Mint LP Best Tractor---HELP


Correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding is that the creation of this arc style protractor for a particular turntable/tonearm combination requires the accurate measurement of the distance between the platter spindle and the tonearm pivot. My question is, if this is true, exactly how precise does this measurement have to be?

Recently I ordered one of these, got it, and realigned my Dynavector 17D3, which had previously been aligned with the jig that came with my VPI Classic 1. When I listened after aligning the cartridge with the Mint lp protractor, I didn't like the sound I was getting, it just didn't sound "right", the VPI jig alignment sounded better to my ears. I had a sick feeling the spindle to pivot distance that I gave Yip was wrong, so I remeasured it with a better ruler than the one I had used originally (which, I'm embarrassed to admit, was 2 rulers carefully taped together because I didn't have a long enough one). Sure enough, I had given him a measurement that was 1mm short. Sh****t...

So I emailed Yip and told him the problem, and that I wanted to order a new one based on the correct measurement. To my surprise, his response was: "it may not be unfit. I urge you first to check all parameters before making a move.I would like to find out if the stylus tip falls on each and every point on the effective length curve as printed on the Tractor."

Huh?

I thought the whole point of this very well-loved Mint lp Best tractor was the extreme accuracy with which it aligns cartridges. So why would he tell me this if the measurement I gave him turns out to be 1mm off? Doesn't that specification have to be right on the money? Isn't that why I had to order a custom made one rather than one of the ready-made ones he already has in stock? Yes, when I line everything up correctly the stylus tip follows the curve faithfully, but why would that make everything right, wouldn't it do that wherever the arc was printed on the mirror?

I'm confused guys, please help me out here...
will_herrera

Showing 2 responses by will_herrera

The first e-mail I received from Yip after I placed my order contained this instruction:

"Note the Mounting Distance [spindle to tonearm pivot] of your tonearm is 259mm, you have to ascertain this is correct at your setup as it affects performance. Effective Length adopted would be 274mm. This is factory specification. "

Note the two words "affects performance".

I was never asked for the spindle diameter, or any other relevant measurement. So, at the risk of repeating myself, I'm mystified why he would say that the protractor he made for me could still be correct, when it was based on an incorrect measurement (257mm, MY FAULT, it's actually 258mm), a measurement that he clearly states in the quote above "affects performance" and the only one he wanted to know!

His English seems fine to me, so I don't think that's an issue.
Well, alot has changed since I started this thread, and for the better. I ended up replacing my Dynavector 17d3 with a Lyra Delos, and forgot about the Mint protractor altogether and bought the Feickert protractor because of it's ease of use and selection of alignment geometries to play with. I couldn't be happier---I aligned the Delos using the Stevenson curve (which sounded the most correct to my ears, Baerwald just sounded wrong), and I swear my vinyl has never sounded better! So, at least for me, there is a happy ending.

Anyone want to buy a Mint LP protractor? :)