Feickert analogue protractor....Owners impressions

It must be nice to be able to actually go "hands on" with the great analog toys,you all speak of....The "jig thing" is fun....A nice way to spend a week-end of "hobby".

My last experience,of months ago,left me "cold"!!Both towards a well known dealer(a joke,who could have saved me serious "repair" money,and major aggravation,if he gave a crap,or "knew his products")and the frustrated experience of not having the correct info on hand,to allow proper set-up....The lack of correct info caused major problems,and could easily have been avoided!Luckily my perseverence has led "ALL" of this to a major upgrading of all products involved....It was NOT worth it!!!

Anyone around fifteen to twenty years ago,should remember the "Jurassic Period",of well versed analog dealers,who could answer simple questions,"be local",and help avoid potential customer problems.Maybe(if you were lucky) they cared enough to follow up a problem.I had one of these!....Back in the "Jurassic"!

I had a dealer/analog guru/ employee/store manager/friend who became quite reliable,and it was "he" who spent loads of time going over different set-up parameters with me.This led me to know my analog,a little bit(P.S-he got fired,once Digital got going!) ....Not many fellows like that these days!One reason for the value of this kind of forum.

I'm not going to elaborate on this problematic dealer's name,or any mfgrs,but all potential customers should arm yourself with "knowledge",because EVERYONE down the chain is going to claim innocence,and attempt to pass the buck...to maybe you!!..."Laughable"!!

OK,sorry(I still need to vent)...but one aspect of the experience was the loan of the Wallytractor alignment/set-up tool.....

A dear friend uses this,and before it's usage I was underwhelmed with his switch to a pivoting arm.His previous LLT arm was performing far better.

With the Wally,things got alot closer,and the accuracy of set-up was clearly heard.

My short time(two weekends) with the "Wally",which was cut short by an almost catastrophic set-up problem(yes I am gnarling my teeth, STILL)..was one of "really" being impressed with it!...This is a damn good little "gizmo"!

I cannot understand why anyone would need to read three pages of "posts",after utilizing one of these babies....

Next weekend,I'll FINALLY be able to set-up an analog rig again!My pre/phonostage is coming back the week after that..with a major upgrade/mod...BUT...

sadly I won't have the Wally to double check things(I sent it back to the "dealer").Doubt I'll ever call the guy again,yet.....I don't think I'll care too much by then! -:)

Sorry for the "definite" rant....as well as the lack of "Doug-osity"(ie: "interesting technical input",which was sorely missing in my post)

Best

You guys really did it. I can't stand it any longer, and have therefore ordered my MintLP protractor. If you guys made me spend 100 dollars for nothing...

Stringreen and anyone else that are interested.

Using the MintLp,it's going to boil down to your level of patience and preparedness.
I found our kitchen table to be an ideal place to do it, also level your table before proceeding.

Securing your platter so it won't move at all and taping down the arc tractor is relatively easy.

Pink coloured erasers work very well securing any movement of your platter. Though I found the soft rubber cabinet door bumpers I mentioned above to work best.

If you don't already have one, I would highly recommend you purchase the 10 power Lupe Yip of MintLp offers for $10.00.
Lupe's range in price and optic quality to well beyond
$100.00.

Downunder, look forward to your comments.
The Graham jigs for the Phantom arm are just that.

The MintLp tractor is a well thought out precision tool accompanied by an equally well thought out step by step manual.

Sirspeedy, Things were certainly much simpler during the Jurassic period.
I understand the Wally protractor is very good also, however I have read it is difficult to next impossible to get one from him for unknown reasons.

Dougdeacon, looking forward to your impressions of the Mint.

Stiltskin et al,I did use both the Wally,and the Graham Phantom jig...over "the" two weekends,where I spent a TON of time setting criteria to the n'th degree(and maybe 6 to 8 hrs of sound,before..."Krakatoa,East of Java").One reason I was SO peeved,after SO much wasted set-up time.

I've also used the Graham Phantom jig on my friends Phantom,which I set up.....

From my own experience,the Graham jig really is superb,and I only used the Wally,because it was on loan!

I was able to get the arm absolutely equal to the Wally's spec, for sure,with the "somewhat underrated Graham jig".....I used the Graham jig "first",then checked the results with the Wally,afterwards....

The Graham jig was spot on!

I don't understand why some view it as not being anything other than an ingenious,easy way to get set up accurately?

Best.