The tonearm position setting apparatus for a record player is designed for use with a linearly movable tonearm base. A light source is movable substantially parallel to the movement direction of the tonearm base. A position setting device is interlocked with the light source and adapted to be moved so as to maintain a constant positioning relationship with the light source. A position detecting device is provided in the tonearm base. A semi-transparent mirror is positioned intermediate the loci of the light source and a pick-up stylus carried by the tonearm. The record disc is viewed through the mirror, and the light source is moved so that the virtual image thereof is positioned at the desired location for the commencement of playing the record disc. Thereafter, the tonearm base is moved until the position detecting device detects the position of the position setting device, at which point the tonearm with the stylus is lowered onto the record disc. In the disclosed embodiment, the position setting device is a light emitting element, and the position detecting device is a light receiving element.