What deck is this? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

ChrisChilton · 25th Sep 2020, 7:24 am

Can anyone please identify the deck in this player and therefore if it’s worth me investing in it or not?

Thanks for your help.

SeanStevens · 25th Sep 2020, 7:48 am

Looks like a Lenco to my inexpert eyes

Better than a lot of modern stuff - although the Audio Technica AT PL120 X U at about £220 is a brilliant bit of kit NEW!

SEAN

Electronpusher0 · 25th Sep 2020, 7:55 am

It looks like Lenco GL75, very definately worth having, loads about them on Lenco Heaven.
https://www.lencoheaven.net/

Peter

llama · 25th Sep 2020, 8:15 am

GL75 has the speed change on the left. This one seems to be a GL79 which might be the same as a B55 (according to some pix on the Internet).
Same comments apply though!
Graham

Edward Huggins · 25th Sep 2020, 8:26 am

That's a very nice deck - it's not a Goldring GL75, but a GL72.
The deck alone has been listed elsewhere (and only partly tested) at £160-00.
What are you paying for this - is it a Danish built ARENA unit?

ChrisChilton · 25th Sep 2020, 8:43 am

So £20 is a good deal then?

Michael.N. · 25th Sep 2020, 9:20 am

At £20? Doubt you can go wrong.
I used to build laminated layered plinths for the Lenco (along with the Thorens and Garrards). The Lenco was always seen as the poor mans version (I'm not suggesting it sounded inferior!) I remember paying around £40 for a GL75 when the 301/401 was close to £300+. That's around 15 years ago though.

unitaudio · 25th Sep 2020, 11:11 am

£20?! Snap it up!!

Regards,
Paul

Edward Huggins · 25th Sep 2020, 11:27 am

£20-00? You must be joking. Go get it before the Seller gets this valued!

roffe · 25th Sep 2020, 12:28 pm

According to this it's a Rank Arena 2000GT with a B55:
http://www.hifi-archiv.info/Rank%20A...arena72-08.jpg

ajgriff · 25th Sep 2020, 1:21 pm

I'm no Lenco aficianado but I think the B55 is very similar to the GL72 with the lightweight platter and is not as highly regarded as some of the other models like the GL75. Probably a competent enough deck worth no more than £20 on its own, especially in unknown condition. The whole unit might be worth £40 in good working order. Not to my taste I'll admit.

Alan

dave walsh · 25th Sep 2020, 1:59 pm

Stylistically the whole Unit looks a lot less fussy than many others.
It may not be a Lenco top of the range deck but it's styling is so similar I think that most sellers would want much more for it than £20 even on it's own! I think the OP meant investing in the player in post 1*

Dave

ChrisChilton · 25th Sep 2020, 4:03 pm

Just been sent another image, it is indeed a b55

ChrisChilton · 25th Sep 2020, 4:20 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by roffe

According to this it's a Rank Arena 2000GT with a B55:
http://www.hifi-archiv.info/Rank%20A...arena72-08.jpg

Wow, you’re good!

ChrisChilton · 25th Sep 2020, 8:59 pm

I’m fetching it tomorrow, fingers crossed it’s all good.

ChrisChilton · 1st Oct 2020, 8:03 pm

Finally picked it up today and one of the speaker ports crackles but does let sound through albeit lower than the other. Is it worth trying contact cleaner initially?

Techman · 1st Oct 2020, 10:27 pm

You're probably the best person to know the answer to that one, basically meaning that if you 'wobble' the speaker plug about in the socket does it cause the crackle to come and go?

You could swap the speakers over to see if the fault moves with the speaker or not.

If your test shows a dirty socket connection you could try a gentle squirt of contact cleaner if you've got some to hand.

If none of the above you may have a fault in that amplifier channel or you may have a faulty cartridge or the connections to it.

AC/HL · 2nd Oct 2020, 2:15 pm

Continued here: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...25#post1294625

25th Sep 2020, 7:24 am	#1
ChrisChilton Tetrode Join Date: May 2020 Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 72	What deck is this? Can anyone please identify the deck in this player and therefore if it’s worth me investing in it or not? Thanks for your help. Attached Thumbnails

25th Sep 2020, 7:48 am	#2
SeanStevens Heptode Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bath, Somerset, UK. Posts: 900	Re: What deck is this? Looks like a Lenco to my inexpert eyes Better than a lot of modern stuff - although the Audio Technica AT PL120 X U at about £220 is a brilliant bit of kit NEW! SEAN __________________ There are only 10 types of people, those who understand the binary system, and those who don't.

25th Sep 2020, 7:55 am	#3
Electronpusher0 Octode Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Bognor Regis, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 1,236	Re: What deck is this? It looks like Lenco GL75, very definately worth having, loads about them on Lenco Heaven. https://www.lencoheaven.net/ Peter

25th Sep 2020, 8:15 am	#4
llama Octode Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: St Osyth, Nr Clacton, Essex, UK. Posts: 1,310	Re: What deck is this? GL75 has the speed change on the left. This one seems to be a GL79 which might be the same as a B55 (according to some pix on the Internet). Same comments apply though! Graham __________________ Half my stuff is junk - trouble is, I don't know which half!

25th Sep 2020, 8:26 am	#5
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 6,283	Re: What deck is this? That's a very nice deck - it's not a Goldring GL75, but a GL72. The deck alone has been listed elsewhere (and only partly tested) at £160-00. What are you paying for this - is it a Danish built ARENA unit? __________________ Edward.

25th Sep 2020, 8:43 am	#6
ChrisChilton Tetrode Join Date: May 2020 Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 72	Re: What deck is this? So £20 is a good deal then?

25th Sep 2020, 9:20 am	#7
Michael.N. Pentode Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 172	Re: What deck is this? At £20? Doubt you can go wrong. I used to build laminated layered plinths for the Lenco (along with the Thorens and Garrards). The Lenco was always seen as the poor mans version (I'm not suggesting it sounded inferior!) I remember paying around £40 for a GL75 when the 301/401 was close to £300+. That's around 15 years ago though.

25th Sep 2020, 11:11 am	#8
unitaudio Heptode Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Manchester, UK. Posts: 802	Re: What deck is this? £20?! Snap it up!! Regards, Paul __________________ ...No, it's not supposed to pick up the World Service, it's not a radio!

25th Sep 2020, 11:27 am	#9
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 6,283	Re: What deck is this? £20-00? You must be joking. Go get it before the Seller gets this valued! __________________ Edward.

25th Sep 2020, 12:28 pm	#10
roffe Hexode Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Linkoping, Sweden Posts: 440	Re: What deck is this? According to this it's a Rank Arena 2000GT with a B55: http://www.hifi-archiv.info/Rank%20A...arena72-08.jpg

25th Sep 2020, 1:21 pm	#11
ajgriff Octode Join Date: May 2004 Location: Halifax, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 1,610	Re: What deck is this? I'm no Lenco aficianado but I think the B55 is very similar to the GL72 with the lightweight platter and is not as highly regarded as some of the other models like the GL75. Probably a competent enough deck worth no more than £20 on its own, especially in unknown condition. The whole unit might be worth £40 in good working order. Not to my taste I'll admit. Alan

25th Sep 2020, 1:59 pm	#12
dave walsh Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ramsbottom (Nr Bury) Lancs or Bexhill (Nr Hastings) Sussex. Posts: 5,127	Re: What deck is this? Stylistically the whole Unit looks a lot less fussy than many others. It may not be a Lenco top of the range deck but it's styling is so similar I think that most sellers would want much more for it than £20 even on it's own! I think the OP meant investing in the player in post 1* Dave Last edited by dave walsh; 25th Sep 2020 at 2:07 pm.

25th Sep 2020, 4:03 pm	#13
ChrisChilton Tetrode Join Date: May 2020 Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 72	Re: What deck is this? Just been sent another image, it is indeed a b55

25th Sep 2020, 8:59 pm	#15
ChrisChilton Tetrode Join Date: May 2020 Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 72	Re: What deck is this? I’m fetching it tomorrow, fingers crossed it’s all good.

1st Oct 2020, 8:03 pm	#16
ChrisChilton Tetrode Join Date: May 2020 Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 72	Re: What deck is this? Finally picked it up today and one of the speaker ports crackles but does let sound through albeit lower than the other. Is it worth trying contact cleaner initially?

1st Oct 2020, 10:27 pm	#17
Techman Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 3,514	Re: What deck is this? You're probably the best person to know the answer to that one, basically meaning that if you 'wobble' the speaker plug about in the socket does it cause the crackle to come and go? You could swap the speakers over to see if the fault moves with the speaker or not. If your test shows a dirty socket connection you could try a gentle squirt of contact cleaner if you've got some to hand. If none of the above you may have a fault in that amplifier channel or you may have a faulty cartridge or the connections to it.

2nd Oct 2020, 2:15 pm	#18
AC/HL Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 9,176	Re: What deck is this? Continued here: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...25#post1294625 __________________ Bill, BVWS member