I did end up getting a couple phono cables. The VPI phono cable and also an Audio Envy phono cable. I like the Audio Envy better all around. The VPI is a little thinner and brighter, it's close but I'm keeping the audio envy. I don't notice anything different with or without the ground attached so maybe you can just use an interconnect and don't need the specialized phono cable.
tonearm cable, do you need one?
I recently got a VPI classic 3. It has regular RCA outputs. All the arms I've used have always had built in wire with a ground on the end that hooks to the ground on the phono preamp. The VPI has a ground lug and I see RCA tonearm cables have grounds on both ends. How important is this? Do I need a tonearm specific cable?