JON GLOVER

For your listening pleasure...

A DJ legend becomes immortal: Farewell Technics 1200 :(

In the same week the world heard about the demise of one analogue great, the Sony Walkman (no I didn’t know they were still making it either), the global DJ community saw final confirmation of the sad, but seemingly necessary, cessation in manufacture of the legendary Technics SL-1200 (aka 1210) series turntable, the clear DJ’s favourite and industry standard deck for almost four decades. The latest model (amongst some other minor Technics products) have been officially discontinued. The parent company, Panasonic Japan, announced after several recent rumours, that due to dwindling sales (down to 5% on sales 10 years ago) and parts supply issues (they say spares and warranty will still be available).

Originally introduced in the 70’s as a HiFi turntable, it quickly gained favour amongst DJs for it’s rock solid design, stability,  good resistance to vibration, high torque and adjustable pitch control. The MK2 rode high for years, and in the face of strong, young rivals (and argueably still stronger in terms of torque and features) the company finally introduced some much needed tweaks in latter years (added in various versions up to the outgoing Mk6).

Many DJs, even digital and CDJ peeps, hold great reverence for the 1210, having been seen in every DJ booth worth it’s salt. I’ve used them countless times over the years, they have certainly never let me down. I personally chose a different route when it came to buying my own decks (I’m a Vestax man, I prefer them) but Technics have always had my respect.

It is a shame to see such an icon of DJ lore come to pass, but the industry should not be surprised. Professional vinyl use (played on whatever brand of turntable you might favour) has long been in decline, despite the brilliant tie-in with Digital Vinyl Systems, famous international scratch competitions and (still) huge following from dyed-in-the-wool vinyl users (old school types) and abusers (scratch DJs).

But, times change. We all know a DJ’s output is what’s important, despite what gear he/she uses.

Actually, to say farewell is premature. Current owners of Technics and turntables will continue to rock them for many years to come (they already last for donkey’s years, parts are everywhere plus cottage industries still exist for specialist repairs and mods), DVS software rocks and vinyl still has a place in the DJ world. I love my digital trickery, but handling vinyl still feels special.

Technics never die, they just hit the deck. Get it? lol. No? Ahem…

Read more:

1210 exhibit at the London Science Museum

Wikipedia article

Tags: , , , , , ,

Categories: DJ news, Gear

See the comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special gig @ Hospital Records / Liquid Sessions 5th Birthday, Fri 22nd October, Source Bar Maidstone

Summer’s over? Sheesh! Get a load of this:

Event Listing

Tags:

Categories: Gigs

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Bonus giggy wig

Holla!

Come feel the noise this Sunday from 8pm at R Bar, Maidstone with yours truly en residence for a night of experimental musicality (funk, soul, hip hop and a smattering of dubbysteppykindashizzle for good measure).

Live web radio stream via here

Check the specs: event details

Tags: , , , ,

Categories: Gigs

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

DJing gives you wings

Always the turntable tart, I felt inspired today to craft this little homage to Hermes the great messenger of the Greek gods. Natch.

Seeing as our trusty cans live half their lives clamped to our noggins, they also deserve the chance to look flash an’ all.

(They’ll probably survive one gig I’ll wager)

Tags: , ,

Categories: Gear, Pics, Shizzlé

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

12 inch boobs

Lured in by the title? Shame on you! Just my cheeky slipmats.
Quite hypnotising when they spin…

Tags: , ,

Categories: Pics, Shizzlé

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

DJ lingo – definitive guide

Want to speak like all the pro DJs? This book tells you all you need to know!

*I’ve found that this kinda language can also be applied to many everyday situations, such as domestic duties.
For example: Today I’ll be “rinsin’ off a hooj pile of dish-tastic gravy-soiled dinner plates”. Bo!

Tags:

Categories: Shizzlé

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Gem of an MP3 player for DJs

www.mono211.com/monoraveik/mr1200.html

Found this, love this. Free fun, we like that. Guess this software’s pretty old but if I now need to stick on a track in a sharpish stylee, this gets my double-click.

Try playing two copies at once. Hey it even doubles as a BPM counter! Mint.

Tags: , , , ,

Categories: Shizzlé

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

M.I.A. vs Dire Straits blend? Surely not!

Check ma cheeky mishymash. The glorious M.I.A.’s XXXO acapella (kindly available on her own website) laid over Your Latest Trick, with some beats from Planet Rock toughening up the percussion. Simple and sweet.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd_LTIrqqnk]

Tags: , , ,

Categories: Shizzlé, Vids

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hello! Here’s my face!

[slideshow]

Categories: Shizzlé

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *