VTA Koetsu Urushi??

Have you gotten any different results?

This is my layman's approach.
I'd set the head very slightly raised in the tail with the VTF at 1.9
I found it easiest to keep lowering the tail until the bass becomes too soft, then I start increasing VTA until I liked the bass sound, tight and still full. I always go at least one adjustment above or below what I like to check. Once I find what I like I check the VTF then increase it until the sound becomes compressed and slow then start decreasing VTF until the sound becomes airier and more alive but not overly defined in the mids and highs with a lean bass.
At this point it becomes how much do I want to go back and forth between VTA and VTF for the balance I like. This is all assuming the cartridge is mounted correctly, I used a Mint LP Protractor.

I forgot I would also start with loading at 1000 ohms.

This is my layman's approach.
I'd set the head very slightly raised in the tail with the VTF at 1.9
I found it easiest to keep lowering the tail until the bass becomes too soft, then I start increasing VTA until I liked the bass sound, tight and still full. I always go at least one adjustment above or below what I like to check. Once I find what I like I check the VTF then increase it until the sound becomes compressed and slow then start decreasing VTF until the sound becomes airier and more alive but not overly defined in the mids and highs with a lean bass.
At this point it becomes how much do I want to go back and forth between VTA and VTF for the balance I like. This is all assuming the cartridge is mounted correctly, I used a Mint LP Protractor.

Have you tried changing the tracking force? You might not be in the sweet spot of tracking force where a change in VTA would be more obvious.

always sitting in the same location. Trying same music with different VTA, and can't hear a noticeable difference?

How have you attempted to find your spot? How do you judge the sound?