Introduction

The Denon DP 3000 is a 2-speed servo-controlled direct-drive motor standalone unit released in Japan in 1972. Back then it was also available with a plinth and lid as the DP-3500, or as a complete record playing system with integral tonearm, the DP-3700.

The story says Nippon Columbia designed the DP-3000 as an RIAA Broadcast Quality turntable. It is built to run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in an actual radio broadcast station for years.

The motor torque is sufficient to bring the turntable to full speed within 1/4 turn from a dead stop. DJs would back cue a record by setting the stylus into the groove, manually turning the disc until the music started, then turning the record in reverse 1/4 turn. When he announced the song, he hit the 45 button on the turntable, and that turntable was supposed to be up to speed by the time the music started. One quarter turn from a dead stop. That was a RIAA specification for a broadcast turntable.

­

­

Technical Maintenance

If the speed lock of your DP 3000 is sometimes erratic like this one, I searched online and found a Japanese Technician who services these units.

He explains how he solves the problem here.

Following his guidance, we can change 13 of the transistors by fresh ones.

First, change the 2SA562 transistors. 4 in total.

Q1, Q8, Q9, and Q10.

Note that the schematics may not be fully accurate. So if you decide to change the transistors I recommend to check their models directly on the circuit board rather than relying on the schematics values.

Then the 2SC458 transistors. 6 in total.

Namely Q2, Q3, Q5, Q13, Q14, and Q16.

If you decide to do the same, please see the old and new models have different pins for Base, Emitter and Collector. You can refer to the picture for more clarity.

Then change the 2SC1213. 2 in total.

Namely Q11 and Q15. Please note there is also a difference in pins between the old and new models, as shown on the picture.

Finally, change the 2SC373. 1 in total.

Namely Q17. Please note there is also a difference in pins between the old and new models, as shown on the picture.

The circuit board work is now complete.

It is then necessary to adjust the speed consistency between 33 and 45rpm with the dedicated potentiometers. The procedure is described in the user manual.

As you will see in the next chapter, I completely dismantled the unit to replace the paint. I could therefore do a deep cleaning of all components, and especially the contactors attached to the control buttons.

Esthetic Modifications

The Denon DP 3000 is a great turntable, but I don’t really like its colors. Furthermore, the paint was a bit tired here and there, so I decided to get the chassis to bare metal and start a new finish from there.

Complete disassembly of the chassis

Removal of the original paint from the chassis

Now we have the bare metal, and the paint job can start!

Primer application with an airbrush.

Many trials and errors at that stage. Make sure the primer is adapted to the type of paint you want to use.

I tried automotive paint, but in the end I went for a metallic lacquer paint.

Primer finished and sanded.

Here an attempt with 2 colors. Very difficult to have a clean joint line between colors, and the result is not pleasing to me.

Besides the chassis, the plastic window is in a bad state, with many scratches and fading paint.

One solution is to fill the grooves with fresh paint. I use a liquid paint pen to do so.

Once done, I polish the face with an acrylic polish to remove all scratches and the surplus paint.

The rubber mat shows some signs of dryness, as well as unaesthetic marks. The solution for this is to apply some CARPRO Perl.

You can find an interesting thread on the Lenco Heaven forum here about the procedure to follow.

It works quite well.

After cleaning the platter (be careful not to touch the strip of magnetic paint in the inside), I polished the mat center to a shinier finish. I could not obtain a mirror like finish, but the outcome is much better looking than the original to my eyes.

Regarding the color, finally let’s go for a California Sage, as for vintage Aston Martins 🙂

The DIY color mix to arrive at the desired result is quite long, but we will eventually get there.

Happy with the result, the unit is now ready!

Let’s work on the next item now…

This project is now complete.

It is hard work, but at the same time what a pleasure to learn along the way and build something unique.

In that sense, each time I look or listen to this turntable, I am proud of this Unidentified Fulfilling Object!