To be fair, i spent bloody hours trying to get a good and even bounce and failed repeatedly.In my experience, the guys that think that correctly setting-up a sprung LP12 is tantamount to rocket science, are the same guys who have never ventured beneath the top-plate.
Yes, you have to take care that everything is just right and level; that the top-plate screws are straight and true; that the bounce is vertical and has reasonable decay; that the gap around the arm-board is even-stevens; and that the belt is neither too tight nor too loose; etc, etc.
But frankly, it is just not that hard.
To suggest that anyone who prefers the LP12 sound with the Silicone Mushrooms / Insoles - without the LINN springs - must have had a faulty sprung set-up is typical LINN brain-washing IMHO.
Later, I read of people selecting suitable springs from new sets and I started to believe that a fair degree of skill and experience plus a little luck is required, in some cases.
I still love my LP12 Ittok and how it sounds and have no desire to change it for any of the commonly suggested alternatives.
I do feel that as I am getting older and more clumsy that a less springy deck might be better though.
Hence, my interest in the mushrooms.
As an aside, I have heard many LP12s at shows and the one that was fettled at my ex dealer, neighbours house.
Not one of them has impressed me as much as mine but coming from the 80s brainwashing period that the press and dealers used to spout, I simply had to buy one and give it a try.
maye mine isn’t typical? Who knows.
I have heard a truly excellent sounding PTtoo and a Roksan Xerxes plus a number of great sounding Garrards.
Its just that having retired, I find myself not wanting to take on a potentially expensive project and wanting to maximise my enjoyment and use-ability of the deck and arm that I own and love.