Mint Tractor

Sonofjim,regarding the annoying(looking)marks left by "Scotch Tape"....

First off, "painters tape" does not have as good an adhesive,and can easily dislodge if you're not careful.Yet,it is very good in many scenarios(don't buy the el-cheapo stuff).

The problem with the vast majority of "Scotch Tape" products,is they are usually NOT "Scotch Tape",and dirt cheap imitators.

"Scotch Tape" is made by 3M company,whose products are superb,and the tapes stick/hold better than competitors.

However,the actual glue which on other brands can leave an ugly layer behind,does not have the propensity to do that.The adhesive IS superior,and designed to stay on the tape itself.

Good luck

Mark,actually I wasn't targeting you for an accurate Phantom "rap".I understand your input was a bit more general,but very good no doubt!It really got me thinking.

Instead I was kind of fishing for anyone "kinda" understanding where I was coming from,regarding the already very good,but maybe not the "best" way to "do" a Graham Phantom(or 2.2) set up,if one desires to go to the max.

Actually,to be more specific....do any Graham owners use a more specific method,other than the supplied set-up tools?

Specifically,if so,do you feel the Mint or Wally has resulted in an audible improvement over the original tools,already provided by Graham?

This would be of interest to myself,and I assume other happy Graham owners.

A small part of me is hoping for "no" replies(a first)since they would mean I'm "really" going to have to do more sweating and work.

Best

Mark,that was a GREAT and apparently convincing post!!I might just have to "hate" you for it -:)

I think it may just have pushed me over the top regarding relying only on my Graham set-up tools(which are quite good,btw).I've been happy to rationalize this stock method as just fine,but am having my doubts if "it" cannot be bettered.

I say this because using my stock Graham alignment procedure(with my new Phantom II) means eyeballing the arm in a parallel position,in order to get the arm-tube's "alignment hole" in the proper position,for spindle to pivot distance.

The tube's alignment hole fits over the spindle attachment tool even if the tube's being perfectly parallel is slightly off(I'm talking about only a couple of degrees)but from what I am "learning" even "that" is going to be audible.

The bearing can shift a little,in order to accomodate this position,so one must be careful (to avoid any feeling of a shifting)and I've got it very well set-up this way.Also,the cartridge is not on the tube yet,and further alignment is done with the provided jig(once tightened up,this jig is very good).It still works quite well....Yet....

How can I know for sure if the tube is absolutely parallel,just by locking it into the provided spindle pivot alignment tool?A very slight shift in parallel would "still" be enough for the spindle pivot attachment to fit into the arm hole anyway,but though this is accurate,I doubt it can get us to where the Mint(or Wally) can.

I doubt "this" distance can be as precise as the "Mint",because the arm would have to be up quite high using the vta tower,in order to align the tube in a parallel fashion over the arm-tube's set up hole.How can one know if it is actually EXACT,and 100% parallel. The slightest angle shift(even if the spindle tool fits into the hole)will mean an error.Right?.....DRATS,I really don't care to play around anymore,but I can't rationalize laziness either,and I LOVE being lazy.I DO love Graham's uniquely considered method!!

For those using Graham's method,don't get me wrong!!It's a very easy way to get set up "accurately",but this IS AUDIOGON!!!...Home of the "Exactitudinals"!

If anyone can come up with any way to guarantee the spindle-jig/arm-hole alignment method on a Phantom can be made to be as accurate as utilizing something like the MINT,I might be persuaded to shell out a nice orig. pressing "Merc" or "Decca" as a reward.I'm THAT lazy,these days!! -:)

Best

Stiltskin,I am in full agreement.

Thanks

Doug,Mark et al.....Absolutely NO complaints from me!!The credibility expressed has proven the logic of your arguments,and makes total sense.

Thanks.

Look!...The way I view it,if I've already spent the kind of money on a really good analog set-up,why would I not want to be absolutely certain it is performing to 100% of it's capability!

Nobody dislikes to play around for anymore set-up hours than me(as of late),since I've had to repack,and re-set quite a few components recently.How much fun does one think it is to "completely" break down a well set up table/arm/cartridge?Only to have to do it again....THREE TIMES...before certain gremlins get ironed out!

Not to mention three different power conditioners going Krakatoa,in very short order(since replaced by the ultra reliable Exact Power stuff)for no apparent reason,other than this hobby better "get with it",in reliability and customer support,or say good-bye to many new hobbyists in the furure...ESPECIALLY at these prices!!!

So,as I view this,even if I've got my Phantom "supposedly" spot on(from my normal approach)why not be absolutely certain?Another "two" hours certainly won't hurt,with the investment I've already made....Btw,I'm sweating,even as I post this!

A fellow I'm familiar with,who sells Phantoms,Dynavector arms,and used to sell the DaVinci arms claims he gets the Phantom perfectly set,by sight,and it is confirmed when he checks this against the WALLY guage(the one made for the Phantom.

I find it hard to believe him,unless his senses have been heightened by maybe getting bitten by a Vampire(the bite supposedly enhances ones senses a TON -:)

In fact,though I LOATHE the thought of going further,I'm beginning to feel that the major reason I was SO impressed with the LP replay on my friend's system,using the Air Tangent arm,was "definitely" due to the absolute perfect set-up,of the important parameters affecting noise/tracking/tracing a groove wall!Ya gotta get a pivot design as accurately as you can.So we can "rationalize" how it's as good as a great Linear Tracker.-:)

As an afterthought(sometimes not a bad thing,if one likes to "ponder")I remember,very well,my asking Sid Marks(the owner of the A/T arm at the time)to play a passage from the Sound Track Album,of the old Broadway Show "Rashamon"!!
This IS an amazing and supremely well recorded disc,containg some rare and highly dynamic percussive instruments.NOT necessarily loud sound effect stuff,but beautiful/articulate music......There is one particular passage that employs one of the musicians drag a small chain across a table top.

This very subtle,yet beautifully precise(you'd have to hear it...if you can "do" it)articulation of the metallic artifice contained in the groove walls,had always been impossible for me to "get" using my old 2.2,and previous early Triplanar design!It always sounded like groove noise,because it was such a "subtle" tinkley sound that had to be voiced into distinction.Very delicate,BUT very distinct in the way the A/T allowed this to develop.

I attempted to reproduce this,with other pivoting arms,in other systems,but no such luck!All the systems utilized SOTA components,and absolutely first rate cartridges!
I've come to realize it was the advantages obtained with the A/T arm that put that passage over the top....

Now that I'm in the process of re-setting up,I'm not taking any chances....If it's gotta be the Mint,so be it.A fraction of the cost of my arm/table/cartridge so...

though I HATE the thought of putting in any more time,other than enjoying collecting and listening to LP's,how am I going to let my pal's have had "one up" on me?-:)

My friend now has moved to a 12.7 inch arm.I think it's time for the "Rashamon Test"!

Best

Madfloyd,if you follow Audiogon's "Bad Boys",you must realize there is NO such thing as "Good Enough"!

Anything less than perfection will NOT be tolerated! -:)

Best