12" Tonearms for TD-124


Finally having my TD-124 Mk ii
re-habbed as well as having a slate plinth made to accommodate both 9" and 12" arms. I'll be using my 3009 Series II and need to choose a 12" arm.

The 3009 will generally have MM carts mounted to it (V-15 iii, Jico MM-1, AT 155LC). For now, on the 12" arm I'm planning on using a DL-103r and eventually some type of Mono cart.

The Schick seems like a good choice mechanically and aesthetically so I'm currently leaning in this direction.

For some, either the SME 3012 or M2-12R might seem like an obvious choice. Have also considered the Jelco. No experience with any of the Ortofon arms.

Any insights or suggestions?


butch1970

Showing 3 responses by dgarretson

i would look no further than a SME 3012R.  I've got two on the same table as an 11"  Kuzma 4Point.  The 3012R holds its own with the 4P and works equally well with cartridges of widely varying compliance.        
If you lean toward the M2-12R, you might look further into the 3012R.  Before purchasing mine I probed the web and a few SME leathernecks who have experienced both an prefer the knife bearing and lower effective mass of the original 3012R.     
That's true, but at 14gm vs. 18gm for M2, the 3012R should be more versatile.  With a heavy headshell it should do a 103R.  With lighter headshells I've had good results from MM/MI to MC from Stanton 981LZS, Ortofon MC2000, AT ART7, AT33MONO, to Grace F10P.  One of my two examples has the German Analog Tube Audio silver rewire and RCA block.  It might be worth contacting him for an opinion about the two SMEs.