Fidelity Research FR64s Headshell dilemma

With manufacturer recommended PS distance, measured by Feickert protractor, using one headshell with slots, i can reach all 3 alignment methods for the same cartridge.

The difference is that only with ONE alignment method my cartridge will be parallel to the headshell, with any other methods a cartridge must be twisted in the headshell or the cantilever and cartridge body will be way off!

I don’t want to change PS distance. Why i have to?

All i need is the right headshell to move a cartridge slightly forward and twist it a bit to make it in line not with my shell, but with Baerwald or Lofgren lines printed on the protractor. This is what happens when the arm designed for use with Stevenson must be re-adjusted for something else without changing PS distance.

It has nothing to do with PS distance, buy yourself a nice headshell first!

Another exaple is Technics tonearm on SL1200GAE, you can't change PS, and the alignment is NOT Baerwald or Lofgren, this tonearm is very close to Stevenson. Headshell with slots is all we need to re-align any cartridge quickly.

Thanks all.  I bet the Arche head shell would work!  I was re-reading the SmartTractor instructions and the two example tonearms are the FR66S and the FR64S.  The man likes his Ikedas.

I use 231.5 P2S with the 64S and Baerwald. I use the Arche Headshell that allows me to slide the headshell in and out giving me about an extra 10mm of adjustment. This essentially makes the headshell longer.  At 231.5 and Baerwald the cartridge is straight in the headshell, and the Arche gives enough adjustments where my Koetsu is still tucked under the headshell instead of awkwardly sticking way out in the front.  I use the Smartractor and tried Stephenson and UNI-DIN and still think this setup sounds the best for me.

advanced&karl_desch, Assuming that you are not familiar with
Arche you can buy extra insert pieces on which the cart is installed.
This way you can use the frame as base and pre-adjust as many
carts as you like. It is like owning many headshells in one.

And I had the opposite problem to the OP - had to push Decca Reference all the way back in AV101 on FR64S at 231.5 P2S and even had to push the the AV101 loosening the azimuth screw and finally remove the gasket (anyway recommended by the FR manual) to get a reasonable alignment. I was using the Nerve Audio copy of the Dennesen protractor and sort of cross-checking with the Mint (Decca’s have no cantilever so only the arc). My P2S is actually a bit shorter, closer to 231mm as this is what my setup allowed. I guess much depends on the cartridge as all have different "effective lengths".