SL-1200 50 years anniversary celebration messages

The first time I practiced mixing with turntables in a squad, then later by a friend. Eventually I bought one SL-1200 and my boyfriend gifted me the other. So I was able to start mixing at home everyday for fun - flying in my flat through sounds and being surprised how mixing just makes me happy and creative. Mixing all my music together from electro, techno and ambient. It also made me more creative in producing and showed me how to mix together sounds. Mixing two records on vinyl is hypnotic, and epic, and changed my life.

The Technics’ SL-1200 series has been a true companion of mine throughout 30 years in electronic music. Starting out my own vinyl record shop from my parents’ place, later working Hard Wax as a seller and buyer, being a DJ, recording musician and label owner, vinyl has been imperative all my professional life. Throughout its different model series, Technics has been the reliable, go-to hardware to listen to music, and in another sense my music instrument of choice when it comes to music on wax.

It’s been Technics since day one. The first turntable I owned outright was the SL-Q300. Many years later I got my first pair of SL-1210’s, and even-though I was really happy with them, I still really wanted the 1200’s. Finally I got the SL-1200 MKII’s; still the pinnacle in DJ turntables if you ask me. Whether listening to records, sampling records or keeping myself match fit for dj sets, my decks are still my go to at home and in the studio. And have been for almost 20 years. Big Congratulations on the 50yrs of Technics!! Here’s to many more!

I can play on different mixers… I can play in different clubs… I can play different music…
But I can’t play on different decks… thank you Technics for being my vinyl rock for 50 years!

When I first started djing I didn’t question what turntables I had to get to become a pro. We all knew Technic SL-1200s were the best turntables back then and still are. They have stood the test of time and changed my life forever. Can’t wait for the new series!

“Happy 50th Birthday, SL-1200!!
Very happy to work with you for a long time! It’s very honor for me to celebrate SL-1200 50th anniversary. Hope SL-1200 will keep spinning!!”

I bought my first and current set of SL-1210MK2 when I was 17 and they have been going strong since then! I taught myself (with friends help) to DJ on them so they have large sentimental value and so many memories attached. Maybe one day when I pass away someone will inherit them and they will be haunted with friendly little rave ghosts.

So Technics 1200 50th Anniversary has arrived…Wow I wonder what the first version of this turntable looked like?? Well as far as me is concerned…I never knew what a Technics turntable was until I saw it on the 1983 release of Malcolm McLaren Ep. “D’Ya Like Scratchin”…. Then I saw a Sound man from Philly named Captain Boogie who provided sound to all of the big concerts here…He didn’t scratch on them but was rocking the party in between the acts…I saw those turntables and fell in love immediately with them…The only problem for me was the price of these turntables..It was very hard to save money because I had to invest in buying speakers,amps,mixer and new records every week..So I had to do a lot of house parties and cutting grass to save money to buy….Well I finally saved enough money to buy just one turntable..I think they cost $400 or $500 at that time…My MC who’s name was Kool Breeze Steve had a good job and he bought the other turntable for me..So my experience began from that day…The Technics 1200 turntable became the Rolls Royce of turntables of the dj industry…They were heavy & solid and were perfect for me to play on…I have a light weighted touch with my hands so I was able to create whatever sound I had in my head and then perform that scratch sound on the Technics 1200 without the record jumping…This is what made a dj special & amazing to watch..I won every dj competition worldwide making me a DMC World Champion in 1988…I did all of this on Technics 1200 turntables….Years ago Tony Prince of DMC contacted Technics and asked if they could make a Golden Pair of Technics 1200 turntables with my name engraved in the gold…They were presented to me as A Lifetime Achievement Award….One of the greatest awards I ever received..I still have them in the box and I cherish them…To this day I do not spin on no other turntable but Technics 1200…

I want to wish Technics 1200 a Happy 50th Anniversary..Thank you for being a special part of my career & life….We sure did some amazing things together….

The Technics 1200 turntable was introduced to me through the culture of Hip Hop; the world famous, Supreme Team were the first DJs I saw using them throughout the Malcolm McLaren - Buffalo Girls video way back in 1982.

My first ever experience using them was through The Imperial Mixers (1984)

My mother bought my first Technics 1200mk2 on my 17th Birthday in 1985

In 1989, I celebrated winning The DMC World DJ Championships, I competed on a gigantic Technics 1200 turntable stage & was awarded the very 1st Gold Technics 1200 Turntable.

Congratulations Technics, you created a life changing product that inspires the world of DJS & Turntablists who continuously evolve their music & Art of Turntablism!

1st DJ to influence me, using a pair of Technics 1200/10 Turntables was a very talented man by the name of Cosmic Jam. He was cutting up James Brown records at Freestyle 85 in Covent Garden and it had a profound effect on me.

My Nan bought me my first pair of Technics 1210s for my 16th birthday in 1988. I went from using a belt driven deck to the best turntables ever made. I still look at the design and think how beautiful it is. The epitome of form and function.

Congratulations on the 50th anniversary of the Technics 1200 turntable. We were both born in 1972!

I bought first pair in 1995, I think they were MK3. I was getting all that infos from TV, magazine etc and learning about Turntablism and one day I saw a battle of DJ Shortkut using Hip-hop beat and juggles, it was a VHS tape, that was really shocking to me. And I got into scratching and juggles then.

It was like a luxury car to me, really shiny, SL1200 was super gorgeous! I was in middle school, I didnt sleep for a week practicing after I got a pair. And I made my first mixtape in that week! Needle never skips, super easy to use, THE BEST turntales in the world!

Shout to Technics for 50th Aniv, and I am super honored to be part of it, and making an anniversary collab with Technics! My pair of Gold MK2 from 2002 is still my tresaure, looking forward to their next 50 years of progress! Peace!

So many people have influenced me at the beginning – pretty much all of them! But if I had to pick the very first direct influence, it’d be my good pal Dj Mr P, way back in 1996. He was the first out of all of us to buy the Technics 1210 – watching/learning intently from him simply changed my life. A very important moment.

I bought my very first turntables (Technics 1200s) in the summer of 1998. You can tell how much it took over my life because the very next year, in my first attempt, I qualified for the 99’ DMC UK final (I didn’t do much else with my life back then). The impact is actually immeasurable as it gave me my real calling, helped me achieve a life goal and I’m really not sure where I’d be without it. Because it’s such a solid and well-built turntable, in many ways, it’s still the industry-standard and one of the most iconic pieces of kit ever made.

Dear Mr & Mrs Technics, congratulations on your 50th Anniversary! Thank you so much for being in my life and for giving a lost teenager some purpose. Technics is not only a famous name in Hip Hop and the most important tool in Turntablism, but is heralded by DJs of all music, worldwide. I’ll cheers to that. Peace & Love, Dj TigerStyle.

In 2000, I saw DJ David scratching “Hey, he-he-hey” with 1200s stacked on Coke cans on a DMC Champions VHS, and I was like, yup I must do this too.

It’s really amazing how 1200s have stood the test of time and new technology. For me, there’s nothing like the feel of Technics. I got my first pair in 2000, and I’ve been rocking with them ever since. I don’t think I’ve ever played a set on anything else in a 20+ year career.

Congrats to Technics on 50 years! You haven’t aged a bit.

The first time I saw someone scratching in real life with Technics turntables was at a 'Playstation Experience’ event at Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London in 2002 when I was 13. There was a music arena showcasing Music 2000 for the Playstation 2 and as part of the showcase they hosted a turntablist battle and showcases. I’d heard scratching before and seen small moments of scratching on TV and knew I really liked it, but that was my first time experiencing hearing and seeing it real life and hearing DJs breakdown what they were doing. I knew this was something I had to do.

I purchased my first set of Technics 1210s in 2003 and I’m still using the same pair today. Even after nearly 20 years of intense practicing they’re still in great condition. I always feel a sense of relief and sense of being at home when seeing them in a club.

Congratulations to Technics on their 50th Anniversary! Thanks for backing turntablism over the years as a sponsor in so many competitions!

The year I believe was 1997. My older brother’s friend let him borrow a bootleg copy of the 1994 DMC US Finals that the late Grandmaster Roc Raida won. That actually was my first real exposure to Turntablism. Growing up in D.C. I was immersed in hip-hop culture being close Philly and New York, I never knew about this particular side of it and I was fascinated by the sporting aspect of it. As a 10 year old kid, I learned very early how competitive I was going to be should I ever immerse myself into that world. My brother had a magazine sales subscription to Upstairs Records who were one of the top sellers of Turntables on the east coast. In those early internet days, I quickly noticed what stood out: The Technics SL-1200. My older brother had a pair, so I went behind his back for years until I literally saved up my money to just purchase 1 deck. Fast forward a few years later and I went to see my first competition live in 2001 and still only had 1 deck. I finally scrambled enough money to get my second pair before entering my first battle the following year. Throughout that time, everyone was using the 1200. I didn’t want any mechanical setbacks or issues, so I knew deep down that this was going to be a lasting piece of equipment for me.

I believe I purchased my first deck in 1999. Honestly it’s part of my DNA at this point. The feel, the torque, it’s just absolute perfection. It has been the standard part of my rides professionally for the last 25 years.

The SL-1200 has time and time again been the undisputed champion of the Turntable. Here’s to another 50 years and beyond!

1996 was the 1st year I saw a pair of 1200’s at a pirate radio location.

1997 was when I saw Roc Raida on Vhs performing his world winning routine at the 1995 DMC world competition, this was the 1st time I was actually influenced by a DJ using Technics & the start of my turntabalist journey.

Managed to save up for both my 1st technics in 2000, each one 6 months apart. It completely changed my career having them! An absolute game changer from what I was using before. Going from tape decks, to cheap hifi turntables, to hi turntables with limited pitch control to slightly better hi fi decks, to belt drive dj turntables, to finally Technics!… that was the real upgrade! I used them every day until 2016! I still have them, they still work! I have over 16 turntables now, but can’t bring my self to sell them..

I like to say more of a ‘thank you Technics’ whether you meant to or not, you have dramatically helped shape the entire dj scene to what it is today! Congratulations on reaching 50! That’s way older than me!