sonddek
Trade: SUPATRAC
My ears think the quite heavily modded SL1200 is surprisingly good but it’s a long time since I compared it to anything else.
It’s pointless ‘researching’ how good it is since depending where you go it’s either worse than a P2 or better than an SME20.
Just to add, a reason I’m contemplating this is because one of my daughters wants the Technics, badly. It might be more sensible to give her £300 to buy her own.
I run a modded Technics 1210, WT Amadeus GT, two Garrard 301s and a Sondek, all with my own tonearms. Recently I've listened to a Technics SL-1000R with stock arm and mine.
Honestly, a well modded Technics on a 12" inner tube with the rubber base bolts removed is very hard to beat. I did not yearn for a SL-1000R. It must be better, but I'm not sure I could hear it.
As you say, another used 1200 is a few hundred quid, and spend the rest on records and a top tonearm.