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Grado "wobble"...?

I've searched the archives for info about this problem, but haven't come up with much. Can anyone please explain what exactly is happening when Grado cartridges wobble, and why they do this?

I bought a Grado green some months back, mostly as an inexpensive way to teach myself how to install a cartridge. (I've been a vinyl fan all my life, but was for years listening to it on a bland B&O linear-tracker.) Since then, I've changed tonearms (from a Thorens TP-16 to an Origin Live RB-250). When I did so, I was finally able to properly align the cartridge using the tool from Turntable Basics--the Thorens arm's fixed mounting holes precluded getting a perfect alignment. But since the change, I've experienced wobbling for the first time. It seems to happen mostly on 12" 45 RPM UK pressings from the 1980s, for whatever strange reason. I can see the entire cartridge body shake laterally, and sometimes the stylus will actually skip out of a groove.

Since this cartridge was basically intended as a throwaway, this is probably a good kick in the pants to get the new one I've been planning on, but can anyone shed some light on this phenomenon? Do the wood-bodied Grados wobble as well?

Thanks in advance,
Joshua
am_dial
jlazart
3 posts
 
Make sure that your tonearm has an effective mass of
12 to 17 grams with optimum performance at 14 grams.

John
rwd
695 posts
 
I am no expert but I have owned quite a few Grado's from the Signature 3 to the Sonata!! A great series of cartridges! However, I have had, in all my Grado's two that had the wobble. I cannot explain it but I could not remedy it. It JUST appeared. I understand that it may have somthing to do with the compliance of the cartridge and tonearm.
colitas
150 posts
 
I have owned four Grados all in all from the Black, Blue, Plat., now a VPI Sonata. In a nutshell, yes the wood bodies wobble as you put it, the only time I have noticed this was with the wood bodied carts., namely the current Sonata. I have it attached to a Rega 250 arm. The only time I observed said phonomena was while playing the HIFI test record, you know the torture tracks, for cartridge compliance. Well the whole body started vibrating laterally, but the stylus never moved. John Grado explained that the Reference/Statement cart.s have just one resonance point above the coils in the "body" of the cart. This is what I saw, as far as what is happening with your playback I do not know. I hope your experience with the Prestige Grado does not effect your decision for a later upgrade, possbily to the Platinum and beyond.
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