I know you solved your problem but can't help but add that it is always a good idea to make sure that your arm is properly centered on top of the spike. Just pick up the arm verticallya and set it back down and then carefully check to see that the arm pivots smoothly.
Second, that Shure guage is not reliable. It is amazing it works to the degree that it does but mine crapped out in no time due to the pivots points on the see-saw being worn. Invest in a good digital gauge. Beware of the cheap Chinese knock-offs. Reliable VTF is a must!
Third-you have to make sure your table is level.
I saw a VPI veteran once simply shove a cartridge (my own Benz Glider) into the very front of the headshell when setting up my table very preliminarily and the sound was still quite passable though not optimum-the point being that the degree of problems you had could never have been due to less than optimum alignment.
And last-the VPI unipivots are not the easiest arms in the world to set up. Don't feel the least bit shy about having problems. A gimbled arm with spring set VTF like a Rega or Project are far easier. You dove into the deep end a bit.
Second, that Shure guage is not reliable. It is amazing it works to the degree that it does but mine crapped out in no time due to the pivots points on the see-saw being worn. Invest in a good digital gauge. Beware of the cheap Chinese knock-offs. Reliable VTF is a must!
Third-you have to make sure your table is level.
I saw a VPI veteran once simply shove a cartridge (my own Benz Glider) into the very front of the headshell when setting up my table very preliminarily and the sound was still quite passable though not optimum-the point being that the degree of problems you had could never have been due to less than optimum alignment.
And last-the VPI unipivots are not the easiest arms in the world to set up. Don't feel the least bit shy about having problems. A gimbled arm with spring set VTF like a Rega or Project are far easier. You dove into the deep end a bit.