Sme tone arm advice sought

[rivendell]

Hope someone can help with this one.

A relative of mine now into his 70's has an unused arm from his turntable, i am trying to ascertain a selling price for this and felt it better to throw this open to the forum, rather than going to a dealer!
Description as follows

SME 3012 series 1 tone arm
This classic tone arm from SME is easily distinguishable by looking at the shape of the counterweights and lifting arm.

This is the original 12” model with Long, barrel-shaped main counterweight with a one piece outrigger weight for adjustment also located behind the main counter weight there is another smaller weight for fine adjustment.

The lifting arm has the early round black tip unlike later models which have an oval tip.

Also included is the detachable classic perforated SME head-shell and fittings
[this has never been used]

Also two SME cartridge adaptors and two matching DECCA cartridges
from memory I believe one was used for 78’s and the other for 33’s, both have had very light use.

he has had this tone arm from new and it was only used for less than a year then packed away, easily 40+ years ago when he bought a 3009 which he still uses today with his Garrard 401.

Unfortunately he does not have the box or manual, and doesn't remember ever having them. He is sure that the shop he bought it from set it up when it was new.

he has recently checked it out and set it up on a wooden stand everything is fine except the internal wires need to be re-soldered on to the rear end bridge [they are attached at the cartridge end]

Photographs are available if required.

Your thoughts plz

[Richard]

Morning, my advice would be to stick it on eBay with the first bid set at the lowest amount he would be happy to take. It's a good time of year now, dark nights and still ahead of Christmas, and set it to end in the evening when the macho bidders are home and have a chance to bid

[pre65]

Actually they are ****.

I'll give you a fiver and take a chance.

[Shane]

There's a 3012 series 2 on Ebay at the moment in as-new condition for £1500 BIN. Series 1s, being rarer, usually go for more. Put it on Ebay, making sure that the pictures and description really do it justice. Make it available world-wide, the biggest market is in the far East. It really is a very desireable thing.

[Richard]

Originally Posted by pre65

Actually they are ****.

I'll give you a fiver and take a chance.

he he yes old ****, nostalgia, or unsurpassed excellence, all in the eye of the beholder eh Philip

[rivendell]

Thanks for the info guys will pass on