BUYING A USED TURNTABLE...HOW TO CHECK THAT ITS GOOD?!?!

what up..
I found a Technics SL-12 at a local Swap meat for $ 60 and asked the guy to hold it for me. Anyway hes selling it "as is" with NO REFUND. So basically i want to know what to look for to tell if its in usable condition. I basically just want it to sample from. But how can i tell if its in good working condition. i dont know SHIT about turntables so some one help me out PLEASE. How i can i tell if the needle/cartridge are good?? I wount be able to hear it in action because he has no speakers in his booth..but i can probably get him to plug it in..so what should i look for and check???ANy tips would help!

I don't know anything about that model specifically but I'd start out by bringing in a record and listening to it. Primarily I'd be listening to make sure the record player doesn't speed up or slow down in parts and maybe anything else that might jump out at me. After that you can maybe lift the platter (if that is even an option) (the platter is the part the record sits on and it spins) just to look like you know what you're doing. lol. I'm not giving you specifics to look for but just to 'cause you never know what you might find.

basically if the table turns, its good...as far as the needle goes, id check online to see if you can replace it....if its got a "headshell" type you can easily replace it.

peace

umm, (if the tt is sl-1200) if you can get one cheap, get it. just check that the motor runs good. the small dots on the platter show if the pitch works. if the arm wobbles, you can tight it up yourself, so no worry on there. rca cables are easy to replace. the pitch is easy to replace. the 1200 is easy to repair and maintain overall. http://www.backspin.org has the service manual online. i replaced the rca -cable with no solder skills. since then i've got more experience in soldering and i do all the repair and shit myself. if you need any help with that, pm me...

replacement needles are cheap, so you have to get a new one. i mean used needle... imagine the tt being at a smoky bar or something. every goddamn shit flying in the air is also on that needle...

when cats sell stuff "as is" there is probally something wrong with it, give him 25$ he'll take it, if its defective, you wont have put that much of a monitary investment in the unit, so if you have to put it in the shop, you breakin even