Got a "new" Pioneer PL 200 Turntable

[jls001]

It's amazing how one finds unexpected things in unexpected places. I am in Delhi on work and was discussing music and music systems with a colleague, and how I plan to buy a turntable, used or new, in the near future. He promptly offered to give me his unused Pioneer PL 200. So today I am proud owner of Pioneer PL 200. Had to buy a new cartridge (Shure, Rs 3500). Replaced the tattered RCA connectors (for amp) with shiny new Neutrik RCAs, scrapped off the deposit on the grounding terminal, replaced the cartirdge, packed and ready to be brought back to Mumbai.

Also visited Chandni Chowk today and bought a few records (ABBA Greatest Hits, Rod Stewart Greatest Hits, Fleetwood Mac's Rumours, Meatloaf - Bat Out Of Hell, Queen Greatest Hits, Wings - Greatest, Eagles - One Of These Nights, and Cliff Richard - Over the Years).

A quick search of the Net fetched me the PDF manual for this model. Also discovered that this model was introduced around 1978-79. So this unit could be anywhere upto 30 years old. The unit is in surprisingly good condition, except for scratches on the dust cover.

More details here: Pioneer PL-200 Owners Manual, Service Manual, Schematics, Free Download | Vinyl Engine

Raring to take it home!
Joshua

 

[iaudio]

Joshua, Great stuff man! It seems you are on a roll and what a splendid set up you have now! Enjoy.
And those are some great records too.

 

[mahiruha]

Hi Joshua,
that's very good news.Enjoy your new turntable. Do post some pictures.I hope you are familiar with vinyl cleaning rituals. Make sure you clean the vinyls properly before playing them.
Thanks.

 

[venkatcr]

Fantastic! What a coincidence !

Cheers

 

[jls001]

Joshua, Great stuff man! It seems you are on a roll and what a splendid set up you have now! Enjoy.
And those are some great records too.

Thanks, iaudio. My system will become complete when I have a nice tube amp. I have always wanted a good tube amp. Someday....
Joshua

 

[jls001]

Hi Joshua,
that's very good news.Enjoy your new turntable. Do post some pictures.I hope you are familiar with vinyl cleaning rituals. Make sure you clean the vinyls properly before playing them.
Thanks.

Will surely post pictures when I reach home. I am not familiar with the ritual of cleaning. Any pointers for a total newbie? Thanks in advance.
Joshua

 

[iaudio]

Josh, You have best of both worlds now, atleast entry level, digital and analog. Good luck with the tube amp in near future.
Here s a link for vinyl cleaning
http://www.hifivision.com/phono-turntables/267-entry-level-turntables-vinyl-lover.html#post1107
Hope that helps.
Titus

 

[anm]

great! congrats!

 

[gvenu]

hi,

Congrats and welcome to tt/vinyl club.

Rgds
Venu

 

[Saurabh]

It's amazing how one finds unexpected things in unexpected places. I am in Delhi on work and was discussing music and music systems with a colleague, and how I plan to buy a turntable, used or new, in the near future. He promptly offered to give me his unused Pioneer PL 200. So today I am proud owner of Pioneer PL 200. Had to buy a new cartridge (Shure, Rs 3500). Replaced the tattered RCA connectors (for amp) with shiny new Neutrik RCAs, scrapped off the deposit on the grounding terminal, replaced the cartirdge, packed and ready to be brought back to Mumbai.

Also visited Chandni Chowk today and bought a few records (ABBA Greatest Hits, Rod Stewart Greatest Hits, Fleetwood Mac's Rumours, Meatloaf - Bat Out Of Hell, Queen Greatest Hits, Wings - Greatest, Eagles - One Of These Nights, and Cliff Richard - Over the Years).

A quick search of the Net fetched me the PDF manual for this model. Also discovered that this model was introduced around 1978-79. So this unit could be anywhere upto 30 years old. The unit is in surprisingly good condition, except for scratches on the dust cover.

More details here: Pioneer PL-200 Owners Manual, Service Manual, Schematics, Free Download | Vinyl Engine

Raring to take it home!
Joshua

great Joshua...
reminded me my first TT purchase it was also from ChandniChowk too...
lovely place for all vinyl lovers I must say...
any ways enjoy...with your new purchases and best of luck...

 

[jls001]

Yesterday I bought some records from New Gramaphone House at Chandni Chowk. A friend told me there are a few more shops there so I went back and found only Surendra Electronics opposite the Gurdwara. Not many titles to choose from I so picked up just two.

Delhi members: where else in Delhi can I hunt for 80s and 90s pop, rock and jazz records? I have tomorrow (Sunday) free.

PS: I ventured out at mid day like a fool and almost got fried by the Delhi heat I am currently staying somewhere in Nehru Place so ready to go any direction pointed to!
Joshua

 

[mahiruha]

Will surely post pictures when I reach home. I am not familiar with the ritual of cleaning. Any pointers for a total newbie? Thanks in advance.
Joshua

Hi Joshua,
Vinyl cleaning is a very debtable issue like many other things in audio industry. For starter I would reccomend the steps suggested by murali_n in post 17
http://www.hifivision.com/phono-turntables/4604-suggestion-record-cleaning-bath-2.html

In addition to this I would recommend using distilled water for final washing and you need to completely dry them before playing.I normally use the thing used in kitchen to store plates vertically and just keep the record their for normal drying under fan for about 5-6 hours.
Thanks.

 

[Saurabh]

Yesterday I bought some records from New Gramaphone House at Chandni Chowk. A friend told me there are a few more shops there so I went back and found only Surendra Electronics opposite the Gurdwara. Not many titles to choose from I so picked up just two.

Delhi members: where else in Delhi can I hunt for 80s and 90s pop, rock and jazz records? I have tomorrow (Sunday) free.

PS: I ventured out at mid day like a fool and almost got fried by the Delhi heat I am currently staying somewhere in Nehru Place so ready to go any direction pointed to!
Joshua

well Joshua...
you already visited, the best place in delhi for vinyl purchase the new gramophone house.
but one place more I would suggest is...Shah Music House ...
in Meena Bazaar, Chandni chowk.
but careful...go through the LPs well B4 buying, that they are in playable condition or not...
and try for bargain, because prices are not written on LPs ...so cant decide at the time of selection whether u want to buy or not...finally at time of buying you will be told a lump-sum amount try to bargain on that...
TC.

 

[jls001]

Delhi members: where else in Delhi can I hunt for 80s and 90s pop, rock and jazz records? I have tomorrow (Sunday) free.
Joshua

Sorry for answering my own question

In addition to what Saurabh suggested, a friend of mine took me to the place of Mr Qayamuddin at Darya Ganj. He collects from all over the country and supplies to sellers like New India Gramaphone, Shah Music and the shop opposite Shah Music at Meena Bazar (Shop No 152, and Shah is Shop No 256).

Picked up 10 vinyls from Mr Qayamuddin. Prices were Rs 50 or Rs 100. Very decent chap. He kindly gifted me one extra. He directed us to Shop No 152 and also called them up to instruct them to give us at 50 or 100. He actually hailed a rickshaw for us and saw us off. Nice chap. Picked 3-4 more from Shop No 152 after navigating thru' the crowded Meena Bazar. Mr Qayamuddin had also warned us that Shah will be costlier. But it was too tempting as it was just next door and so ventured in and, true to their reputation, they had a huge pile. Rummaged thru' about half of their collection (was already worn down by Delhi's heat). Picked up quite a few more at 100, 200, 300 and 600 (double albums) and came away with an empty wallet and a happy heart.

So total score in Delhi: 35. I guess not too shabby for a newbie
Joshua
PS: if anyone interested, I can share the addresses and numbers of these shops.

 

[malvai]

Hey! Lovely dude!
Pls PM me Qayamuddin's number. Will Check him out the next time i'm in delhi!

 

[mksharan]

Hi Joshua,
Please PM me the address of these shops. I will also try to get some vinyls from Delhi. Thanks
Manoj

 

[anm]

pls share with everyone on the forum.

 

[jls001]

Here goes:

Mr Qayamuddin, 9811585060, House No 1230, Gali Manihar Wali, Kala Mahal, Darya Ganj, New Delhi 110002. Please give a call a few days in advance for him to arrange desired titles. A trip to his place involves going through the very narrow lanes and bylanes of Darya Ganj.

Mr Yaseen, 9871224631, Shop No. 152 at Meena Bazar.

Shah Music Centre: 011-23276090, Shop No 256, Meena Bazar. This shop is bang oppposite Shop No 152 mentioned above.

New India Gramaphone: didn't take their number. But direction is - assume you are headed to Chandni Chowk from Darya Ganj side. At Lajpatrai Market junction in Chandni Chowk, take a left. After about 50-60 feet to your left this shop has the sign "New India Gramaphone" on the frontage with a large picture of the HMV doggie, along with some records stuck on the wall for effect. It is co-located with a shoe shop. Entry is through said shoe shop.

Surendra Electronics: after reaching New India Gramaphone, go ahead till you reach a Gurdwara. The shop is opposite the Gurdwara.

Shah Music and New India Gramaphone have the best collections. And they are the priciest.

All of them are worth visiting.

I could not get any Alan Parsons Project or Dire Straits albums, though.
Joshua

 

[jls001]

Will list the 35 albums I picked up soon (when I'm back in Mumbai in a few days).

Have heard that there is a similar shop in Saket too. If anyone knows pls share so that i can visit the next time I am in Delhi.

Joshua

 

[jls001]

For those in Mumbai (or those travelling to Mumbai), you can pick up records from Royal Music Collection, 192, Kitab Mahal, Next to Suvidha Hotel, Dr DN Road, Fort, Mumbai 400001 (Mr Abdul Razzak 9820933365). The stall is bang opposite the Camera Center shop (you can't miss the huge Canon signboards on the frontage of Camera Center). Fairly good collection, fair price (Rs 140, 150, 175).
Joshua