Thorens TD-124 on Bobland plinths (I love client photos)

The very first Bobland plinth. A Thorens TD-121 with an Empire tonearm. Built on the cheap for a coworker at a time when I didn’t yet know what a plinth was.

I build a lot of plinths these days. To date, a large share of them have been for vintage Thorens TD 124 turntables. I ship them all over the country and internationally, so it’s a nice surprise when my clients follow up with photos of their setup, including a peek at their other gear. The audiophile community is a sharing one and its gratifying that the people who commission me are gracious enough to send photos and comments.

The TD 124 was made in the late 1950s through the 1960s and is highly regarded among audiophiles for its sound quality and engineering. The Thorens also exudes vintage cool, especially when sitting on top of a beautiful custom-made plinth. Vintage Thorens turntables are still very much in high demand and their cost reflects that. Being a 60+ years old turntable, they typically need an overhaul unless you find one that’s in pristine shape or has already been gone though. The beautiful thing is that audiophiles love to roll up their sleeves and work on gear. Vintage Thorens turntables and their counterparts are perfect for that.

The first Thorens I owned was a mid 1970’s TD-165 purchased from Fred’s Sound of Music here in Portland, OR. It was a twofold gift from my wife in that not only did I get a turntable, but also the encouragement to continue down this slippery slope of vintage audio and endless tinkering (thanks Deirdre!). I swapped out the stock MDF & veneer plinth with one of my own design, wrapped in an exotic veneer pulled from a boxful of assorted sheets I was gifted. Now I’m working on a plinth for the TD-124 that will be part of my shop listening lounge system. But there’s still a bit of drywalling and painting to complete before that comes to fruition.

Walnut slim profile plinth for TD-124. Los Angeles

Thorens TD-124 plinth and matching case for a Marantz M7. New York

Thorens TD-124 custom dual arm plinth in layered baltic birch with black-dyed maple veneer. New Hampshire.

Layered baltic birch plinth with walnut veneer. Portland, Oregon.

TD-124 plinth in walnut. Oslo, Norway.

Elbow grease and a new plinth transformed this “cosmetically challenged” TD-165 personal project.

Thorens TD-124 plinth in a unique figured walnut. Hong Kong