Clearaudio - AL Di Meola Celebrity Series Turntable Package

Clearaudio's Celebrity Series Opens with a Guitar-Shaped Turntable

The Clearaudio Celebrity Al Di Meola Edition is shaped like a Gibson Les Paul electric guitar, the model most associated with jazz fusion guitarist Al Di Meola. It's the first release in Clearaudio's new Celebrity Series, a partnership that began with a talk at the High End Munich show.

Underneath the guitar-shaped body is a genuine Clearaudio turntable. A Profiler-derived tonearm and a purpose-built Celebrity moving-magnet cartridge come factory-installed and aligned before the table ever leaves the factory in Germany.

Limited to 1,000 numbered units worldwide, each one pairs with a numbered, flamenco-red vinyl reissue of Di Meola's Elegant Gypsy album carrying the same serial number. A signed guitar pick is included too. It ships in Black or Cherry Wood.

Where Reference Jubilee Technology Earns Its Keep

Speed Control Adapted from the Reference Jubilee

Clearaudio's own manual confirms the DC motor and drive system are adapted from the Reference Jubilee turntable. They pair with Clearaudio's Tacho Speed Control (TSC) system. TSC watches platter speed in real time and corrects for belt tension, stylus drag, and temperature shift.

TSC also resets itself each time the turntable turns on. Clearaudio rates the result at under ±0.05% wow and flutter. The DC motor floats on a multi-O-ring suspension, so its own vibration never reaches the signal.

A Guitar-Style Knob Runs the Whole Turntable

A single rotary knob, signed with Al Di Meola's own name, runs the whole turntable. One press from standby starts the platter at 33⅓rpm. Press again for 45rpm, and again to return to standby. A longer press jumps straight to standby from any speed.

Underneath, a 30mm hard-plastic platter rides a CNC-machined aluminum sub-platter, turning smoothly on a flat belt. The bearing is a hard steel axle in a bronze bushing with a Teflon thrust pad, the same setup Clearaudio uses across its whole line.

The Celebrity Cartridge and Profiler Tonearm

The Celebrity moving-magnet cartridge was made just for this edition, using an elliptical diamond stylus on an aluminum cantilever. It outputs about 3.6mV into a standard 47k-ohm load. Tracking force is factory-set to 2.2 grams.

The tonearm is a Celebrity version of Clearaudio's well-proven Profiler tonearm, already fitted at the factory. Cueing is manual, with no auto-return — you lift the tonearm yourself once a side ends.

What Reviewers Are Saying

7Review called the Celebrity Al Di Meola Edition "a fully developed, mature turntable," measuring "very good speed stability" and "low rumble values." A later follow-up added that "the speed stability is beyond doubt," with "no motor noise" interfering with playback.

Who Is This Turntable Best For?

• You want a genuine collectible, not just a turntable — limited to 1,000 numbered units worldwide, each paired with a matching-numbered Elegant Gypsy vinyl reissue
• You want tonearm and cartridge already matched and mounted — the Profiler-derived tonearm and Celebrity cartridge are set up and ready at the factory in Germany
• You want a real choice of finishes — Black or Cherry Wood, both built around the same guitar-shaped plinth
• You already have (or plan to add) a phono stage — the Celebrity has no built-in phono preamp, so it needs a moving-magnet phono input on your amp or receiver, or a separate phono preamp
• You want a turntable that doubles as a piece of design — the guitar body is the whole point of this edition

How Does It Connect to Your System?

A fixed, gold-plated RCA cable runs from the tonearm to your amp's MM phono input. If your amp has no phono input, run that same cable into a separate phono preamp instead. The cartridge's 47k-ohm load and 100pF capacitance match virtually any MM-compatible phono stage.

Setup is mostly done for you. Level the plinth, loop on the drive belt, and verify the factory-set 2.2g tracking force with the included balance scale before playing a record.

One cable, one phono input, and the guitar starts spinning records.

Pairs Well With

What finishes the system around a Celebrity Al Di Meola Edition:

• Phono preamplifiers — required if your amplifier has no built-in MM phono input
• Integrated amplifiers — look for one with a built-in MM phono stage to skip a separate box
• Turntable accessories — levels, clamps, and cartridge-care tools for a serious setup
• Record cleaning machines — keep the included Elegant Gypsy reissue, and the rest of your collection, in top shape

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a phono preamp, or can I connect this directly to my amp?

If your amp or receiver has a dedicated MM phono input, connect the Celebrity straight to it. If it only has line-level inputs, you'll need a separate phono preamp between the turntable and the amp.

Is the cartridge already installed and aligned?

Yes. Clearaudio installs, aligns, and tests the Celebrity cartridge at the factory. You'll still attach the counterweight, verify tracking force, and loop the drive belt yourself.

What is Tacho Speed Control, and why does it matter?

TSC watches the platter's real speed as it spins. It corrects the motor for belt tension, heat, and stylus drag, and it resets itself each time you turn the table on. The practical result is steadier pitch over a long listening session.

Is this a manual or automatic turntable?

Manual. There's no auto-return, so you lift the tonearm yourself with the cueing lever once a side ends.

Does it come with a dust cover?

The guitar-shaped body doesn't fit a standard rectangular dust cover, so none is included. Contact us for help finding a protective option.

How limited is “limited” really?

Clearaudio caps this edition at exactly 1,000 numbered units worldwide, each paired with a serial-matched Elegant Gypsy vinyl reissue. Once they're gone, they're gone.

See It in Action

Audiophilesdoteu takes a close look at a newly arrived unit:

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