Author Topic: Mounting Odd Shaped Cartridges  (Read 3277 times)

Offline S Clark

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Mounting Odd Shaped Cartridges
« on: September 02, 2019, 05:15:57 PM »
I just helped a friend set up his old Sony TT with an Ortofon 2M Red.  Cheap but decent table, cheap but decent cartridge   But it took me forever to get the damned thing mounted properly.  There's not line or side on it that parallel with anything on the mounting jig I printed out.  Doesn't help when you are trying to hold your glasses at just the right spot to be able to focus clearly.  Finally I called over my nearsighted wife to use her vision and got something acceptable...

What do you guys do to mount odd shaped cartridges?  I had the same problem mounting a Sumiko Blackbird on one of my arms. 

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Offline Guy 13

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Re: Mounting Odd Shaped Cartridges
« Reply #1 on: September 02, 2019, 08:30:16 PM »
I just helped a friend set up his old Sony TT with an Ortofon 2M Red.  Cheap but decent table, cheap but decent cartridge   But it took me forever to get the damned thing mounted properly.  There's not line or side on it that parallel with anything on the mounting jig I printed out.  Doesn't help when you are trying to hold your glasses at just the right spot to be able to focus clearly.  Finally I called over my nearsighted wife to use her vision and got something acceptable...

What do you guys do to mount odd shaped cartridges?  I had the same problem mounting a Sumiko Blackbird on one of my arms.


Hi S Clark.
I had the same problem with the Rega P3 and Exact mm cartridge.
Sight and shaking hand of a 71 years old is no help to do a ggod job
plus my nearsight glasses that are too loose to stay where they are suppose to be.
With tons of patience I finally did it, I think it took me more than one hour.
That was two years ago, now the table is packed and ready to go to Canada
where it will be sold.
I paid too much money for what Rega gives you,
that's my opinion, me a former owner of Limm LP12 turntable.
A lot easier with my cheap Sony all automatic TT with plug in cartridge.

Guy 13
Grace Digital Mondo RIT
Cambridge Mini sub 2.1
Schiit Fulla 2 DAC
Schiit SYS PCC
Sony Passive Bookshelf speakers
Lot more stuff on storage
prior to moving back to Canada.

Offline S Clark

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Re: Mounting Odd Shaped Cartridges
« Reply #2 on: September 02, 2019, 10:39:56 PM »
I just got a very helpful response over at AC.  TOOBLVUR suggested that you should always sight down the cantilever instead of the body.  Makes perfect sense.  Since I've got jeweler's headlight/magnifier, that should be easy to do..
Speaker-GR Research LS9-XStatik-AltecFlamenco
Amp-Moscode,Dodd,Folsom
Pre-Dodd
Turntable-Vyger,Victor,TechnicSP10MK2
Phonopre-Hagermann,Jolida,GSlee   
Cable-AudioSensibility Wywires TWL
Cartridge-Dynavector,Sumiko
Tonearm-PioneerP3,Jelco
Rythmic sub

Offline Guy 13

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Re: Mounting Odd Shaped Cartridges
« Reply #3 on: September 03, 2019, 12:29:53 AM »
I just got a very helpful response over at AC.  TOOBLVUR suggested that you should always sight down the cantilever instead of the body.  Makes perfect sense.  Since I've got jeweler's headlight/magnifier, that should be easy to do..

That's good.
Haaaa those guys at Audio Circle, always ready to help.
'' Joking !!
By the way, I saw that post of yours and the answer - suggestion via my wife's iPad
because I can't access AC via my laptop, they recognized my name...
Anyway, life is beautiful.

Guy 13

Grace Digital Mondo RIT
Cambridge Mini sub 2.1
Schiit Fulla 2 DAC
Schiit SYS PCC
Sony Passive Bookshelf speakers
Lot more stuff on storage
prior to moving back to Canada.

Offline rollo

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Re: Mounting Odd Shaped Cartridges
« Reply #4 on: September 03, 2019, 06:26:33 AM »
  Yes Sirre Bob use the Cant if front of Cart is not square. Use a lined index card to line up top of cart to make it level to LP.


charles
contact me  at rollo14@verizon.net or visit us on Facebook
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Offline rollo

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Re: Mounting Odd Shaped Cartridges
« Reply #5 on: September 03, 2019, 06:29:28 AM »
I just got a very helpful response over at AC.  TOOBLVUR suggested that you should always sight down the cantilever instead of the body.  Makes perfect sense.  Since I've got jeweler's headlight/magnifier, that should be easy to do..

That's good.
Haaaa those guys at Audio Circle, always ready to help.
'' Joking !!
By the way, I saw that post of yours and the answer - suggestion via my wife's iPad
because I can't access AC via my laptop, they recognized my name...
Anyway, life is beautiful.

Guy 13

   Most are helpful on AC. Then you have the naysayers and agenda posters. . That is why I prefer AN for discussion. No flame wars no BS, no insults.

charles


contact me  at rollo14@verizon.net or visit us on Facebook
Lamm Industries - Aqua Acoustic, Formula & La Scala DAC- INNUOS  - Rethm - Kuzma - QLN - Audio Hungary Qualiton - Fritz speakers -Gigawatt -Vinnie Rossi,TWL, Swiss Cables, Merason DAC.

DRN

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Re: Mounting Odd Shaped Cartridges
« Reply #6 on: September 03, 2019, 12:15:14 PM »
Heh heh I'm over there too. "bacobits1".
I have like thinking friends over there. Been there a long time.  TOOBLVUR is a friend.

I want to rescind my membership there but you can't even delete your account there! :duh
I can be a smart ass only when it calls for it. There are some real gems (buffoons) over there.
Charles, you know who I mean.  :roll:
« Last Edit: September 03, 2019, 12:19:57 PM by DRN »

Offline S Clark

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Re: Mounting Odd Shaped Cartridges
« Reply #7 on: September 03, 2019, 12:44:59 PM »
Well, thanks for your help and input.   That Ortofon 2m Red had little cantilever to look at, and a goofy cartridge body.  I ended up telling the wife to see how the body cut across parallel lines that intersected the body.  When each side intersected at equal distances, we called it good.  My buddy was just glad to have something that played music. 
But the advice to follow the cantilever will be very helpful when I get my Blackbird back from the retipper. 
Speaker-GR Research LS9-XStatik-AltecFlamenco
Amp-Moscode,Dodd,Folsom
Pre-Dodd
Turntable-Vyger,Victor,TechnicSP10MK2
Phonopre-Hagermann,Jolida,GSlee   
Cable-AudioSensibility Wywires TWL
Cartridge-Dynavector,Sumiko
Tonearm-PioneerP3,Jelco
Rythmic sub


Offline Folsom

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Re: Mounting Odd Shaped Cartridges
« Reply #9 on: September 03, 2019, 01:19:51 PM »
A guy on another forum made a see through headshell. I'm sure it's not cheap though.

Offline JBNY

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Re: Mounting Odd Shaped Cartridges
« Reply #10 on: September 04, 2019, 06:06:40 AM »
As others have said before, you should be aligning the cantilever not the body. They body on almost every cart I have used is never perfectly square to the cantilever. So aligning by the cartridge body only will result in misalignment. Sometime I think the oddly shaped carts are done on purpose to force people to use the cantilever to align. 
-Joe
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Offline Guy 13

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Mounting Odd Shaped Cartridges
« Reply #11 on: September 04, 2019, 06:10:48 AM »
Hi all.
Even if I don't like too much my Rega P3 with the Exact mm cartridge,
I must say that the alignment is easy,
because there is a third screw that keep the cartridge aligned.
A brillant idea from Rega.
Just want to share.

Guy 13
Grace Digital Mondo RIT
Cambridge Mini sub 2.1
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Offline tmazz

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Re: Mounting Odd Shaped Cartridges
« Reply #12 on: September 04, 2019, 08:42:22 PM »
Try the Mobile Fidelity Geo Disc.



It has a sighting ridge (D to E in the photo) that makes it super easy to line up the cantilever.



It worked wonders for both my Blackbird and Blue Point Specials.

.... and for an Audiophile accessory it is pretty reasonably priced at only $50.

https://www.musicdirect.com/best-analog-accessories/mobile-fidelity-geo-disc-stylus-alignment-protractor
Remember, it's all about the music........

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Offline Folsom

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Re: Mounting Odd Shaped Cartridges
« Reply #13 on: September 04, 2019, 10:43:13 PM »
I have a geo disk. In order to use it you need to carve off the plastic sticking up where the arm is at... At least not many carts will clear it if you have an arm with a bend. (the rib by the E)

There's simple downloadable printable things you can use to see if the lever is straight in two positions. If it is, it's adjusted well.

Offline tmazz

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Re: Mounting Odd Shaped Cartridges
« Reply #14 on: September 04, 2019, 10:56:27 PM »
I have a geo disk. In order to use it you need to carve off the plastic sticking up where the arm is at... At least not many carts will clear it if you have an arm with a bend. (the rib by the E)

There's simple downloadable printable things you can use to see if the lever is straight in two positions. If it is, it's adjusted well.

Interesting. I have a straight arm (SME Series IV), and I have never experienced any problems with clearance. I do a lot of setups fr friends so I will have top keep this ion mind and be sure to bring along another alignment  tool just in case it I am ever asked to do a setup on a curved arm.
Remember, it's all about the music........

• Nola Boxers
• Sunfire True SW Super Jr (2)
• McIntosh MC 275
• ARC SP-9
• VPI HW-19 Mk IV/SDS/SME IV/Soundsmith Carmen Mk II ES
• Pro-Ject Pre Box S2 DAC/Rasp Pi Roon Endpoint
• DigiBuss/TWL PC&USB/MIT Cables