Lenco L75 Plinth change

[AbCowboy]

I received a Lenco L75 from my father in law a couple of years back. He is the original owner. It's in great condition with only a minor crack in the top near the back left hinge.  I haven't used it much at all but have been adding some LP's lately. I do see a number of posts here discussing owners changing out the plinth on their L75. My question is...why? Does a new plinth increase the usability of the turntable or are they (mostly) just a cosmetic change?

A second question is how would a guy go about tuning one up?

Thanks,
Bob
Cochrane, AB, Canada

[bush baby]

Some claim better sound quality (more bass?) with a heavy solid plinth and as much of top plate as possible in contact with it, sometimes fastened down with bolts or screws - and, as long as you have a solid floor and stand, no suspension.
Personally I prefer a more airy sound with a good strong hollow box type plinth with no suspension but it could be purely my imagination.
Ideally you have to try the variations and see for yourself. Certainly some of the solid plinths members have made are extremely attractive to look at.
To tune your Lenco check/change the v-blocks, check the horizontal bearings in the tonearm pillar, make sure everything is level and tracking weight and anti-skate are correctly set, clean and lubricate main spindle bearing and replace thrust pad if necessary - all covered on this site in ‘guides’ I believe. Make sure the cartridge and stylus are in good shape obviously.
Have fun!

[Kno]

What Mark says.   
I have two Lenco in stock plinth with and without springs.   I think the sprung Lenco sounds better.   But it’s so subjective and so many variables.   I’m sure my TT sound better/worse at different times of the day and days of the week. I have a solid plywood plinth ready to go but I’m now attached to  the two stock plinths so may not change.
The rationale for a solid plinth is to better support the bearing to defeat flex in the floppy top plate.  And that reduces background mechanical noise that can be picked up by the  Stylus. You might imagine that this plinth question could be resolved scientifically.   No one would dispute that two TT will sound different, and by extension that the same TT with changed components would sound different.   Just depends which you prefer, different, not necessarily better.
Be happy that you have a musical Lenco. 

[Christian Martens]

There are some beautiful looking (heavy) plinths there and I'm sure these Lencos in them sound as good as they look. At least as good.

The rationale for a solid plinth is to better support the bearing to defeat flex in the floppy top plate. 

Following the path of reducing unwanted vibrations by carefully servicing motor and platter bearing the most important steps are already done.
Supporting the platter bearing does make sense to me and can be done with a hollow plinth as well. All you need is a wooden beam or a small T-beam with a supporting rod between beam and bearing. Furthermore a collar on top of the plate may help as well.

body upgrade by user Jolyon
bearing mod by user g8ina
SHF16 available as standard part
collar by user sph

regards,
Christian

[Tomcat1969]

I have 2 solid plinthed Lencos. One with top plate intact and one "frying pan" they both sound great to me.

But... Get the stock Lenco tuned according to the guides and then decide. A stock Lenco sounds great anyway.

[g8ina]

Thank you Christian