Amazon is listing the Technics SL1200MK5 turntable as being “temporarily out of stock.” But it was discontinued a long time ago and hasn’t been available, except used, for years. If Panasonic were going to start producing it again you’d expect the listing to be a pre-order.
Well, the fact is that Technics did put the venerable SL1200 back into production this year, in a limited edition with Abbey Road Studios. It’s a 2-year licensing deal, and the thing costs $4000, but according to The Vinyl Factory in London there will also be a standard edition. If that’s what Amazon is offering, for less than $500, the actual model number will be SL1200G. But I have my doubts, as the standard edition is supposed to be priced about the same as the limited edition.