It looks like you can buy a tested/refurnished one with a new AT stylus on ebay for $75 obo. I'd probably go that route as a repair will almost certainly cost at least that if not more. https://www.ebay.com/itm/JVC-AL-F3BKX-F ... :rk:4:pf:0

I've owned a JVC AL-F3 since the mid '80s. Direct drive. Not a prestige turntable by any stretch of the imagination, but a decently made, underrated entry-level thing. At least that's my opinion on it.Just last night, the tone arm began acting up. Only plays about 7/8 thru an LP, then locks and the record begins to skip.When I press STOP on the machine and the tone arm returns to its resting position, the turntable won't stop spinning and machine won't turn itself off unless I unplug it from the receiver.I can hear a sort of struggling click sound when I hit START or STOP on the deck. There's a micro-switch or something inside that's obviously either really dirty or failing to make contact for whatever reason.I am not the least bit handy. So DIY is out of the question. The question I have is: Do you think it's worth lugging the thing on foot or by subway or taxi to get an estimate on a repair? (I live in NYC.) Or will the quote likely be sky-high and not worth the trouble or cost, given that this is a pretty basic (but rather well-made and old) machine.Thanks. Posting this to General Discussion, as well. Not sure where it belongs.

elisha wiesner wrote:It looks like you can buy a tested/refurnished one with a new AT stylus on ebay for $75 obo. I'd probably go that route as a repair will almost certainly cost at least that if not more. https://www.ebay.com/itm/JVC-AL-F3BKX-F ... :rk:4:pf:0Thank you! Great deal, although no dust cover plus shipping bumps it up to more like $110. I'm gonna try to take the old model to this reputedly good, cheap place in Chinatown, when they open tomorrow. Vintage electronics place that's been there forever (everything else on the block is long out of business). If nothing else, just to get a quote.Some guy out in Brooklyn also quoted me about $40, assuming the problem is what he suspects, though he couldn't say w/o looking at it. I should mention that I'd also gladly upgrade for a few hundred bucks, but it seems that a lot of new decks under about $500 either won't be as durable, will have a lousy pre-amp, or will sound a bit soft when playing loud rock music.Any further opinions are most welcome.