Viper
Another positive testimonial, thats great.
The fellow I relied on to dial in my record players has probably set up more tables, arm and cartridges then Carter has liver pills.
He worked in various audio stores from the mid 1960s through into the late 1980s. |
Smoffat......MintLp.com ,product Best Tractor.
Dan ed ,Using the Best Tractor.
I read on MintLps site ,you were able to further dial in your cartridge resulting in note able improvements over your Tri-Planers protractor including Galibiers.
A highly accurate device, more so then others.
Others on Mints site have similar stories to tell.
For anyone interested, read through the entire site.
I punched in Ken Willis on Audioasylum members search, no results.
You still need to find the spindle to pivot distance, whether you use a Freickert or some other brand.
I arrive home today, I'll check the Feickert out. |
Thank you guys for your input. |
Tim,
Thank you for the additional info.
Thats a great idea to become familiar with the tools practicing mounting and set up of an old cartridge first, I do have one which is somewhere.
I have mit size hands with large thick fingers, I have broke very fragile things in the past.
A Dynavector DRT XV1s will be mounted on a Graham Phantom B-44 arm.
There are fool proof set up jigs including some nifty tools and a Very good manual that came with the Graham arm.
I give the Graham instruction manual highest marks.
Searching around, people really seam to like using the Feikert protractor including industry pros right down to guy's like us.
Practically every comment and audio review gave top marks for ease of use with machine shop accuracy.
I have ordered one.... |
More happy owners of the Feickert.
Over and above any review,in print or on line.
I value actual owners opinions of any given component and or product, be it a lawn mower or a pair of speakers.
Emailists I hear ya.
Most definitely I plan on installing a second arm on my table with a mono cartridge.
Of course I could buy another arm tube for the Graham, however a 12 incher would be my preference for a 2nd arm.
About a third of my record collection consist of vintage 1950s and early 1960s mono Jazz recordings including some early mono Rock and Roll.
Many are lightly used and in pristine condition.
Some of them have shocking natural sounding timbre that I would put against ANY reissue or NEW recording of today.
Upon initial set up, with ease of use.
If this tool helps dial in my arm and cartridge without going through nerve racking hair pulling tedium, the $250.00 will be well spent. |
Just thought I'd mention this.
I noticed on DaVinci Audio web site a Feickert protractor comes with Davincis Grandezza tonearms. |
Everyone, I appreciate your reponse.
Viper,what you discovered I'll check it out this weekend when I arrive home.
I did order one on the 21st, it apparently arrived today.
Richard, Palasr, did I waste my money on this protractor?
By the way Richard, on your page I clicked on your Triplaner Ultimate,
Man oh man!, you DO Not see record players and tone arms like this too often....Adjustments, thats an understatement....WOW
Also the rest of your system looks to be very well thought out, just great!
Mark |
Tim , I follow what your saying,it makes perfect sense.
Viper, thank you again for bringing attention to this.
Mark |
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This discussion has turned out to be a very productive one.
Again ,thank you everyone.
Thom, welcome, your views are always of interest.
For those familiar with the Phantom B-44
Graham's alignment spindle adapter method and cartridge alignment jig both adjustments can be made secured in detentes in the tonearm headshell.
Puttering around with it, with my new Dynavector cartridge in it I found with a bit of dexterity and coordination that I could align the cantilever and stylus with the Baerwald position, dead nuts as Swampwalker puts it...I have not heard that line in years.
However,the engraved target lines on the cartridge alignment jig run parallel with the cantilever with a period mark to the right indicating where the stylus should end.
Thinking about it , if there were a tiny dimple where the stylus tip it self could rest into, another detente except on a minisquel level, I think this would be an improvement on an already well designed jig.
What I,m getting at, unless you know somehow , the jig and cartridge is square to your line of sight while viewing through a magnifying glass, there is room for error...Do Zeiss make magnifying glasses?
All I want to try to do is get the best performance out of my new table arm and cartridge.
I have ordered a Best Tractor from MintLp and should have it by the end of the week.
So , I have the Feikert, Graham's factory jigs and the Mint Lp tractor.
I'll let you know... |
This post to date is approaching 2,200 views, someones reading it.
Here's an opportunity to drive home, AGAIN, this subject of proper set up and enjoyment of vinyl playback.
There is helpful guidance for the novice and some veterans of this hobby.
Stay tuned.... |
Using the Graham B-44 factory alignment jigs to position the arm for the spindle pivot distance and then to mount the cartridge.
The end result , I found them to be of ease of use, well thought out and a very accurate design.
Once the Feikert protractor arrived, I checked my set up against the Graham factory jigs and my ability of using them.
First up , the Feikert read a pivot to spindle distance of 216.5 mm for the Graham Phantom arm.
Next step I was able to land the stylus on the first point of reference with little problem. It was bang on the mark.
The third step which took a little longer, was to position the stylus in a grid to check to see if the cantilever is parallel with the lines on the grid, which it was. Oh yes, the Feikert disk is reflective.
For us older guys, this is where a photographers lope and mag light came in handy.
Thinking about it as I type this, did I need to buy protractor? I also have the MintLp arc tractor on its way too.
Using an arc protractor made specific for my arm and table is going to be interesting.
Its a learning experience for me, its fun and in the end I will have complete piece of mind knowing the geometry of my arm and cartridge are exactly to spec.
Good Listening
Mark
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Smoffatt, Will do.
I think with being caught up with the excitement of some new equipment that recently arrived ,I felt that I should have another protractor as a 2nd reference, just to be sure.
As it stands , the Graham jigs are exceptional, including the Feikert protractor.
Both use a design method of detentes where the Feikert locks into a disk template that sits on the platter like an Lp.
The Graham jig detentes are in the head shell.
Another huge advantage with the Graham cartridge jig is that you can unscrew the arm tube and hold it in any position you need to, to get the job done.
As mentioned above regarding arc protractors, Ken Willis is said to make an exceptional protractor for $50.00.
From there, the Wally and MintLp tractor.
I'm sure there are other highly accurate and easy to use tractors available that may equal the ones mentioned.
For any ones interest, this post to date is approaching 3000 views.
If anyone has a question regarding set up of your own table, arm and cartridge, DO ASK.
It DOES NOT matter what you own.
Fear not.
There is a long list of highly experienced members here with friendly advice and guidance.
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Hi Thomas, I remembered early on in this thread someone made a brief mention of the Adjust Plus software from Feikert.
Not until you mentioned it, I went back into the thread and saw it was Emailists, however he did not elaborate on the software at all.
Well the Adjust Plus is interesting.
Thomas have you used it?
Narrod, on a good day cleaning records isn't much fun.
Myself ,I can only handle 15 to 20 at one sitting, It's up there with watching paint dry.
However ,once they are cleaned you get a lot of mileage out of them before you have to do it again.
Each to his own, however this might change your mind and for anyone alse that maybe interested.
Check out the thread in the analog discussion section titled....Best Fluid For VPI 16.5 Cleaner, None VPI Brand...
Member Rushton, Doug Deacon and myself have a couple of things to say about active enzyme base cleaners for your Lps. |
For some unknown reason as of yet, my MintLp protractor was refused delivery at Canadian Customs and was sent back!
Yip was notified by the carrier with no explanation and of course has since notified me of this.
Yip was astonished at this as well as I am.
When I arrive home tomorrow I'll get to the bottom of it.
Thank You Canada Customs for keeping us safe from potentially dangerous arc protractors and samples of cleaning fluid. |
Dan ed,
I just arrived home and my dear wife handed me our local news paper as I walk through the door,
The headlines read...Canada Customs "On Guard For Thee"
Under the head lines it read ,Canada Customs returns suspicious package from foreign land...
On a serious note, Yip has informed me once the package arrives back in Hong Kong there will be an explanation from Canada Customs attached as to why it was rejected according to info Yip found out at the Hong Kong post office.
First hearing about this myself my thoughts were the same as yours, the bottle of cleaning fluid,... oh whats this!, the R.C.M.P. have surrounded our home. |
Dre i,
Welcome and thank you for joining in.
I'm fully expecting to hear from Canadian Customs explaining why my MintLp tractor was not allowed to enter into Canada.
It could of very well of been the sample bottle of record cleaner that alarmed ,as Dan ed suggested, some over zealous inspector.
Of course this hic up has not stopped me from spinning vinyl, so far 22 hours have been logged onto my new record player.
Yip has never had a problem of this sort and for now the both of us will have to wait until this week for Canada Customs reasoning. |
Stringreen, I'm certainly not agonizing over anything...
I see you used a DB protractor to double check your set up with the supplied factory jigs.
Viper, was the misprint on VPIs web site you caught only for their 10 inch arm?
I believe Islandmandan is using the Signature 9.
Tvad, was there a notable improvement once you dialed in your cartridge with the MintLp? |
Miglo and Viper,
Next time your speaking with VPI, suggest they buy a Feickert protractor. |
For any one's interest regarding the Customs entry rejection of my MintLp tractor.
Turns out illegibility of Yips address due to scuff mark damage during transit.
No big deal, should have my arc tractor in a few days. |
My MintLp arc protractor arrived acouple of days ago....
Within the next few days I'll find sometime, some uninterrupted time that is, to check it out.
My first impression upon unpacking the protractor is that it looks to be a precision tool of the highest degree and more so then the Freikert tractor.
Fine etched detail to the extreme.
Reading through the owners manual of the MintLp, I give the step by step instructions accompanied by helpful tips and explanation highest marks.
Its not your typical manual,I find it well written and thoroughly thought out.
Good job! Yip. |
Today I finally got around to using the MintLp Protractor.
Following each and every step of the manual to the letter, the results ended with the stylus being short of the inner null point...
Before I made any cartridge readjustments, I pulled the tape of the Mint and removed the erasers securing the platter in place.
Again, I carefully repeated the steps which ended with the same results.
I then made adjustments to the cartridge.
The stylus now traverses the entire arc with absolute precision.
What I experienced this afternoon I have to believe an arc protractor to be the tool of choice if you are looking for high precision in set up.
The Feikert protractor manual briefly mentions tangential stylus position in the groove at two points.
However, how can this be accomplished with accuracy?
Unlike the MintLp tractor ,the platter and disk of the Freikert are not secured from moving.
Hitting the null target points is easy. If your short or long just gently nudge the platter and or head shell to where you need to go.
By all means, correct me if I'm wrong about the Feickert design, and designs like it.
Because right now I believe I just dialed in my cartridge beyond what the Feickert could ever do.
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Tim
Initially when I first posted the question about the Feikert protractor I felt I needed an additional set up tool.
In addition to what the Feickert tool did, it also provided a strobe disk for precise speed setting.
My conclusion on the Freikert are this tool would be put to good use at an audio dealer.
Set up is fast, easy and close enough for all they care.
I once owned a Linn table from 1983 to 2001. Cartridge set up and fine tuning the suspension was done by a friend that did turntable set up as part of his living for many years.
I never really involved myself until now.
Overall I found setting up my own table arm and cartridge relatively easy, if you plan ahead and have " patience ".
Securing my platter I found using cabinet door bumpers to work supremely well, more so then tape.
We had a new kitchen installed acouple of years ago and the fellow that did the work gave me a pad of bumpers.
I thought at that time these nifty little things may come in handy for something down the road.
These particular bumpers come in a pad of perhaps a hundred or so. They are clear domed shape soft rubber that are self adhesive.
I used a pencil to ever so gently wedge 4 against the patter.
This securely locked the platter in place 100%.
Removing them after set up , I used a pencil to pry them off the deck. They left no marks.
The use of painters tape as Tim suggested to secure the Mint tractor is the way to go.
I have approximately 44 hours logged onto my table arm and cartridge, any meaningful changes in sonics I need to spend some time with my system.
We have overseas company visiting at the moment, yesterday my wife took them all shopping for the entire afternoon.
This was my window of opportunity to use the MintLp. |
Stringreen and anyone else that are interested.
Using the MintLp,it's going to boil down to your level of patience and preparedness.
I found our kitchen table to be an ideal place to do it, also level your table before proceeding.
Securing your platter so it won't move at all and taping down the arc tractor is relatively easy.
Pink coloured erasers work very well securing any movement of your platter. Though I found the soft rubber cabinet door bumpers I mentioned above to work best.
If you don't already have one, I would highly recommend you purchase the 10 power Lupe Yip of MintLp offers for $10.00.
Lupe's range in price and optic quality to well beyond
$100.00.
Downunder, look forward to your comments.
The Graham jigs for the Phantom arm are just that.
The MintLp tractor is a well thought out precision tool accompanied by an equally well thought out step by step manual.
Sirspeedy, Things were certainly much simpler during the Jurassic period.
I understand the Wally protractor is very good also, however I have read it is difficult to next impossible to get one from him for unknown reasons.
Dougdeacon, looking forward to your impressions of the Mint. |
Sirspeedy I agree, the Phantom alignment jig is ingenious.
With the arm wand removed and in your hands while aligning your cantilever this is certainly a far and away better method then doing it attached.
However, what I found was the length of the cantilever on my cartridge put the target plate on a pitch.
For spot on over hang you have to rely on line of sight from left or right.
In other words no cross hair marking is provided on the jig itself, no doubt because of different cantilever lengths.
I believe there is room for minor errors.
You nailed it I didn't, the Mint proved that. |
Downunder, Stringreen and Dougdeacon,
You guys get a chance to use your Mint tractor? |
A $15.00 increase in three years, it's still a bargain.
Doug I read your mention of using the Magic Eraser a while ago and picked a box up at Walmart, a life time supply is what you get for next to nothing.
My Zero Dust at $60.00 has found a new home, a junk drawer. |
So Graham Engineering refined the Phantom and the target plate on the jig....
Sirspeedy I bet your ready to explode with excitement now that your system is back on line.
My experience was similar to Downunders use of the original Phantom jig, I also got it very close to spot on.
However the Mint proved my sight line using the jig was off.
Somewhere above in this thread I did mention the lack of a reference point mark/ cross hair for the stylus on the target plate of the Phantom jig.
Anyway it doesn't matter now, I'm in pig heaven.
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Jfd01 and others, If you have not all ready come across this post yet...
I would like to bring your attention to Stringreen's thread here in the analogue discussion section titled...Mint Tractor.
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