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Can I straighten an off-center twisted cantilever?


Time for a confession: I played exactly three (3) cuts before trying to fine tune my tonearm's alignment. I lost concentration for an instant. The arm slid across the TT's mat, de-centering and twisting --but not breaking-- the cantilever. The cantilever arm itself is still very straight.

This is a Dynavector 20X-L with low hours, for which I paid $300. What is my best path?

There is a jeweler who will loan me his fine pliers, large scale magnification and a vice. Is there any wisdom in trying to realign the cantilever? (beside this incident I'm very good with my hands) Is there anything to lose? I've emailed Soundsmith to explain the situation but had no response.

If I return the cartridge to Dynavector can they return it to original spec? Is it worthwhile? I know Soundsmith is one option, but an audio buddy said the cartridge will never be original specification after a re-tip or cantilever replacement. Is or should that be a concern?

Since my TT is just operative for the first time, I don't know what I'm missing, and wouldn't mind a couple of months without it. When autumn comes (I'm in the northeast: we're not sure Spring is coming) I would really like to be able to listen to my vinyl.

Thanks very much for your shared thoughts and experience.

David
cdk84

Showing 2 responses by cdk84

cdk84's avatar
cdk84 OP
70 posts
 

Hello All,

Thank you for your responses.

To clarify: the Dynavector's cantilever is NOT BENT, it is straight as a die. It was twisted (rotated) around its center axis so the diamond is turned about 45 degrees from vertical; it now faces in the direction of the spindle. It was also pushed to the side, but I have successfully teased it back to center position.

My concern is whether I stand a chance of ROTATING the cantilever so the diamond is vertical again. Elizabeth's suggestion of tweezers is a good one. I also have access to a jeweler's tools, and suspect I might find the precision I need there. I just need to know if it's been done.

I hope my clarification helps, and thanks again for your assistance,

Best,

David
cdk84's avatar
cdk84 OP
70 posts
 

Thanks again for all your support, from both sides of the "aisle" on this issue.

I'm in the middle of a big push on a gigantic project. When I've finished, drunk my champagne and settled back to a less stressful life, I will compose myself, use the jeweler's tools available to me, and, on a good day I will rotate the cantilever, very gently and patiently.

Many materials have a 'memory'. If that is true of the material surrounding the cantilever, I suspect that I have better than a fair chance.

For my money, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

As Elizabeth said so well: Untried, the cartridge is useless; an attempt may work, or not. The outcome will teach me something, and I've already learned my lesson about operating my TT when not completely focused.

I'm inclined to believe that the universe wanted me to get the point, not to have me suffer. I do believe I can re-align the stylus to vertical. We'll see.

More to come.

Sending Appreciation All Around for Opinions Shared,

David
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