Yesterday evening I went out to the audio flea market after dropping by some of the wholesale places here in Hong Kong. Sadly (as it turned out) I didn't have much money on me.

Part of that was deliberate. This week I'm buying two turntables, a Pioneer PL-L1 (ultra-rare Japanese-market linear tracker) and Pioneer PL-C590 (heavy metal-plinth model, probably one of the best Pioneer decks ever made). Just those two have put me way over my budget for audio this month, so I didn't want/plan to spend much on anything else.

The second reason I was short was that I bought a Pioneer X-1 Laserdisc player at one of the wholesale places I went to first. It was very cheap, so I got it. I don't know if it works yet, but it was worth it even for parts/back up (I have one already). They are not very common, but are one of the 3 best LD players ever made.

So I finally get to the flea market, but I have less than thirty bucks in my pocket. I'm there three minutes when what do I see? A DISCO-ROBO! It has reddish-colored grill covers, with some script writing on two of them, and flashy decals around the middle, plus some other decals obviously added by an owner [There was no Playboy model of the Disco Robo! ]. I ask the price. "Fifty bucks" comes the reply.

At that price, I could way more than double my money in ten minutes, but I would have wanted to keep this one. I'm not willing to pay the crazy prices these usually bring at retail/at auction, because they just aren't worth THAT MUCH to me, but I'd like to have one for a more affordable price. This is the fourth one I've found, and it was by far the cheapest. At this price, I'd be willing to keep it, and I'd be very happy with it.

I reach in my pocket, pull out what I have, and ask them to take it as a deposit, saying I'll pay the balance very soon. No dice, they say. It's fifty bucks, cash, take it or leave it. The seller was a mainland visitor, not a usual dealer on the market; otherwise he almost certainly would have said yes and taken the deposit. Any of the "regulars" would have done that for me... but then again, the regulars probably would charge three (maybe four) times the price, which is the normal wholesale-market price level.

I know a bunch of people around the market, and my first thought was there's a guy usually just across the street who would lend me the money to get it. I cross over and look, but he isn't there. In a big hurry, I go down the street looking for a dealer, someone who will know me and would give me the money. In two minutes or so, at the far end of that block, I see someone I can ask, ask, and they immediately the cash I need.

I almost run back, and... it's already gone. In fact, the guy who took it away is already clean out of site, farther than one block away.

I'm standing there asking where it went, how I can get it, why didn't they hold it for me, etc... and within a minute or two two friends are beside me, asking what's up. One of them is the guy I first looked for, and he says, "Why didn't you ask me?" I told him he wasn't there, and he admitted he walked off for a minute. The other one, who usually is at that same corner, says they would have given me the money, too, but they also had left for a few minutes to go see a possible purchase.

Just bad timing, bad luck for me.

"He who hesitates is lost."
"To the swift go the spoils."
"You snooze, you lose."
"Them what's got shall get, them that's not shall lose."
"It takes money to make money."
etc... etc... etc...

So another Disco Robo slips through my grasp.
Normally I would have that much cash on me, and would have grabbed it in a flash. They show up periodically around here, but I've never heard of one being that cheap before, and I literally had it in my hands. Most nights I go around the market I have more cash than that on hand. Just bad timing.

Argh!...

Sigh...

Oh well...

I console myself by thinking about that gorgeous, big, black, XXX-rare turntable I'm bringing home in a few days... think about that, not about the Disco Robo! Think about the turnable, not about the Disco Robo...

Arkay, as an American... There is a saying you left off of your list I think I need to remind you of.

'Some things just arnt meant to be.'

Or,

'He who has patience, can have what he wants!' I think Ben Franklin said that.

All of your phrazes are negative towards yourself in someway. I read your story differently.

I really do see it as a positive! You did get a great haul of gear that your stoked on. It may not appeal to me, and I might see the greater loss of being in the 'right place at the wrong time.' But hey, thats life. You still came out on top!

...and as always, excellent writing!!!

Thanks for the comments. Sometimes it's hard to express one's feelings accurately in print, and I do try to "tell the story" in my posts in ways that won't be too boring. Maybe sometimes that makes my words come across as over-emotional(???).

At the time, I was briefly a little PO'd about "losing" the Disco Robo. I knew there were Diso Robo fans here who might share in that feeling --and in a broader sense anyone would who missed out on a near-score would, too-- so I decided to share the story of what had happened.

At the same time, I was (and am still) SO happy about getting the turntable(s) that I was happy anyway. I consider the PL-L1 turntable to be a once-in-a-lifetime score; they are quite rare, even in Japan. I haven't found anyone (else) who owns one, but people who own the subsequent model (which is more common, but also lighter in weight, less extravagantly over-engineered and less impressive-looking, and was cheaper!) and other more-or-less similar turntables have great things to say about them. One guy I know with a similar TT is spending US$2700 on a laboratory-grade isolation table to put it on, because he says the sound quality is so good, the turntable so sensitive, it's worth it! I haven't heard mine yet, but just fell in love with the looks of it. According to that guy, the sound quality should more than live up to the looks. Add in the extreme rarity factor, and it's a real "dream find" ... sort of like finding a JVC M100, the big improved brother of the M90. It's probably a better turntable than I ever realistically expected to own in my life, and may well end up being a life-long companion. I've already decided to sell almost all my other turntables, since I'm getting these two. I know once they (esp. the PL-L1) are up and running, I just won't want to use the nice but "lesser" ones. I've finally found "MY" main turntable, one I can fully expect to be very happy with and proud to own. I've gone through a lot of good but just not quite satisfying enough ones enroute, and it's nice to finally find one that lives up to me dreams. It psyches me up enough that little things like missing out on the Disco Robo --while not fun and a real disappointment-- somehow just pale into insignificance.

This fits with a general trend in my life right now of "less but better". Even with boomboxes, I'm getting a lot pickier in buying and I'm thinking hard about which (relatively) few I most want to keep, as I'm going to get rid of a lot/most of them.

So am I REALLY bummed about the Disco Robo? NO. I was briefly disappointed at missing out on it, but the feeling passed quickly. I know I probably miss out on stuff every evening that I don't hunt, and even on days that I do there must be stuff sold ten minutes before I get there that I never see. I just happened to see this one and have a shot at it, which made it a bit more tangible. But I'm not depressed or suicidal about it -heck, no! I'll get another one, and if I don't, I'll still be fine. The main reason I didn't have the cash on me was because I am getting the turntables, and they are worth a LOT, LOT more to me than any Disco Robo. I just thought I'd share the experience for the vicarious 'enjoyment' of other collectors here.

Does that balance/clarify things better?
Thanks sincerely for your honest comments, though. Sorry if I don't always express myself all that well.

does the Pioneer PL-C590 have the big VU meeter? what tone arm is on it? I thought they came without one? or does it have the pa5000 tonearm on it?

Pioneer PL-L1 DAMMMMM that is rare!!!

what did they come with cartrdges? if so what are they?


You got some excellent finds!!!!

never mind it has a sme on it rock!

Yes, the PL-C590 has the VU meter for adjusting the speed. It also has one or two other functions, I understand, but I haven't used it yet and can't remember what they are. All I know for sure is that you can use the meter just like you'd normally use a strobe, to adjust the speed. Then you can lock the speed in, if you want to.

Originally the PL-C590 was sold without any tone arm. However, they did offer a Pioneer arm (PA-1000) that could be mounted on it. That tone arm is even more rare than the turntable itself. The one I found has an SME 3009 (improved) arm on it. The cartridge on it is just a Shure M44E, but I have some better ones (like a V-15 III and an M97xe) I can try on it.

And yes, the PL-L1 appears to be super-rare, xxx-rare, uber-rare or whatever you want to call it. I feel very, very, very lucky to have found one like this. There is currently one up for sale in Japan, but the asking price for it is 150,000 Yen = US$1500. By that standard I'm getting a real bargain, because I'm only paying about 1/4 of that. I just love the thing, but I would never own one if I had to pay $1500 for it! The original price back in 1978-9 was 200,000 Yen (actual price, not adjusted for inflation), which may be part of the reason they are so rare. It was a top-of-the-line technological "statement piece" in its day.

I hate to admit it, but I'm not sure what cartridge I'm getting on it. I saw it, but didn't recognize the exact model. The whole deal was done in no more than 60 seconds, literally in the street, and I couldn't see clearly enough what model cartridge it was. I paid a deposit on the thing and will pay the rest of the money in a couple of hours. Hope to get a closer look at it then (including the cartridge), and will bring it home on Monday or Tuesday. I'll try the cartridge that is on it, first, then try to research what other carts would be good on it. I've never owned a GOOD linear tracker before, and have much to learn.

Getting this is like a dream come true for me. It's still just starting to sink in, and I think I'm going to really enjoy having this for a long time to come. Without question it is the best (and "coolest") turntable I've ever owned, and very possibly the best I ever will own. I was delighted enough to find the PL-C590, which I think is a great (and beautiful) turntable, but the PL-L1 just really blows me away. It's a big beast in person, a techno-gadget-lover's wet dream. It weighs over 50 pounds, and it looks like it was designed for Darth Vader. What's not to love?

As luck would have it, I've also found two more very rare personal "grails" in the last few days, but have to pass them up because of what I'm spending on these turntables. Oh, well ...the tables are worth it, to me. I'll get second chances on them (just like with the Disco Robo), but I doubt I'd ever get another chance at a PL-L1, especially at the price.

True verry true.

The PL-L1 head shell looks like it takes a standard cartidge on it~! Not loke some that have a P mount or like B/O that only takes its own. I am excited for you!! Great find and such a rare unit.


The v15 3 would be better then the 97 on that table. When you can, you should try to find a better cart. The upper line ortofon ( M series or up, Goldring ( although the gold ring is a bear to set up. it is perticular on VTA.) The Denon moving coil, dynavector or something along thoes lines would be the best inprovement.

If you only have a V15, and put it on a different turntable set up properly, you mihgt not hear too much of a sound difference. BUT, you will see the diffeence on a nicer looking turntable to look at LOL.


Hey Congrats. you got one heck of a deal.

Thanks, erniejade. I realize that having finally got a much better turntable (than I had before), the cartridge has now become a relative weak spot .. UNLESS the cart that is on the PL-L1 already is something good/better than what I have. With audio, it seems the "upgrade cycle" and the ever-increasing costs associated with it, never end!

Incidentally, I paid in full for the PL-L1 tonight(it is officially fully mine now) and made a partial payment to secure the PL-C590, too. I'll get the PL-L1 on Monday or Tuesday, and the PL-C590 in about two weeks. At last, something GOOD to spin vinyl on, and not just one, but two. I'm psyched!

Oh, and I think you are right: the PL-L1 has a standard mount. Will be relatively easy to try out different carts on it.

Oh yeah, I knew you didnt have a gun to your head! I wasnt concerned... just looking at a different view. But yeah, you are right, the written word doesnt always get the right feeling across as you say.

Ive learned a lot reading this thread to say the least!!!

That Turntable you found sounds... Well, words fail me!