Restoring a classic table that's got real style

[aussievintage]

Latest project has been to restore an old Hitachi PS-38 DD turntable.  I think it just has the best looks.  From the 70s, it has woodgrain, traffolyte control labels, one-arm bandit speed change and tone-arm lowering mechanism,   and just simply looks the part.

 

After re-installing the tonearm (it had been removed at some time in the past) and hard wiring a cheap cable into it, I gave it a thorough cleanup on the kitchen bench. The perspex lid is very sad.  That'll require a lot to clean (later).

 

I also gave the speed controls a good spray and clean too.    I decided a Stanton 681eee would be a good match, so I mounted and aligned it, set the tracking for about 1.3 grams ( I always like to be on the heavy end)

 

 

OK, time to move it into the main listening room.  It has no feet - they rotted away.  I put it onto some vibrapods instead.

 

First problem, some hum and a channel missing.  I moved the ground wire to a better position in my system, and sprayed and cleaned the headshell contacts .  All perfect.   I adjusted the speed -  nice and stable.

 

Popped on a less desirable record for the first try.  Sorry James Galway...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 20, 2021 by aussievintage

[TOPSHELF]

What a lovely looking vintage table, i doubt this is the first time Mr Galway has been spun on this beauty.....?

  How does he sound?

[aussievintage]

5 minutes ago, TOPSHELF said:

What a lovely looking vintage table, i doubt this is the first time Mr Galway has been spun on this beauty.....?

  How does he sound?

 

Just great.   In fact, have moved on to the afternoon's entertainment.  We are listening to Mozart's Don Giovanni on the PS-38 now. 

 

I am hearing the familiar balanced sound of the Stanton 681eee of course.  Speed stability is holding those long notes true.  The Direct Drive motor seems to have quite good torque,  and the platter is fairly heavy, so transients sound clear and crisp.

 

Not bad for an underappreciated (by me untill now) table that has sat in the back garden shed for years.

[TOPSHELF]

Lol... Sat in the back shed?

 

It's amazing to think of the TT's of this vintage that must have been turfed as cd's came in.

Nice resurrection!

[aussievintage]

4 minutes ago, TOPSHELF said:

Lol... Sat in the back shed?

 

It's amazing to think of the TT's of this vintage that must have been turfed as cd's came in.

Nice resurrection!

 

Thanks.

 

Yes, many may have gone to the tip, but I suspect many are still hanging around.  This is the kind of thing people mean when they advise trying to find a good vintage turntable, over just buying new.     

[MattyW]

I kept trying to big on these on eBay back when I first got into vinyl about 6 or 7 years ago, as well as the Realistic LAB400 tables. Never did end up with one though did win a LAB440 where the seller provided a different, none operational table. Such is life.

 

They' PS38 and PS48 are two of the prettiest traditional looking tables ever made..... Though I think a few of the Empire tables look even nicer though are apparently incredibly hard to find in good nick. The Orpheus Silex is another lovely table. I should have snapped one up when they were cheaper. Ah, and I never should have sold my Ariston RD110 SL.

Edited January 20, 2021 by MattyW

[audiofeline]

It looks a nice turntable, and always good to hear another good tt being saved.  I didn't think it would be possible for James Galway to sound good (personal opinion), so this tt obviously has some magic. 

 

[aussievintage]

30 minutes ago, MattyW said:

They' PS38 and PS48 are two of the prettiest traditional looking tables ever made.....

 

I remember the look of the table is what prompted me to buy it years ago, thinking it would be a nice table when cleaned up.  I actually prefer the less sophisticated look of the 38.

 

31 minutes ago, MattyW said:

The Orpheus Silex is another lovely table.

 

I  sold one recently, deciding not to restore it after I got a big Rek-o-kut B16H instead.   Very different.   It went to a good home.

 

18 minutes ago, audiofeline said:

It looks a nice turntable, and always good to hear another good tt being saved.  I didn't think it would be possible for James Galway to sound good (personal opinion), so this tt obviously has some magic. 

 

 

LOL!  You betcha   

[aussievintage]

 

After a few hours listening to Don Giovanni and then a box set of Beethoven's piano concertos,  I have to say I am noticing one thing in particular.  The combo of this table and the 681eee (with vividline stylus)  is producing a big full sound with strong well defined bass.  It's a little retreated in the highs perhaps though.  Very easy to listen to.

[aussievintage]

 

Does anyone know if the Brushless DC servo-motor in this PS-38 requires oiling?      There is no mention of it in the service manual, so I am thinking it might not require it - maybe it has those oil impregnated bearings?

[aussievintage]

 

After a fair bit of playing, I found the Shibata stylus to have an edgy sound on some records.  Hard to describe, but the mid-highs sounded a little bit harsh.  Did not enjoy the soprano when playing Carmen.

 

Just to try something quite different I popped on a Shure  M75.  I don't have any great styluses for it, just a typical EVG aftermarket elliptical (M95 type cut down to fit).   This cart/stylus has none of the harshness, and none of the receded highs I heard with the vividline on the Stanton. 

 

It's quite nice actually.

 

 

Edited January 26, 2021 by aussievintage

[wasabijim]

On 26/01/2021 at 10:26 AM, aussievintage said:

 

Does anyone know if the Brushless DC servo-motor in this PS-38 requires oiling?      There is no mention of it in the service manual, so I am thinking it might not require it - maybe it has those oil impregnated bearings?

sorry to come late and dig this up - love the thread, maybe because I run the same table!!

 

no, the DD motor does not need oil servicing

I've confirmed this myself a few times, it's in the manual someplace in a table i think and is stated almost like a marketing benefit. there's also a good article on the DD from back in the day. I'll see if i can find and link this when I'm home tonight.

 

Hope the TT is still getting and giving some love. 

 

I was actually looking into the idea of replacing the tone arm 

does anyone have any thoughts, experience, etc in this regard?

I wouldn't know where to start. I can understand the arm length and overhang but anchoring it and anything else is a gap in my knowledge. I don't even know what I don't... 

 

[aussievintage]

1 minute ago, wasabijim said:

Hope the TT is still getting and giving some love. 

 

I was actually looking into the idea of replacing the tone arm 

does anyone have any thoughts, experience, etc in this regard?

 

Yes the TT is still on a shelf in my main system.

 

From memory, the tonearm is just mounted to the wood plinth, so by modifying the hole, you could probably fit any tonearm.  However, the tonearm is quite a nice one anyway.

[wasabijim]

cheers

 

mine has a little pitting and green tarnish of the chrome in places under the main arm body. only noticeable if you go looking for it.

but also, if not careful you can impart some twist in the azimuth dimension and because of the s-shape this muddles other alignment factors. i pay extra attention to that but it got me thinking. and if it turns out to be a simple project, including finding something worth the effort, then it could maybe I should look into it earnestly. although I'm finding it hard to find anything to guide me down this road   

Edited May 8, 2023 by wasabijim

[wasabijim]

as proposed, article on the DD

 

https://www.petervis.com/gallery/Vintage Advertisements/hitachi-hi-fi-1979/unitorque-motor.html