SMEV set up problem....help needed

Hi Wes,
my method is to have a number of spacers that fit in-between the bottom (clamp mount base) and the arm lifter / arm rest plate.
Inevitably this distance winds up at about 1/2" (12.7mm). The spacers I mostly use, based on various cartridge heights and VTA and! sound adjustments are e.g.
11mm:(Nagaoka MP-50),
12mm:(Ortofon Windfeld),
13mm:(AT-140CL), and
13.5mm:(Empire 1000SE/X), etc.
This corresponds in all cases from a level arm, to slightly heel up, to ~ 2.5 - 3.0mm heel up in the case of the 11mm spacer with an Ortofon M20FL super, and very little heel up with a Nagaoka MP-50.
(All measured on the side stripe of the arm).
These last mentioned carts like different VTA settings (sound) and have a rather different build height (M20FL = ~ 2.5mm lower than the MP-50) yet use the same arm height.
All is of course system / sound related (YMMV) and only to give you some indication.
I hope this helps,
Axel

Nsgarch,
please bear in mind with all this beautiful theory, and also Dertonarm, that:
1) At least with the SME V the pivot post can be clamped within a "range" (tilted ~ 1-2 deg. either to one or the other side!) thereby changing azimuth slightly, quite often un-noticed when changing VTA / SRA.
2) If in the case of a record clamp like e.g. VPI (rubber washer), SME (alu washer), yet another ~ 1-2 deg (vinyl level) is the case mostly toward the last band of the record, since the record centre is slightly elevated for the clamp to work as intended.
3) If a record is not completely flat (and which one is?) yet again the azimuth is changed by the vinyl, offering a different "level" surface constantly during each revolution.

I guess it is like with most things, try and get things set-up well --- yet try NOT to get too anal about it, lest you may not listen to music any more but to azimuth, VTA, SRA, VTF, etc. etc.
Greetings,
Axel

Nsgarch,
let's agree to disagree here.
If the avg. spirit level is toward the one or the other side touching the demarcation line THAT is NOT 1/2 degree!
I work with that stuff so let's say 1 deg. plus to one and 1 deg plus to the other side, i.e. 2 deg from one extreme to the other. I will go with 1 deg. on average, yet the rage is 2 deg.
Now getting anal with microscopes, 1/2 deg. would be *much more* noticeable than that spirit bubble being but only very slightly out to the on or the other side, at least that's my learning.
Greetings,
Axel