My thanks to all The Activists for lighting the Candle of Hope ! I really do look forward to my daily dose of "Da Thread".
May The Lenco Brotherhood (...remember - Ladies Welcome too) continue in the same spirit of support and encouragement we've enjoyed in the past !
On a personal note, my own L75 proceeds at a glacial pace - but Rome wasn't built in a day... and history shows how Rome crushed all in it's path. Likewise for my TT.
Cheers...
Grant |
My thanks to all The Activists for lighting the Candle of Hope ! I really do look forward to my daily dose of "Da Thread".
May The Lenco Brotherhood (...remember - Ladies Welcome too) continue in the same spirit of support and encouragement we've enjoyed in the past !
On a personal note, my own L75 proceeds at a glacial pace - but Rome wasn't built in a day... and history shows how Rome crushed all in it's path. Likewise for my TT.
Cheers...
Grant |
Hi Goughary
WOW... You've saved the whole enchilada ! What dedication and discipline. On behalf of those who wish they had done the same - Thank You.
I'm guessing your offer of "zip-n-send" will attract many requests from "Da Thread" people... perhaps you'd consider sending it to the Lenco-Lovers forum, to be posted for general download ? (email attachment to postmaster@lenco-lovers.com) It may save you some time.
BTW, I too have a Sonus/ Mayware type uni-pivot arm - runnning with an Ortofon VMS20E MkII (thanks again Jean for the recommendation). It sounds wonderful on my L75 - after filling the resivoir with silicone of the correct density.
Thanks again for you diligence in archiving !!
Grant |
Hi Wolf
Ed Crockett's contact info can be found at: http://www.vintagelectronics.com/Contact.htm (note the single "e" in the middle of the URL).
The email address for Ed is: info@vintagelectronics.com
Good Luck with The Hunt !
Grant |
Hmmm... and OOPS.
What strange double-post phenomenon is this ? Not my intent to have the message repeated in the thread. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Grant |
Exciting, Exciting EXCITING !! Lenco comes into the Light !!
Congratulations to ALL who have contributed in the Great Experiment, kicked off by Jean oh-so-many years ago ! We have learned many lessons together, through the community of Da Thread/Da Thread II.
I must personally thank Jean for being the Raving Lunatic he is... and for his unswerving conviction to what he believes in. When I stumbled onto Da Thread in early 2004, it seemed this guy was waaaay over the top in expressing the greatness of the idler-wheel drive, and the Lenco design in particular. Talk about blowing out huge gusts of hot air :-)
BUT... I kept reading with interest, and day by day the hyperbole sounded more and more credible. I went from A) highly suspicious of these outlandish claims, to B) questioning my own assumptions of "what's the best TT", to C) believing in the Gospel of The Lenco, to D) voting with my dollars, and acquiring an L75. Quite a leap of faith for a skeptical guy like me. This is the power of the Nantais Prose.
Today I'm thankful I didn't rush into a plinth rebuild... no, it's been the opposite ("Woe is me... Will I EVER get that thing running ?"). The reward for waiting: today, the Monster-Class design details are pretty much understood and
shared freely to all who will listen. Thank you Jean and thank you All, for developing these refinements to the basic "solid plinth" we began with.
A year ago I had the pleasure of sitting in front of Jean's system - my first chance to actually hear what the fuss was all about. The Man is Right. He does not exaggerate in his wild and wonderful descriptions of the portrayal of Music via the Lenco... I heard it for myself... and must concur and support his claims.
As if that audition was not enough, I was even more fortunate to accompany Jean and his Monster Lenco to the Wyetech Listening Room. My (audio) life will never be the same. We were treated to the most effortless, lifelike recreation of live music I have EVER witnessed. Tom Waits - Nighthawks at The Diner... not even a special Mo-Fi pressing, but Jean's bargain bin find.
THEY were not in the room with us... No, we were in the club with THEM. Completely magical... transported to the venue... transcending all the reviewer-cliches you've read a thousand times - there was no "hey listen to the top end sparkle", or "boy, the bass sure flaps your pants" - it was just a thrilling performance happening before us. Totally "natural" in dynamics, from muttered comments between songs, to the band roaring full-tilt. We just HAD to sit through both sides... yup, the complete album - it was that compelling. D'you ever do that with your audiobuddies, or is it the same 3 tracks from the same 3 records ?
Arrestingly, unspeakably impressive. Roger Herbert is one crafty designer... I didn't know electronics could get out of the way like his do, and let the music speak as though through that elusive "straight wire, with gain". Bravo !!
While I can only D R E A M of having all that world-class gear at my personal command, the good news is, the crucial front end source for this amazing lesson is The humble and Mighty Lenco. ("Hey, I'm making one of those right now...") And if it ain't in the source, you can't make it up further down stream.
Thanks again and again and again to the Lenco Brotherhood, for the gift of Knowledge & Friendship. I almost missed this group... it was a random search that dropped me into Da Thread - and curiosity in what the H*ll that Jean Guy was blathering on and on and on about - that made me stick long enough to be converted. Now I'm poised for Everlasting LP Happiness. My L75 project is underway, and with the benefit of all your collective experience, I'll steer clear of many pitfalls.
Three Cheers and Vive la Lenco, Vive la Idler-Wheel!!!
Grant |
Tessera...
I got my Cameo at Home Hardware (Markham, Ontario area). Find 'em in the phone book and call ahead to make sure it's in stock... not every location had it on the day I went looking.
Happy polishing !
Grant |
Hi Gp49
Fortunately I've had no need for idler rebuilds !! I think Mario_B had one redone by Ed... but I could be mistaken (...twice in one day !!). I remember somebody from Da Thread used Ed's service, and was very pleased with the result.
If you call Ed on the phone, he'll be happy to answer all your questions - very friendly and knowledgeable. Oh... and very reasonable prices too.
Good Luck with the tires (...or is that "tyres" ?)
Cheers...
Grant |
Hello JEAN !!
So good to get word from you... and of the world wide Lenco campaign. How very refreshing to read a long rant... been quite a while.
Good Luck in your travels - and let's hope the pieces finally come together for "The Review" !
...and DO get home safely when all is said and done !
Cheers...
Grant |
Hi Stefanl... and OOPS !
I stand corrected - Ortofon do indeed offer the "D 20 E MK II" replacement stylus (just checked www.ortofon.com), described as a "nude elliptical" tip.
The availability issue is with the VMS30 model - they no longer offer the "fine line" tip - I was confused on models. To upgrade the VMS body to "30" status, we must turn to other manufacturers.
Last year Ed quoted me thusly: "Astatic OR-108ed, exact replacement for VMS 30E MkII - $30.00... also have Pfnst. 540d7 at $35.00 (fits all 15 series)".
Hmmm, maybe it's time for the "30" upgrade..... |
Hi Mike
RE: Degaussing Plastic - in a a word or two "It Works". I was very skeptical when I read about treating vinyl records to a degaussing before play - very counterintuitive on the surface.
Well, a listen to "Ambrosia" on the Monster L75, a slow pass with the bulk tape eraser (both sides), and another spin on the Lenco was all it took to cure my skepticism. Really. The nay-sayers will say "Nay" and that's OK... my Hi-Fi is resolving enough to let me hear the difference, and that experience is proof enough for me.
BTW - ditto for CDs. I've not yet seen if it shows up as a better picture from DVDs (anyone else tried that already ?)
...and remember to degauss your brain before a listening session (pink noise blast, decreasing to zero, played over headphones)... er - just kidding !
But seriously, do let us know your experience with treating LPs to a buzz from the eraser.
Cheers,
Grant |
Exciting, Exciting EXCITING !! Lenco comes into the Light !!
Congratulations to ALL who have contributed in the Great Experiment, kicked off by Jean oh-so-many years ago ! We have learned many lessons together, through the community of Da Thread/Da Thread II.
I must personally thank Jean for being the Raving Lunatic he is... and for his unswerving conviction to what he believes in. When I stumbled onto Da Thread in early 2004, it seemed this guy was waaaay over the top in expressing the greatness of the idler-wheel drive, and the Lenco design in particular. Talk about blowing out huge gusts of hot air :-)
BUT... I kept reading with interest, and day by day the hyperbole sounded more and more credible. I went from A) highly suspicious of these outlandish claims, to B) questioning my own assumptions of "what's the best TT", to C) believing in the Gospel of The Lenco, to D) voting with my dollars, and acquiring an L75. Quite a leap of faith for a skeptical guy like me. This is the power of the Nantais Prose.
Today I'm thankful I didn't rush into a plinth rebuild... no, it's been the opposite ("Woe is me... Will I EVER get that thing running ?"). The reward for waiting: today, the Monster-Class design details are pretty much understood and
shared freely to all who will listen. Thank you Jean and thank you All, for developing these refinements to the basic "solid plinth" we began with.
A year ago I had the pleasure of sitting in front of Jean's system - my first chance to actually hear what the fuss was all about. The Man is Right. He does not exaggerate in his wild and wonderful descriptions of the portrayal of Music via the Lenco... I heard it for myself... and must concur and support his claims.
As if that audition was not enough, I was even more fortunate to accompany Jean and his Monster Lenco to the Wyetech Listening Room. My (audio) life will never be the same. We were treated to the most effortless, lifelike recreation of live music I have EVER witnessed. Tom Waits - Nighthawks at The Diner... not even a special Mo-Fi pressing, but Jean's bargain bin find.
THEY were not in the room with us... No, we were in the club with THEM. Completely magical... transported to the venue... transcending all the reviewer-cliches you've read a thousand times - there was no "hey listen to the top end sparkle", or "boy, the bass sure flaps your pants" - it was just a thrilling performance happening before us. Totally "natural" in dynamics, from muttered comments between songs, to the band roaring full-tilt. We just HAD to sit through both sides... yup, the complete album - it was that compelling. D'you ever do that with your audiobuddies, or is it the same 3 tracks from the same 3 records ?
Arrestingly, unspeakably impressive. Roger Herbert is one crafty designer... I didn't know electronics could get out of the way like his do, and let the music speak as though through that elusive "straight wire, with gain". Bravo !!
While I can only D R E A M of having all that world-class gear at my personal command, the good news is, the crucial front end source for this amazing lesson is The humble and Mighty Lenco. ("Hey, I'm making one of those right now...") And if it ain't in the source, you can't make it up further down stream.
Thanks again and again and again to the Lenco Brotherhood, for the gift of Knowledge & Friendship. I almost missed this group... it was a random search that dropped me into Da Thread - and curiosity in what the H*ll that Jean Guy was blathering on and on and on about - that made me stick long enough to be converted. Now I'm poised for Everlasting LP Happiness. My L75 project is underway, and with the benefit of all your collective experience, I'll steer clear of many pitfalls.
Three Cheers and Vive la Lenco, Vive la Idler-Wheel!!!
Grant |
Hi Kravi4ka...
Welcome to the Brotherhood ! You know, the real answer to your question "How BIG is big enough ?" is answered with another question: "How much weight can YOU stand to live with ?".
I recently finished a Monster-Class plinth of BB/MDF, and with platter installed it weighs in at 87 lbs. In the beginning, I had mad dreams of 100+ lbs, but Jean cautioned me against building something that could cause personal injury in years to come (after all, this is a TT-for-Life !). The final result is now just managable, with the platter removed.
The panels began as 23" x 20", with a total weight of approximately 90 lbs. Many saw & router cuts later, the 11 layers (wood alone) weighed 74 lbs. With something that thick, you'll find it convenient to make removable armboards... which also opens the door to experimenting with various materials for mounting your RB250. I have maple boards right now, but "soon" will be making alternate boards from walnut & something that seems to be ebony.
You didn't mention which Lenco model you have. Depending on the geometry of top plate and platter, you may decide to cut the corner of the top plate, or rotate the unit 90 degrees, as seen in many of the recent Monsters Lencos here, and on other Lenco boards.
In any event, you'll need to think (and measure, measure, measure) to get your RB250 in the right position for "correct" VTA (and remember to account for the size of the Denon 103). One advantage of individual armboards is you get to make them in the appropriate thickness for proper VTA.
Good luck with your planning, and keep us informed on your progress.
Cheers...
Grant |
Hi Wolf
(...since nobody else has spoken up...)
You're correct in recalling much talk of both these carts on "Da Thread I". JN (and others...) have been big proponents of the Ortofon (it was his recommendation that prompted me to search the web for this line).
I now have two Ortofon VMS20E MkII cartridges (both via ebay) which perform fabulously well. One came as NOS - the seller claimed the stylus was never used. Under a lab microscope it indeed looks NOS, and sounds wonderful at the end of my JH-Labs Formula 4 unipivot tonearm (cousin to the much-discussed Mayware).
The challenge is, Ortofon no longer make stylii specifically for the VMS line. You can get replacements from them that will fit, but it's not the same as a real NOS VMS stylus. Third party suppliers offer VMS replacements that are said to be "almost as good as..." and have the advantage of being new, and not in storage under who-knows-what conditions for many years.
A great source for Carts & Stylii is Ed Crockett at www.vintagelectronics.com. I have no business affiliation with Ed... but I AM a happy customer. He can tell you all you need to know about finding replacements for your VMS body.
BTW, the body accepts a range of stylii, so that it's possible to "upgrade" by fitting it with a higher spec'ed tip.
All my experience suggests getting a new stylus for the Ortofon is your best bet... it's a better performer (I still have my seventies-era ADC XLM MkII... not in the same league as the Ortofon).
I hope this helps Wolf.
Cheers...
Grant |
