The end of an era......

Everyone has that one definitive day in their lives when they feel like the world truly lost a treasure.  The older generations may cite the JFK assasination or the death of Trudeau.  For myself,  today is the day that the world lost its greatest treasure.  Panasonic announced back in October of 2010 that it would be ending one of the longest product production runs in history, the iconic technics SL1200 direct drive turntable would be out of production for the first time since February 1972.  The last SL-1200 MK2's shipped this week from Japan....

What does this mean?  The digital revolution has finally stomped the last dying breaths out of the music industry.  But wait,  doesn't Numark, Stanton, Vestax and others still make turntables?  Thats like saying "crap,  Ferrari is no longer making cars,  but at least we still have Kia"  As good as Numark and all have become at making reasonable direct drive decks.....  they will never come close to what has become the reference for comparison of all other turntables.  Over its 39 year history, over 3.5 million SL-1200 MK2 models have been produced.  The tech 12 was teh M1 - Abrams of the turntable realm.  Nothing touched it.  12.5kg base,  high torque direct drive platter, S-shaped tone arm.  This product single handedly sparked the imagination of an entire generation and led to the creation of the DJ...  Without the Tech 12,  we wouldn't have hip hop,  we wouldn't have electronica,  hell we probably wouldn't even have had disco,  at least not in the Studio 54 style.

I bought my set of Tech 12's in 2002  and i have never looked back.  My dining room used to house my prized possessions,  my guitars,  my vinyl, and of course,  my SL-1200 MK2's.  now i suppose i can add the word antique to that list now that they are part of a dying breed.  In the quest for convenience and simplicity,  i suppose that modern DJ's are somewhat responsible for this travesty.  Most DJ's have now either fully switched to digital formats (CD MP3 decks)  or moved to a hybrid system (serato scratch / final scratch) which are both evil digital abominations...  I hate to admit it,  but the button loving douche bag hipsters have won.....  from now on club kids will be fist pumping to the sound of armin spinning the touch screens of his ipads.... (not that he could actually mix properly anyways)

I think the vinyl resurgence will remain in effect,  although i doubt that anyone will be enjoying it in a pure analogue mode.  At least i can take solace in the fact that i now own two pieces of music history that are about as profound as the Fender Stratocaster or the Gibson Les Paul.  It is only lately that people have been recognizing turntablists fully for what they have accomplished.  From the pioneers like Terminator X and Grandmaster Flash to the ranks of Jam Master Jay, Mix Master Mike, Q-Bert,  none of these artists could have accomplished what they have without the 1200. 

Joni Mitchell sang "you don't know what you got till its gone", i'm afraid that people won't realize the true significance of this event.  Sadly,  this occasion will most likely go unnoticed outside the realm of turntablists, dj's  and audiophiles.

A moment of silence for the mighty SL-1200

update:  the news of the end of the SL1200 has sparked a really bad side effect....  now i want to own a pair of the ultra rare, limited edition SL1200GLD.  basically its an SL1200 Mk5  except everything is is plated with 24k Gold....  had the SL1200 been manufactured by Ferrari,  this would be the enzo....

found one on ebay.....  $5,400  US  eeek

on the plus side,  SL1200 MK2's  are going for a solid $1500 US for mint condition decks...  So take that mom!  I do have some equity!