2. analog
  3. 1249324651

Graham Phantom mk II & JA Michelle ORBE se help

I purchased a new Phantom with SME mounting for my ORBE se. According to Bob Graham's ad slick, its a drop in replacement. Not so. The geometry doesn't work. Using the orbe tone arm board cut for a sme mount, the set up is not acceptable. Then when playing a lp, the counterweight hits the vta column and the last groove will not play to the end. It's also not possible to use Graham's set up procedure due to the position of the arm relative to the spindle. JA Michelle doesn't have a new armboard for a Graham with SME footprint. Only the new Graham mounting. Not to mention the extra weight. This is very frustrating. Any easy solutions other than to recut the arm board, and try to shave some weight off of it. Had I ordered the Graham with the Graham mount, and purchased a new arm board, all would be ok, but again, the ad slick said it was a drop in replacement.
jimi_p

Showing 2 responses by gundam91

gundam91
506 posts
 
Hi Jimi,

Let me see if I got this correct. You purchased the Phantom arm and reqeusted Bob to send you one with an SME base so that it would fit into an existing SME armboard?

According to Bob, it was supposed to work, but you are finding out that it doesn't. Correct?

I would send Bob an e-mail letting him know. I am sure he will take care of you. My suggestion would be to get it refitted with a Graham base, and spend the money for a Graham armboard.

FrankC
gundam91
506 posts
 
So, I've also been considering to add a Graham Phantom arm to the other mouse ear of my Orbe SE. The SE version is the "nake" version and does not have the acrylic platform/cover. What is the best way to do this?

1. Get a Phantom w/ SME mount, and use an SME armboard from Michell?
2. Get a Phantom w/ Graham mount, and get a Graham armboard from Michell?

FrankC
More to discover