I had it stored for years and now when my son Alex wants to start listening to LP's it is kaputzsky.  
It lights up but the plater is hard to turn.  Still has the rubber belt but after fiddling with it, I pronounce it dead.
 
I saw an Audio-Technica ATLP60 Belt-Drive at Tiger for $80.00.  I have an amp but this one has a USB out anyway.  
Do you think this would be a waste of money?  My old LP's are pretty beat up.  I might have to put a small weight on the arm to keep it in the grove for the really bad LP's.  
 
I might keep looking on CraigsList.  What ever get, I want to be able to replace the cartridge in time.
 
Thanks for any advice you can give.  
 
Rimshot
 

What's an LP again?
 

I'd roll the dice on ebay and check here: http://audiokarma.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=28 before buying (so you have some idea what you're getting).
 
I am a fan of 70s stereo gear. If you get one from that era that has been serviced you should be good. They make some new turntables that are good but expensive.
 
J

Wow... second double post with this software.

Re: vinly LPs...  http://www.thebear.org/essays2.html#anchor506008

I had my old turn table in storage (back of a cupboard) for years.  I dug it out when we moved house at xmas to see if it still worked.  The belt was fine, the platter turned (at both speeds) but whatever I did I couldn't get it to track the disk propperly.  Just kept skating around on the surface.  I even tried with both sides of the disk (shiney side AND printed side).
Must have been a blunt needle.

Karyn
I had my old turn table in storage (back of a cupboard) for years.  I dug it out when we moved house at xmas to see if it still worked.  The belt was fine, the platter turned (at both speeds) but whatever I did I couldn't get it to track the disk propperly.  Just kept skating around on the surface.  I even tried with both sides of the disk (shiney side AND printed side).
Must have been a blunt needle.

Meebee you need a disk with grooves in it?
 
HTH.

craigb

Karyn
I had my old turn table in storage (back of a cupboard) for years.  I dug it out when we moved house at xmas to see if it still worked.  The belt was fine, the platter turned (at both speeds) but whatever I did I couldn't get it to track the disk propperly.  Just kept skating around on the surface.  I even tried with both sides of the disk (shiney side AND printed side).
Must have been a blunt needle.

Meebee you need a disk with grooves in it?
 
HTH.

You mean like the BeeGees or Barry White?  I hear they have some good grooves.

Thanks to all for your input.  Much appreciated. 
 
Rimshot

This is going to sound really strange, but here goes.  One thing that I used to do years ago with badly scratched vinyl was to clean it using toothpaste.  I don't remember where I got the idea--I may have read it somewhere.  It worked pretty well though.  I'd apply a thin coating of cheap toothpaste and then rinse it off with water and dry it with a paper towel.  Then I'd used that record cleaner stuff in the red bottle that they used to sell at record stores.  I saved a more than a few LPs and needles using this method.  
So, a new/used turntable might still work for you.  If you have good sound card, don't bother with USB or SPDIF.  You're converter are likely to be better than what will be included on the turntable.  I got one with SPDIF and it sounds better going into my line input.  Don't forget to EQ or use a phono preamp if you're going to rip it to your PC.  You might also get a spare needle in case they do wear quickly.  
 
Good luck.