Triplanar Problem

Gentlemen,

This all seems to be much ado because of a template design that really isn't the best possible for the application. I'm am certainly not saying that Herb Papier didn't design an absolutely wonderful tonearm, or that Tre didn't carry the design to the highest level, because they obviously did exactly that. However, maybe the setup tool can be improved. Jim Winey of Magnepan fame made a tonearm which also has on-the-fly VTA with the post in a place other than the pivot point. I don't see why such a design couldn't be adapted to work with the Tri-Planar. It is a two-piece pivoting affair that allows the user to actually see the result before the mounting hole is drilled. Not only does it work satisfactorily, it gives perfect Baerwald alignment results every time. Additionally, it reduces the tonearm mounting task to a matter of maybe fifteen minutes for most turntables, including drilling the hole. Maybe someone should take a look at it because there are things to be learned from history.

http://www.vinylengine.com/library/magnepan/unitrac-1.shtml

Thom,

I should have used the word template in my post, but didn't. Anyway, I hope everyone got the drift. The old Magnepan Unitrac did use a two-piece jig, and it was extremely effective. That template had a plastic dowel that connected the two pieces, and allowed for different platter heights. I don't see why a similar arrangement couldn't be made for other tonearms which have mounting posts to the side. After using the Magnepan one, which does key together like you suggest, it seems like a natural thing. You could even mark for all holes with a template like it without any fear of goofing up. I believe it would be an easy project that is long overdue.