78's through the system

I attempted changing the tonearm wires and ended up buying a new tonearm...it's a very tricky procedure and the service manual is of no help. I took pictures, however, and plan to publish them in an internet audio e-zine.

Do you find improvement w/ the sorbothane mat? I've heard it's not a good thing for the 1200. Ringing? All aluminum rings...perhaps you have trouble with isolation and damping. I don't have (or at least hear) any troubles. I have mine on an IKEA Lack coffee table as Ken Lyon of Neuance shelve's suggested me. It is then placed on a marble cutting board sitting on four adjustable level brass cones.

The addition of the tonearm fluid damper is like having a totally different TT. My Ortofon X5 had a tonearm resonance point of 15 Hz and after the damper it completely disappeared. I have also placed a Bob Regal foot to the left of the tonearm base behind the platter. It cleaned out female voices by lowering the pitch (is this what you call ringing?).

Well, if I were you I'd definitely try the damper. For $149 it's the most sensible upgrade you'll get.

"We are all opinonated".
Although listening to music really is a matter of personal taste, I would like to tell you about my positive experiences with 78s.
You can indeed get many good (used and new) turntables with 78rpm ( DUAL, Thorens, etc.).
I use a cheap Shure M78S cartridge and it sounds better (!) than the Shure V15VXMR, which I also tried with an 78rpm stylus.
I use my normal RIAA phonostage, but with an input (load) impedance of only 500 Ohms (of course you can try 1000 Ohms or more). For me 500 Ohms makes a very natural treble and midrange, but boosts the bass. To compensate for this, you can either simply use the tone controls (if you have them) of your amplifier, or you use the Esoteric Research "Re-Equalizer". Try it with any classical piano solo or violin shellac, and maybe you are as convinced, as I am.
Happy listening!
Alfred from Luebeck (Germany)

I have a Rega 78 for my 78rpm's, and for a second a Garrard 301 with a Grace 747 which has a removable headshell. Both TT's are outfitted with a Goldring G1010 in it's 78rpm version.
Both the Rega and the Goldring are real sleepers as they have served me the better part of 10 years. I play 78 collection every Sunday evening to irritate the kids!