Goldring Lenco GL75 based Turntable Feb 2022 I've completed several Direct Drive turntable projects in the past, all based on the excellent Technics SL-1200 MkII. My current turntable, which was my 3rd Technics project, boasts a Trans-fi Audio parallel tracking arm and performs very well. This deck however, is not ideal for transporting to demos and HiFi meetings, due to it having to be set up precisely every time it's moved. So a more conventional deck with a pivoting, arm is also needed. I always fancied building an Idler drive deck, in particular one based on either the Garrard 301 or 401. They have a great reputation and the ones I've heard certainly lived up to this, having great PRaT (Pace, Rytham and Timing). The one thing that put me off these, was the complex arrangement of arms and levers required to select the speed, or just turn it on. Jangling bits of metal inside your deck, are not ideal. I looked at the Thorens TD-124, another fine deck that's superbly engineered, but again lots of parts that could generate noise. What really killed it for me, was the high prices that all of these decks are now fetching, even in shoddy "Make a good project" form. Almost by accident, I came across a forum thread expounding the virtues of the Lenco L75 (Goldring Lenco GL75 in UK). I'd seen and heard a couple of these in the past and while sounding quite nice, I had presumed they were a lightweight platter and basic belt drive turntable, so paid them little attention. Boy was I wrong! The platter is a Zinc Alloy die casting and while looking quite short, is actually a bit of an Iceberg, as two thirds is hidden below the top plate. This platter is actually heavier than either of the Garrard platters and is located on a decent bearing. The large motor has a cone shaped spindle that the Idler Wheel runs on, so the speed is infinitely variable from about 14 RPM to 80 RPM. The mechanism is a work of genius, the Idler wheel runs on the underside of the platter, rather than the more common rim drive. Because of this, the workings are less complex than other Idler drives, having fewer rods and levers. It also turns out, that a well fettled GL75 can compete with the best of the Thorens and Garrard decks, in terms of sound quality. The thing that cinched it, was that these decks are priced much lower and because so many were made, plenty of used spares are available. I was directed to the Lencoheaven forum, where I discovered there are also new parts and upgrade items to be had. A look at the gallery there, quickly convinced me there was plenty of scope and that this model was an excellent basis for a project. This is probably the last deck I will ever build, so I'll apologise now for getting a bit hung up on the small details. The outcome may not suit everyone, but the aim is to create something, which I wont look back on and say, I wish I had done this, or added that. This is the deck I purchased off the "Bay." It has no lid or Arm and the veneer is mostly missing on one side, but it runs, so will make a good donor deck.