VPI Classic platter - is center milled?

Markd51, no, the platter in question is identical to all previous Classic platters with the exception of having a raised middle as appose to label recess.

Seems to me the question I had, and other remarks have been addressed.

And it appears that VPI passed off a grave machining mistake onto unspecting customers, and for no small change either.

This sounds quite pathetic on their part, and I welcome somebody like Harry himself to chime in, to elaborate how, and why such a costly fubar to customers was ever then perpetrated?

Shame on you folks! Sounds to me, that VPI is in worse shape that the first day of their inception, and creation.

Those Platters should be sold as "rejects", for $100/ea for those who want them, not on a $3K and up turntable!

Why did VPI build Classic turntables with the wrong platter. This is madness and shows a complete lack of QC.

Raised centre vs normal recess is a BIG deal as it affects the way the vinyl sits interfaces with the platter. I have never seen any turntable from any other manufacturer that has raised centre.

abp689, you need to immediately ask for a replacement correctly spec's platter.

Hmmmm

Everyone makes mistakes..some take responsibility for them and do their best to make things right...VPI is one of those. I strongly suggest everyone with platters that seem to be made wrong to contact VPI and I am quite sure that a replacement will be shortly in the mail...(a very easy replacement).

...no Mark....those platter should be melted down and redone correctly, not sold at all.

Correct Stringreen, and I have perhaps "jumped the gun", in that although I browsed over this thread, there may be some things I have missed, or may not be aware of?

A friend I talked to about this yesterday brought up some good points.

Firstly, I'm assuming this Table was bought new from a VPI Dealer, correct? As my friend mentioned, the customer should be addressing any concerns to the Dealer first, and letting the dealer find out what is what?

Is there also a possibility that there's another Table in the VPI Line that uses such a different Platter, and could it then be just a simple issue of that a wrong Platter was packed with the said Table?

Before I went into some rant, and not fully knowing what is what here, and maybe incorrectly assuming things at face value, VPI from the past has never seemed to be one to shy away from stepping up and backing their products. That if a manufacturing mistake was made, VPI would no doubt make the customer whole if it was a mistake they made.

I wish to keep an eye on this thread, to see what is eventually finally found, and whether this is a newer modified design, or was an error on the Platter?
Mark

So the bottoms line is that (1) VPI has some platters manufactured, (2) the platters were improperly made with a raised middle instead of a recessed middle, and (3) to fix the problem, a mat is used with the platters with the raised middle?

What platter does the Traveller have?

I saw one at a dealer last week and the inner label recession was raised.

FINAL UPDATE:
I was able to exchange the defect* platter for the standard platter.

ARE THERE TWO VERSIONS?
Yes, the manufacture did screw up a batch of platters, VPI felt it was not of sonic concern and sold them. The correct version has a ~ 0.2 mm recess which comes with a solid rubber mat versus the defect platter which has ~ 1.0 mm riser and comes with a soft waffle mat.

BIGGEST CONCERN?
When I purchased this TT, I put on a copy of Cream's Disraeli Gears and had to immediately take it off due to a solid warp of the vinyl. While disappointing not a big deal. However, even new vinyl has some warping that the raised platter and clamp would not even out. As a result the tone-arm always had a good bit of vertical deflection. This was never a concern on the Project Carbon with a clamp (and that drove me CRAZY).

COMPARISON:
First: It has been 12 days from the old to new platter so a direct comparison is not possible. However with the standard platter, you can either use a mat or no mat. The defect platter requires the use of the waffle mat.

After a couple of records, I prefer no mat versus the rubber mat provided (it also creates a nice vacuum on the record). While this is a personal preference, having the option is the bonus.

Second: Due to the turning on the spindle of the defect platter, the clamp would bottom out before it could really clamp down on the record (see above). FYI: If you do have this platter, I used two pieces of cardboard placed on top of the record to help clamp the record.

RECOMMENDATION:
Figuring this out was a stupid hassle but worth it. If you have the raised platter and can return it, DO IT! I just cannot find any value in a raised center and am not sure what VPI liked about it in the first place? Just watching my tone-arm not bounce is worth it.

Thanks to everyone who provided valuable feedback!!! I just found a used copy of The Afghan Whig's Gentlemen at the record store, so I am out of here....

*Defect Platter:
VPI stated that Harry liked the defect platter with the waffle mat and decided to keep it, but then went back to the standard platter on the next batch, so while it was a mistake, VPI liked the result.

I am glad it all worked out for you.

BTW, I appreciated your input on this thread- big help. The new platter is great!