Custom Turntables by Mike Disher

Came across these amazing custom turntables by Mike Disher. He has built a couple of great models including this beautiful version featuring a VPI platter, Rega Arm, and custom green-acrylic plinth. Here's a bit about him:

My name is Mike Disher, and I have the audio bug. I'm also a hobbyist inventor and all around DIY guy. About 5 years ago I decided to try my hand at building a custom turntable. Turntables and mechanical watch and clock movements fascinate me.

I view them as functional pieces of kinetic art. I based my turntable design on the legendary Rega P3, and I created a new, custom acrylic plinth and a set of feet. I also devised a way to hide the motor, and I improved the motor mounting system. The plinth rests on small silicone dots, providing added isolation.

The result was a very modern looking table. I called it the P3 Skeleton. Skeleton is a watchmaking term for a movement in which material is removed from the plates and bridges to reveal the inner workings.

Check out all of his work here.

Savannah Record Fair

If you're down in the Savannah area this weekend, be sure to stop by the Savannah Record and Zine Fair. Here are the details:

SCAD Radio and District present the Third Savannah Record and Zine Fair on Oct. 24, 2009 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. at Oglethorpe House Ballroom, 201 W. Oglethorpe Ave. in Savannah. 

Dealers from around the Southeast will offer vinyl, CDs, DVDs and music memorabilia. This year the record fair has expanded to include comics, ‘zines and other independent publications. Admission is free and open to the public. Use the form below to begin the vendor registration process.

If you are more interested in the Zine fair aspect of the event, use the registration form here. For more information, contact Kim Herrington at kcherrin@scad.edu or 912-525-5502. You can also find the Savannah Record Fair on Twitter and on Facebook.

If you make it there, be sure to use the #ilovevinyl hash tag on Twitter so we can hear about your finds. 

Happy hunting!

Burton DJ Bag

Here's another DJ bag designed for the traveling digital DJ but still incredibly useful for the mobile analog aficionado. It comes to us from Burton and is available in some funkier finishes including the flannel plaid pattern (shown above), a distressed black denim, and a shiny black.

The DJ Bag has space for a laptop, 25 records, and flexible compartments for digital DJ components (we would use for power adapter, phone, camera, etc.).

It's available here from Burton for $150.

For a bag with similar features and geometry in a more modern design, check out the Mono 365 DJ Pack.

Lighting upgrades for your Technics 1200

We're on a bit of a Technics 1200 modification kick this morning and came across these great replacement light kits for the pop-up light (seen above). 

They come to us from Turntable Tech and each kit allows you to modify the pop-up light with a super bright LED. They're available in white, blue, green and red and cost just $20. Included with each kit:

• 2 x 3mm LEDs prewired into 1 dual LED lamp
• 1 x voltage converter - will work on SL-1200 & SL1210
• 3 x heat shrink tubing
• 3 x solder strips 
• Complete installation instructions w/ photos via weblink 

The kits are available here along with other kits and bulbs to modify the strobe, speed selector, and pitch zero point lights on your Technics 1200. 

Technics 1200 faceplates

Looking to spice up that Technics 1200 with a little color or looking to cover up scratches on a used deck? These powder-coated aluminum faceplates from DJ Hardwares make a great choice.

They range in price from $40 for colors (Blue, Red, Yellow, Pink, White, Black, Charcoal, and Silver), $60 for Chrome, and $80 for Gold.