Launched in 1972 by Technics, the Technics SL-1200 turntable is an iconic model whose reputation is well established. Popularized by the pioneering hip-hop and turntablism DJs Grand Wizzard Theodore and Grandmaster Flash, the SL-1200 celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Marketed as SL-1200M7L at an advertised price of £899, or approximately €1080, only 12,000 models in seven different colors will be available worldwide.
Based on the Technics SL-1200MK7 turntable released in 2019, the Technics SL-1200M7L features a gold anodized tonearm and sports an engraved serial number on the top panel. Each turntable comes with a slip mat decorated with the Technics logo in gold and a 50th anniversary sticker. The SL-1200M7L consists of a high-rigidity chassis combined with damping feet to minimize vibrations. Designed for use in a hi-fi system but also in clubs, just like its illustrious ancestor, it is also equipped with a starting torque/brake speed adjustment function, pitch control, reverse playback and a stylus illuminator with a high-brightness, long-life LED. This limited edition turntable will be available in seven different colors: black, red, blue, white, green, yellow and beige.
The first SL-1200 model quickly became a staple of clubs after being adopted by the DJs at the origin of the hip-hop movement. So much so that the Technics SL-1200 became inseparable from this musical trend. It has also been refined and re-released by Technics over the years as a limited edition collector’s model, but also as an update of a model that has stood the test of time. The Technics catalog therefore features the SL-1200 MK7 (seventh version of the original model) SL-1200GR and SL-1200G, direct heirs of the SL-1200, but also the Technics SL-100C and Technics SL-1500C turntables which borrow its design but adapt it for home use.
To discover the history of the Technics SL-1200 turntable and the role it played in the development of an entire musical and cultural movement, read our article on the legendary Technics SL-1200.
