New to Vinyl - Need Some Advice


I have just purchased a Nottingham Spacedeck and am having some difficulty in properly installing the tonearm (Spacearm). The instructions (if you can call them instructions) are not helpful at all. How does one determine the initial position of the arm once placing it into the armtube? I have set it into the opening and note that the arm does not contact the cueing device - will this be solved once the set up is completed? Are there any resources on the web that might prove useful? It really seems that given the popularity of this 'table, that better instructions/guidance would be available. Any assistance / advice would be greatly appreciated.
zygat
Go to the ASL web site and download the dealer manual instructions, they are pretty good.
The instructions for the Nottingham Tables are legendary bad. I can't believe they haven't done something about it. They were even grilled in an Absolute Sound review recently for it.

Your cueing device should not be affected by the VTA (height of the back of the arm) Just drop the whole assembly into the armboard and set it so the armtube is roughly parallel to the surface of the record when it is sitting on it. The cueing has a small adjustment screw as well, but I've never had to mess with that. If your cartridge is already aligned then you shouldn't have to mess with that, but it is a good idea to double check it.

The amount of side to side play can be adjusted to your liking so that the far stops of the arm are where you want them. This shouldn't affect cartridge alignment either.

Then you adjust the VTA to suit your liking. Slightly down in back from parallel is a good starting point. Raising the back will bring out the highs more and lowering it the opposite generally.
Zygat, poor directions are always a drag. I went to the ALS Group website and downloaded some that seem pretty thorough. They have 7 models and not knowing exactly which you have I can't be more help there.
Though I do not have a Nottingham, I do know I had to adjust the cueing and or armrest on many of my tables when initially setting up. Be patient you will figure it out.