Harman Kardon Rabco ST-5 Turntable, excellent cosmetic and mechanical condition
- Condition: Used
- Price: 471.27 EUR
- Status: unsold
- Item number: 305141711400
- Bids: 0
- Seller: hekickedme (868|100.0%)
- Seller information: non commercial
- Item location: Seattle, Washington
- Ships to: US
- Shipping: 0,0 EUR
- on EBAY
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Description
Vintage Harman Kardon ST-5 Rabco turntable with Grado G-1+ cartridge, runs, sounds and looks great. Linear tracking with a Rabco arm. Last model in the line of iconic ground-breaking turntables. If youre looking, you probably know about these beautifully designed machines. If you arent familiar with these, or if you are not mechanically inclined/interested, this may not be for you, it is nicely tuned right now, but these vintage turntables sometimes required TLC.This one is in excellent overall condition, all original, one of the nicer Ive ever had. And, it is priced accordingly, but I may well accept a reasonable offer so it goes to a good and caring home :)Timeless modern look, puts MCM in its place. Vintage Audio, Vintage Stereo Completely original, feet, belts, cartridge, dust cover, screws, tone arm, tracking adjustment screw.Not perfect, but very, very nice, and note, this is about 40 years old.Sold with Grado G-1+ cartridge - plays great, but the needle was bent at some point and straightened, looks and plays great, excellent stereo separation, but probably not as nice as new. Jimi Hendrix record not included.Please, please (!), ask any questions.And, please, take this process seriously, it is your time and my time. As I have learned from previous experience, if you have zero or low feedback, please message me before bidding.The cosmetic / general condition: This is completely original, down to the lock washers on the top plate screws, the platter retainer wavy washer, etc.1) The brushed aluminum tops, covers and side walls are in excellent condition, wonderful brushed aluminum.2) There are a few light scratches on the aluminum left side panel, might not even be visible in the photos. 3) Logo is super clean with good definition and color.4) The dust cover is original clear, has some light wear, with some small cracking around the left hinge.5) The cueing and speed control plastic trim pieces are original (!)6) The leveling bubble is original and still accurate. 7) The feet are original adjustable. Note: the rubber isolators that attach the feet to the chassis are a bit old and stiff, so the inner adapter of the threaded adjustable feet spin rather than grip tightly, making screwing the feet up and down a little tricky - not broken, just not tight as original. 8) The speed control, and the queuing plastic trim pieces are original (!) The speed control is cracked, and has sprung from its retainer clip (included). Doesnt affect performance and looks perfect. Mechanical:1) The tonearm tracks as desired / expected, this is completely adjustable. 2) The cartridge descends nice and controlled. 3) The speed is spot on, and switches easily from 33 to 45 RPM. 4) The electronics are completely untouched, original, same for the motor, wiring, circuitry, etc. - it is it came from the factory, and as I bought it. 5) The two belts are original, tight, and function perfectly. The carriage bar rotates freely.Misc: Listed locally on CL, strongly prefer local pickup.The black spring clip is meant to hold the speed control plastic trim piece in place. I have included it. Will be packed very well with platter removed and tone arm secured. Sold as is and no returns. Please understand that the above description is very detailed for a reason, to help you in your buying decision. But you will not be able to return this unless you pay postage both ways. Update: Someone asked me my opinion of which was better, the ST-5 and the ST-8. Here is my opinion: There are tradeoffs. Both are very cool looking machines, and the linear tracking appeals to the engineer in me. The ST-8 looks cooler, the electronic speed switch is visually more interesting than the mechanical switch on the ST-5. The contrast of the brushed aluminum and the black anodized aluminum is more visually appealing to me than the all brushed aluminum. The ST-5 is much less complex, and so will last longer, and be easier to service. For example: a replacement motor for the ST-5 is $40; for the ST-8 - if you can find one - is about $300 - $600; and another: The ST-8 is a single motor, with two speeds, and two potentiometer speed adjustment controls, while the ST-5 has a single speed motor, with a two diameter pulley and a mechanism to switch the belt between the two - simpler. The air-pot in the ST-8 is still being made, but costs $180 new; I dont know about the one in the ST-5. The ST-8 has the audio cueing/shut-off mechanism, the ST-5 does not - simpler. Much else is the same between the two. I am paring down my systems to a single ST-7 and a single ST-8, they are a matching set, and look fantastic next to each other. To me, the ST-5 is a slightly better choice for the long run, the ST-8 looks better - and better suits the tinkerer in me.
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