What's your TT setup essentials?

[hificricketboy]

Sort of following on from Robin's thread elsewhere on here....

Having been persuaded not to jack in vinyl I now have a Michell Gyro SE with modded Rega RB300 arm and Sumiko BPS.

I've just got hold of a Transfiguration Axia cartridge which is in the post as I type.

Although I've owned a TT for many years I always had my LP12 set up by the dealer and have never swapped or fitted a cart.

So now the question is, what are the essentials to set up the TT correctly?

Any hints and tips (or for that matter volunteers) gratefully received.

 

[johnniebaby]

Alignment protractor (print one off from Vinyl Engine) and a scale to set VTF.

A selection of cart bolts, with washers and nuts plus a small screwdriver, allen keys etc.

 

[hificricketboy]

Alignment protractor (print one off from Vinyl Engine) and a scale to set VTF.A selection of cart bolts, with washers and nuts plus a small screwdriver, allen keys etc.

I've had a quick look at alignment protractors on the VE. There seem to be loads of alternatives. Are they specific to a particular arm?

For scales, I take it the Bay is as good a place to buy as any?

 

[hificricketboy]

OK, read a bit more and printed off the Baerwald to play with.

I also have a collection of party cracker screwdrivers which look to be the right size and are surprisingly robust - must have been some right posh crackers!

 

[Guest]

As per title:

 

[rabski]

Steady hands. Zero booze consumption. Lack of woolly jumpers

Seriously... The alignment protractor you've now got. A miniature bubble level is essential to get initial VTA about right and to ensure the TT is level and the headshell is aligned horizontally (i.e. looking at it from the front, it is 100% upright, not tilted to the left or right: surprising how many times they aren't).

Decent stylus force gauge. I invested about £70 in a electronic one and again it's surprising how inaccurate the 'balance' types can be.

If you can find one, one of those clamp-on magnifying lights is an enormous help. I found one in the 'going cheap' bin at Maplins. £20 and it's got a circular light tube around the (large) magnifying lens, so you don't get odd shadows. Really does make cartridge tags and the like an awful lot easier.

The Axia is a brilliant cartridge, but if my experience of Transfiguration is representative of all their models, it may be extremely sensitive to correct alignment.

Above all. Time. Take as long as you can to do it slowly and carefully.

 

[avole]

Align along the cantilever.

 

[stevied]

Align along the cantilever.

Good tip :^

- - - Updated - - -

Align along the cantilever.

Good tip

 

[take5]

Mike/Yodas phone number . I would be lost without it. Expensive, but Essential.

 

[robin]

Sort of following on from Robin's thread elsewhere on here....Having been persuaded not to jack in vinyl I now have a Michell Gyro SE with modded Rega RB300 arm and Sumiko BPS.

I've just got hold of a Transfiguration Axia cartridge which is in the post as I type.

Although I've owned a TT for many years I always had my LP12 set up by the dealer and have never swapped or fitted a cart.

So now the question is, what are the essentials to set up the TT correctly?

Any hints and tips (or for that matter volunteers) gratefully received.

watching reply's closely ;-)

 

[yoda900]

Brian that reminds me that you never paid ANY of those invoices or are the cheques "in the post"?

 

[robin]

Mike/Yodas phone number . I would be lost without it. Expensive, but Essential.

don't I know it

 

[hificricketboy]

watching reply's closely ;-)

Thought you might be

 

[dudywoxer]

If you like a little drinky over the weekend, then leave it well alone till tuesday

 

[mnky]

Anyone use the old HFS 75 .... every time I set the bias up ....I then check with the HFS75 and always need to mess with it again to get it right using the record.

 

[rockmeister]

The only thing I use a test record for is to have a listen for the correct anti skate setting and tracking force, but in practice, if all else is well, then I find that a tad under the heaviest of the makers recommended weight range is about right. So for a cart that can set from 1.8-2.2 grammes, I use around 2.05.

My basic kit is spirit level, for both the deck itself (vital) and the headshell if that's adjustable (tiny bubble levels are good here, but you won't need it on the rega unless it is set badly on the deck).

A small Mirror which helps with cartridge vertical alignment (sit the stylus down on the mirror and look dead on from the front...it's easy to spot a tilted reflection. Again, shouldn't be needed in a fixed headshell design but it can be. You can use fine model makers washers to space out the cart if required)

An alignment gauge (you have a good one...use it very carefully)

A ruler to check the arm is set level (or as desired...I'm sure you recall that down at the back tends to 'thicken' the bass, up at the back each from level tends to brighten the sound).

An accurate electronic scales

Tiny screwdrivers and smallest long nose pliers you can find (for the cartridge tags and nuts if required)

I always take that time to check the platter bearing is oiled too, and add a few drops in needed, give the thing a polish and add a new drive belt.

 

[YNWAN]

An accurate strobe to check and adjust speed.

 

[awkwardbydesign]

Threepenny piece to Sellotape to the top of the headshell. (This will be familiar to our older listeners, especially those with a Dansette.)

 

[Bazzer]

Mike/Yodas phone number . I would be lost without it. Expensive, but Essential.

Don't forget your hammer and a shifter Brian.