Realistic LAB-400: Vintage Turntable Restoration

Comments · 75

• AD

  @adalbertus777 · 4 years ago

  Impressive work. It looks beautiful now and sounds fantastic. You're a very skilled person. This channel deserves a bigger audience.

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• WI

  @williamdenton5716 · 2 years ago

  I&apos;m kinda shocked that no one yet has mentioned what a great turntable that is.<br>The Lab 400 was manufactured by NEC for 2 companies. &nbsp;This one was the Realistic label, the other was the Marantz, which will cost a person 4 times as much for what is the same turntable. &nbsp; Great Restoration selection &nbsp;!

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• FR

  @fredbissnette3104 · 3 years ago

  I used to dj with two of these , fantastic decks

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• JO

  @jochvomberg5541 · 4 years ago

  Excellent &nbsp;Rebuild ,thanks for the video.

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• TH

  @Thetimeisnow78 · 2 years ago

  Great work my dude!

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• ON

  @Onespeed56 · 1 year ago (edited)

  Nice restore and it looks amazing and sound great. I have a Lab 400 and 420 I need to do some maintenance on and your video will help. Thank you

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• TO

  @todddonaldson2822 · 4 years ago

  Nice work!

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• WA

  @waynehunter8928 · 6 days ago

  Love your videos. I&apos;ve had two of the LAB400&apos;s and worked on a few. Great table but mechanically it is one of the most complicated ever devised. You have make/break switches, magnetic switches, a motor dedicated to the tone arm actions, numerous linkages, ball bearings, and cam wheels. To date I still do not understand the entirety of how this model works. And I don&apos;t understand that I always read that there was only one version of this model. However I have found that I have seen at least three if not four different versions of this model LAB400. They change linkages, changed components, changed the motor design and layout, etc, etc. They are already conplicated enough without having to deal with different versions everytime you open one up. And no, these weren&apos;t the LAB420 or 430, or other models. Just the same model with different innards.

• RO

  @robertosuarez4278 · 10 months ago

  I found one of these at the thrift store for $12.99 and everything works except for it thinking that all records are 33. The setting on 45 not working.

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• AG

  @agostinodibella9939 · 3 years ago

  You did a great job restoring this turntable! I have one I bought new in 1979. Since having it I had to replace the rubber feet that deteriorated. I replaced the two top cover hinges because the springs broke through the plastic. The latest was the rubber platter mat that cracked and oozed oil. It is still working. I always was amused how the spindle jerked around if you ran it without the platter attached.

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• MA

  @mauriceprudhomme5296 · 2 years ago (edited)

  Thank you!! This is the exact issue I’m having. I kinda figured it was the switch -contact cleaner was no help.

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• PL

  @plus34me · 3 years ago

  Great video. I wondered about the pots. My speed is wonky at times, and if you flip the speed switch back and forth, it fixes it. After that, the on-off switch decided it just wanted to play on repeat all the time even though it&apos;s set to the off position. I unplug it when I&apos;m finished listening. Another pot issue, I&apos;m sure. The LAB 400 belonged to my wife&apos;s late Granddad, and when cleaning out the house after both grandparents passed on, her family asked if I wanted the stereo, which sat in their dining room. It&apos;s in great condition cosmetically, and the mute and cue dampening is fine. I may take it to a local repair shop someday to clean the pots. I only trust myself with a cartridge and stylus replacement. 😊

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