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Mounting a cartridge

I’ve read about mounting cartridges-overhang... tracking force... etc. I did my first cartridge, I’m Feb. But, I just went 3 or 4 steps up the ladder with my new one.

I want to learn how to take all those disparate pieces of technical requirements & turn it into a beautifully mounted cartridge. Every other thread lists all those factors & preamp settings & then talks about how the cartridge sings “when it was dialed in”. But, I don’t have an audiophile buddy to tutor me as we go.

I live in the northern suburbs of Chicago & I’m feeling my way into audiophiledom thru threads & articles.  I don’t want to pay to drop off my tt at a shop & pick it up mounted. I want tp learn & do.  I don’t mind paying someone to do an inhome & TEACH me as WE mount my cartridge. I’m sure they’d have the expensive protractors & AnalogMagik.

Is there anyone/any place that does that here in North Chicagoland?

Thanks, as always for your guidance.
tochsii

Showing 1 response by bimasta

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bimasta
227 posts
 
The Shure SFG-2 has worked perfectly for dozens of years, and unlike no-name electronic devices, will never go out of calibration unless the Earth’s gravitational force changes substantially. Its graduations are in 0.05g increments, and don’t be fooled by non-believers, the accuracy will remain +/- 0.025g forever.
Yes, but it's very fiddly to use. And the styus must sit in a metal groove, while I'm sliding the weight around on the other end of the fulcrum. That groove could break the stylus right off the cantilever. I use one but it makes me nervous.

I have a digital scale, but don't trust it — the readings vary too much, even when VTF is constant. Probably a bad one.

Mostly I use the old Technics SH-50P1; electronic though not digital. Much safer than the Shure, and more consistent than (my) digital unit.
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