Adjustment pitch Is there a way to recallibrate pitch? I recently read there is something underneath the turntables you can tweak with a screwdriver?

Try looking underneath the turntable. There might be two speed presets one for 45 and one for 33. They could be covered up by stickers.

How to tweak the playback speed on Panasonic SL-HM42 turntables


You will need:

1. 1x small Philips screw driver
2. 1x small flat-head screw driver
3. An ear for correct pitch and a little bit of DIY skill!

Step 1 - Remove the wooden base plate

After ensuring that you've removed the the rubber turntable slip mat and securely docked the turntable arm, carefully flip the turntable over onto its lid to expose the wooden base plate, as per below.

Using the small Philips-head screw driver, remove the screws holding the wooden base plate in place, then gently lift the base plate off the turntable.



Step 2 - Expose the pitch adjustment screws

Once the wooden base plate is removed, you will see the speed-controller circuit board on the right-hand side.


To expose the the two speed/pitch-control screws, firstly remove the screw holding the speed-controller circuit board in place, then gently lift the circuit board up on the free side.


Step 3 - Correct the turntable playback speed and pitch

The easiest way I found to correct the playback speed was to flip the turntable carefully back into the original position, allowing the speed-controller circuit board to hang free as shown below.



Next, play a record that you know well and are able to tell when the speed/pitch is correct (assuming you have an ear for correct pitch, that is!), then at the same time using the small flat-head screwdriver, gently turn the speed adjustment screw(s) to adjust the playback speed up or down until the correct playback speed and pitch is achieved (or at least until it no longer annoys you ;).

Turning the screws clockwise (to the right) will increase the speed/pitch, and anticlockwise (to the left) will decrease the speed/pitch.

NB - Both screws allow for fine pitch control, so if the second is already at maximum speed, you can use the first screw for additional speed.
Step 4 - Reassemble the turntable again

When you're happy with the speed of your turntable, remove the record, the mat again & locking the turntable arm, replace the screw holding the speed-controller circuit in place (as per Step 2) and then finally replace the screws holding the wooden base plate, as per Step 1.
Happy listening!

Hi,
Do one thing Remove the palter and put one drop of lubricating oil in the center shaft. Also put one drop in the motor shaft. Be carefull do not drope the oil in motor pulley. If so clean the pulley with a cloth. Because it will cause slipping the belton the pulley.Then put the plater back. Rotate the plater with arms for some time. Then check.

Ajin

To adjust stopping speed you'll have to remove the plate by pulling it up. Then there is a plastic cover that has some screws, remove the screws and remove the plastic cover, you'll find a variable resistor that reads something like brake. Adjust it to the left or to the right with a screwdriver and see at which position works best.
To solve the constant speed problem you'll have to replace the pitch regulator.
Go to any panasonic/technics service and buy the pitch. If you have a bit of soldering skills you'll be able to replace it by yourself. You can access the pitch regulator unscrewing all the screws under the device and then removing the cover.
Hope you can solve the problem!

You need to calibrate your pitch control. This requires a small precision screwdriver (similar to something you would repair eye glasses with). If you look under the turntable where the pitch control is you will find 2 small holes, 1 marked 33 and 1 marked 45. Turn the turntable on and set the pitch control lever to zero pitch. While the turntable is spinning insert the screw driver into the pitch calibration hole under the turntable and twist the potentiometer back and forth until the turntable pitch is zero (I believe clockwise is faster, counterclockwise is slower as you look up from the bottom of the turntable). This is a fine tune adjustment and will not require much turning to adjust the speed (1 or 2 mm's) either way should start to bring you into zero pitch. The platter speed can be verified by the little dots on the rim of the platter. They should appear stationary in strobe light on the power switch when you are at zero pitch. When you are adjusting the speed you will observe the dots on the platter rim spinning clockwise and then counterclockwise as you adjust the fine tuning. Fine tune the speed until the dots appear stationary and you will be back to zero pitch. You have to adjust the turntable at both speeds 33 and 45 using the correct fine tuning hole under the turntable. My personal experience is it is easiest to do this with 2 people. 1 person to hold the turntable level and running, while the other adjusts the fine tuning. Hope this helps.

Try a skinny flat screwdriver, like one you fix glasses with. Lemme know. Please rate me

This one is actually fastened from underneath (inside). You need to open the player up and you will see the usual C shaped fastener on a cleat near the motor assembly. Most old direct drive record players have a C pin around the spindle that you can unfasten (pry with a twist) with a screwdriver. Irealize you figured this out yourself, but I'll take the guess work out for someone else... yeah..l you gotta take it apart!

You have to understand any sort of calibration meter will only tell you if the pitch control is faulty - or excessively too fast/too slow. If your units are just 'off' then that is a matter of a simple calibration of your pitch controls back to original factory specs. Also, just so you know, the pitch controls on the 1200s are not really calibrated when they leave the factory. They are basically installed, set a default setting, then shipped off. So, you'll often times have 2 turntables with sequential serial numbers, but they are both off.

Here is a tutorial on calibrating your unit back to original factory settings: TECHNICS SL1200MK2 / SL1210MK2 TURNTABLE PITCH CALIBRATION

You can also print this out and give it to the technician who serviced your units. Also ask him what kind of calibration meter, or unit did he use to test? Just curios.

- TWEAK AV LAB
The ORIGINAL TURNTABLE Technicians.

Check that your voltage settings are set correctly. This is located underneath your turntable platter. If you remove the slipmat, you will see 2 holes on the metal platter. Rotate the platter till you see the voltage switch, located @ the 9'o'clock position. Make sure it's set to your correct settings (N.America = 115V / Euro = 220V). If not, you will need a flat head screw driver to switch it. Before you switch it, make sure your unit is off and unplugged. After you swich it, it should be ok.

If your still having issues with the speed and the pop-up light, then there is something seriously wrong, and will need to be checked by a technician. Sometimes a resistor or IC will go bad, causing the speed issue, but for the pop-up light - that's usually faulty wiring generally caused by an incorrect replacement.

Did you buy this new or used? Have you had this serviced recently?

- TWEAK AV LAB
The ORIGINAL TURNTABLE Technicians

Check that your voltage settings are set correctly. This is located underneath your turntable platter. If you remove the slipmat, you will see 2 holes on the metal platter. Rotate the platter till you see the voltage switch, located @ the 9'o'clock position. Make sure it's set to your correct settings (N.America = 115V / Euro = 220V). If not, you will need a flat head screw driver to switch it. Before you switch it, make sure your unit is off and unplugged. After you swich it, it should be ok.

If your still having issues with the speed and the pop-up light, then there is something seriously wrong, and will need to be checked by a technician. Sometimes a resistor or IC will go bad, causing the speed issue, but for the pop-up light - that's usually faulty wiring generally caused by an incorrect replacement.

Did you buy this new or used? Have you had this serviced recently?

- TWEAK AV LAB
The ORIGINAL TURNTABLE Technicians