Record Player: Any Recommendations?

[ChillDoubt]

That's right folks, I DID say record player! Basically, my teenage son has gone mad for vinyl since he saw my (limited) collection, which includes coloured vinyl, picture discs etc. He's especially got into Pink Floyd!
We are looking for a modern, retro style record player, something like this:

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

Any tips, experiences or recommendations gratefully received.

Many thanks.

[boxtops]

I bought one of those multitasking sets a couple of years ago, it plays LPs, tapes, CDs and has a radio. It's not modern looking, a sort of Edwardian style, but it works for me.

[ChillDoubt]

Thanks boxy. Any idea which make you bought? Was the sound quality from the speakers ok?
Thanks for any reply!

[ELVIS68]

Don't let him touch them!

Let him get them on iTunes

[boxtops]

it's NOT this one, but it's this sort of thing, with internal speakers. For occasional use, it's fine and the sound is what I need - although the radio signal gets a bit crackly after being on for an hour or so. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wooden-Retro-Turntable-Cassette-Player/dp/B001EZPI02

[ChillDoubt]

Thanks boxy.

To be fair Elvis, he treats them with the utmost care. Ironically, this afternoon he bought the classic album in your avatar from a record store and has framed it! It has pride of place.

[ELVIS68]

Good lad, he's got taste!

[ChillDoubt]

Yeah, he was chuffed. £12, very good condition and an original poster with it too. He was made up.

[EDDIE51]

Back in 1974 I remember paying £25 just for the cartridge , that is the bit of the record deck that holds the stylus , it was a Shure Magnetic and top of the range.
The actual turntable could cost up to £1000 even then. I just can't see anything available now would come close to the sound quality of a top of the range 1970s set up. There were entire issue of magazines devoted to just choosing a turntable. The biggest factor in the quality of a record deck was the weight of the actual turntable , the heavier the better as it was more stable in speed. One high price turntable made of solid granite and weighed around 8Kg.

[Jeza]

Flipping heck Eddie, I hope it wasn't posted to you.

[wolf63]

Should your son wish to increase the size of his music collection I can recommend this site http://www.oxfam.org.uk/search-results?i=1;m_sort_product_search_date=FirstMadeLive;q=*;q1=F6318;q2=Music%2C+films+%26+video+games;q3=Music;q4=Vinyl;show_all=products;x1=shopid;x2=secondary_cat_1;x3=secondary_cat_2;x4=secondary_cat_3

Whatever happened to short URL links?

Anyway Oxfam Book and Music shops - we sell quite a bit of Vinyl and for a good cause.

[EDDIE51]

No I could never afford anything near that price range.
But the bit about a magnetic cartridge is a real issue, cheap record players will have a ceramic cartridge they will destroy a valuable vinyl record in a few plays you just HAVE to get a magnetic cartridge
Look at this link and scroll down to the comment by Julio Molero

[Jeza]

In the late 60's I had a Dansette I think it was called.

[EDDIE51]

I had a Garrard 401 with a Shure magnetic cartridge, sadly long gone now , if I still had it it would be worth a fair bit of cash.
I second the view of Methly , that the record player you mention would ruin a valuable record, look for a decent 2nd hand deck on ebay or in a charity shop, then connect it to your amplifier and speakers.