Arm/cartridge weight measurement

What you need is a stylus force gauge, which measures the tracking force of the stylus on the record (as opposed to the actual weight of the tonearm / cartridge). The least expensive decent stylus force gauge is the Shure SFG-2, which costs about $20. It uses a balance arm, and can measure tracking force up to 3 grams.

The Shure stylus force gauge is available from lots of audio outlets, but the easiest way to get one is to order it online from the Audio Advisor. Click on the following link for more info:
http://www.audioadvisor.com/store/productdetail.asp?sku=SHUGAUGE&product_name=SFG-2%20Stylus%20Pressure%20Gauge

Totally agree with Sdcampbell about the SFG.

If you want to get into other cartridge setup parameters you'll need a decent cartridge alignment tool. The best generic, bang-for-the-buck one is at www.turntablebasics.com for $20. Aligning your cartridge a couple of times with this tool will be a real learning experience. Prepare to spend an hour or so the first time you try, and bring all your patience with you.

While its ultimate utility is limited, the HiFi News test LP is also very educational. Available from the same online sources as the SFG.

Thanks for the excellent suggestions. I think I am still
getting some distortion on the really heavy bass, though the
only album that I also have on CD hasn't had the best care
over the years.

I picked up a couple of records that I have on CD. Jeff
Beck's Blow By Blow is likely to become my reference, what
do you think about that? I need to find an example that
will sound good on both CD and vinyl so that I can compare
the two as I build my analog system.

Thanks again,
Mark

JAZZ
Try Brubeck's 'Time Out'. It's available on both a CD reissue and a fabulous Classic Records reissue on 200g vinyl. AcousticSounds.com and MusicDirect.com have them both. Extraordinary music-making on a fabulous Columbia 6 eye recording. It has a full range of frequencies from plucked string bass to cymbal harmonics and everything in between. I'm sure there are many others too.

CLASSICAL
Tons of choices. Nearly all of the JVC XRCD2 reissues of the RCA Living Stereo catalog are great, as are the corresponding LP reissues by Classic Records. Rimsky-Korsakov's 'Sheherezade' will test any system's dynamics, and the LP will destroy any CDP if your rig is up to it. There are many other excellent JVC/Classic Records pairs, but make sure the LP is available at a price you can stomach before buying the CD. Some of them are in short supply and they're priced accordingly.

ROCK
You'll have to ask someone who knows!

BTW, read all you can in the FAQ's at Vinyl Asylum. Jon Risch's "VTA once and for all!" is essential, but every article there is worth reading.

Thank you, I bookmarked the Vinyl Asylum and will likely be
spending a lot of time there over the next months.

Mark