12's.

He just rebuilt mine two days ago including a Cirkus conversion. Service included a plinth and top plate cleaning, new armboard, rebuilt Valhalla board, new suspension and also cartridge installation. The table looks new and sounds stunning!

I'm not sure what he charges for a rebuild because mine included the Cirkus conversion but I'm sure Jim would welcome your call. He's a great guy and loves vinyl! He can be reached at (704)400-6877.

Good luck!

Stan
Posted on: 27 September 2003 by ejl
quote:
The new Naim dealer in Charlotte, NC - Jim Cash of Imagine Home Audio - is a former Linn tech and will service LP12's


That's good to hear. The whole stretch between Houston and Atlanta, inclusive, seems not to have any established Linn-Naim dealer, at least that I could find.

It is odd. Between them Houston and Atlanta alone have a larger population, and arguably more wealth, than most Scandanavian countries. (And of course they're sooo much nicer to live in, dontcha think? Wink Wink )

It's interesting to observe how much of a difference good product and presentation makes in hifi. Rick at AA has done well in a town of 100,000. Meanwhile, my town (metro area of 400,000) has only a single, sad independent hifi dealer. No one seems to go there, and why should they? He stocks the same stuff as Best Buy and Circuit City, except it's more expensive in his shop and the atmosphere there is even more depressing than the big stores (if that's possible). Oh well.

Eric
Posted on: 27 September 2003 by Bhoyo
Eric and Stan

Thank you both so much. I spoke to Rick today (before I saw Stan's message) and was so impressed with him that I rushed straight to Mailboxes Etc to get the LP12 off to Colorado.

Davie (missing his pride and joy already)
Posted on: 29 September 2003 by Dan M
Davie,

Rick's a good guy - he'll do a great job I'm sure. He'll be taking a look over my LP12 very soon.

cheers,

Dan