I am now considering purchasing a Beogram 4002 and I am looking for a sort of buying advice:

1. I understand it is really good, so there is no reason to consider a BG8000, BG5005 or BG7000 instead?

2. Is it a reliable machine (at least once serviced), as I am no a technician and I have no specialist closeby to service it regularly?

3. When considering a potential purchase, which questions should the seller be asked to check the technical condition of the BG itself and of the stylus?

4. How should the seller be instructed to protect and pack the BG for shipping?

5. What would be a fair price range for an excellent unit vs. a good one that needs to be serviced?

6. Do you by experience have any other advice?

Apologies if I missed a comparable thread somewhere in the forum.

Many thanks and kind regards, js

There are others more knowledgeable than me, but as someone who just purchased a 4002 in the past 6 weeks, I wanted to chime in with my opinion.

1.  There are any number of fantastic Beograms to choose from.  If you buy a 4002, I am sure you will be delighted, as I am with mine.  If you do buy a 4002, you are locking yourself into the older range of cartridges.  This may be good, bad, or indifferent, depending on your point of view.

2.  The 4002 is very easy to open and access the main board and most all else, even for someone who is "no technician."  The 4002 has a few components on the main board known to have issues (see my BG4002 Down! thread), but its reliability and serviceability are both strong points.

3.  The stylus is going to be hit and miss anyway.  Get it retipped.  As for the rest - one school of thought I've seen on this forum is buy something that is cosmetically top notch.  Everything else can and will fail, but can be fixed.  On the other hand, broken/missing trim, cracked dust covers, etc., is more difficult to fix or hide.

4.  Ah - here is the important question.  Best to pick up.  If that is not an option at all, the most important things are:  remove both platters; remove the cartridge; remove the two top plates; fix the tonearm and light assembly up and down and side to side; put thin padding between the dust cover and the table, then fix the dust cover with tape (some also recommend filling the dust cover with peanuts, but that's probably if you don't remove the two top plates; tighten the transport screws on the bottom; wrap unit in bubble wrap; put in box; get a larger box with some packing peanuts; place first box in second box; tape well.

5.  No idea, really, and your market is probably significantly different than mine anyway.  From what I've read on the forums lately, it sounds like it's a buyer's market these days.  Having said all that, one place I watch is Hawthorne Stereo in Seattle, Washington.  They are currently selling two both rated 8/10.  One is going for US$289, and the other for US$339.  I don't know if they include cartridges.  Hawthorne's "retail" price for equipment generally runs 25% or so above what you may expect to pay on Ebay.

6.  If it were me, I wouldn't pay more than about US$150 (including shipping) for anything without listening to it and seeing it in person.  And especially if it were a turntable, I would want to pick it up.  Also, have you considered a BG1700 radial deck?  I've read a lot of good stuff about the 1700 lately, and I think that will be my next project.

Good luck on your pending purchase!

1. The 4002 is a good deck - it does not have the best record support and if compared to the best decks, has a reduced bass and the top end is slightly veiled - I like the way it sounds though - you can boost the top end with a Soundsmith cartridge if you wish.The 5005 and 7000 are totally different - lightweight and just not as nicely made. They sound OK. The 8000 or 8002 is another thing again - wonderful design, good performance and technical masterpieces. However very complex and not made from such good materials.

2. No. They do go wrong and not many people can fix them properly these days. I would suggest getting a later DC model as these are simpler.

3. You really want to hear it play - budget for a stylus re-tip. Axel is superb.

4. Always best to pick these up. If impossible, you will find instructions on site! The secret is industrial quantities of packaging!

5. Values seem to be going up.

6. I would buy the very best you can - I would consider asking Frede at Classic Audio to source and restore one for you. That way, it will have a guarantee and will be near perfect - it will be worth the money.

I have three of these decks - a 4000, a 4004 and a 4001! The 4000 is my favourite.

You should suggest Peter that the 4000 could potentially be far more difficult to fix than the later 400x, but yes I think it is my favorite from a design point of view!

 

My two favourites: the 4000 and the 8000!

The heart's choice: the 4000, because she is the mother of them all.

However, the last 4002 were almost late 4000 (heavy platter, AC motor) so they're also worth enquiring.

 

It was the first of the 4002 which had the heavy platter and AC motor. I would probably get the 4000 rather than one of these but they are equally tricky to fix. The late DC version is quite a bit simpler and, sonically, you cannot tell the difference.

Many thanks to you all for this valuable feedback.

Peter :

[...] if compared to the best decks [...]

Which ones are these: I thought BG4000 and BG8000 were the two best in the range?

Thanks, js

Oops sorry that's what I wanted to say, the early 4002 of course were almost like the late 4000, with the same motor, bearing, motor and platter (albeit without the cool strobe).

I was thinking of non B&O decks really - however remember that they have disadvantages as well!

Thank you Peter.