If you like the SL-1200 then there are a couple of other Technics well worth looking out for that eclipse the 1200 but may not cost that much more; the SL-150 Mk2 and the SL-1700/1800 Mk2. Some may ask why no SL-1300/1400/1500 Mk2? Well, it has a particular design flaw to the tonearm lift that afflicts pretty much all of them by now and there's no easy or effective long-term fix for it (myriad bodges though, most unsuccessful).
The ~SL-150 Mk2, while looking similar to it's "armed" brothers, is rather different, with a wooden base, extra feet, and the ability to take whatever tonearm you choose to mount (they came with a drilled arm board - usually SME - and one blank). We used a pair of them (with Piezo arms) at my college radio station and they looked fab, were pretty much indestructible, and sounded great too. It's a cracking deck and good step or two up from the SL-1200 in performance and all-round desirability. They do command a fair premium over the 1200 and good ones are a rare find.
The SL-1700/1800 Mk2 is like a sleeker, smoother, more honed version of the SL-1200. What's best about though is that it sounds much better - probably because it loses the rubberised base that kills the performance of the SL-1200. These can sometimes be found for similar money to a 1200, so if you see one, get it!
