GS for TD 160 / MP-200

That real wood casing looks very good Tom. On its reputation I recommended the TD-160 to my colleague and then I refurbished it rewiring his SME series III improved arm, I was very impressed by the combination through my system. So I think you've made a great choice there, a real classic among turntables. It is quite springy so mY one suggestion is to put it on an isolation platform or ideally a wall shelf if you listen at higher volumes or have larger speakers.

Happy listening when the arm tube arrives! Please let us know how you get on.

Surface noise can be a problem but I find that after an initial good clean with record fluid, the application of a carbon fibre brush and a few blasts from a Milty Zerostat gun before each play works wonders. I definitely think the anti-static gun works for me.

No I clean new or newly bought 2nd hand lps by hand with a cheap little Knosti Discoantistat  device I bought off Amazon.  Occasionally I might even wash grubby charity shop finds in ordinary washing up liquid first.

Then an occasional freshen up with AM record cleaner fluid and lint free cloth if they look like they need it.

Carbon fibre brush/ antistatgun zap before each play. Oh and I invested in some cheap anti static record inner sleeves too. 

A friend of mine also maintains that surface noise is greatly reduced if you use an MC cartridge but I have no direct experience of these (I always thought a decent MM cartridge cost enough money as it is!)