Well, either way I have to decide quickly. I don't want to do the mods.....put it back together and decide to paint it and have to take it apart again.
So, since in the end I will be passing it on, and the majority here likes the wood look.....and, I imagine that the sample here represent folks on audiogon, usaudiomart and audioasylum, then, wood is what it will be. However, I will need to poly or paste wax it. For it to look good oiled, it needs to be oiled often. I'm not into that.
I just order some dynamat to damp some strategic parts. I should have all the parts I need to get to work on this over the weekend and have in done in a week or two.
Meanwhile, I listening to it between other audio projects done in the digital domain. It is still pretty amazing how good this sounds in comparison to my reference. Most folks, with less than a super critical ear might not care either way......it is that close! However, the devil is in the details and that is where my reference beats it out but it is not a land slde, as it was with my Thorens TD166 MKII. And, I haven't even tried a really good cartridge on it yet.
Now I know why Sam Tellig has kept his for 30 some odd years and believes he doesn't need more.