2. analog
  3. 1232818798

VPI Speed Problem

I have a VPI Super Scoutmaster with SDS. Fabulous sound, had it for about a year. I moved to a new place about 5 months ago and have had it set up and working well for about 3 months in the new location.

Recently, I thought the first song on some album sides sounded slow, but as the album played a minute or two, all sounded right again. Now, everything sounds slow all the time, both 33's and 45's. I tried bypassing the SDS, though there is no speed setting on the motor assembly, so I don't know if that should sound right, but it sounds very slow and muddy as well.

Any thoughts on what might be wrong or how to troubleshoot? Any insight would be appreciated.
kthomas
oregon
827 posts
 
Kthomas,
I wish I knew the answer to your problem. My guess it is a bearing or belt issue. A drop of oil and or grease? Perhaps a stretched belt.
Tfkaudio,
You're right.

Enjoy...
kthomas OP
911 posts
 
Thanks very much for all the helpful responses. I'll have to get it working perfectly again before I could sell it to get a Lenco in any case, so thanks especially for the troubleshooting tips :-)

New belt didn't change anything. I'll have to get a strobe to check the speed - I have the speed disk, but not the strobe. And my motor is the dual wheel (600 rpm?), not the direct wheel.

I'll check into putting drops of oil in the right places. It really fell off from sounding great to sounding terrible pretty quickly. Bummer, too, as I just got the new Van Morrison remasters :-)
johnbrown
195 posts
 
Agree with you 'Tfkaudio', and I feel shame. Even though 'Oregon' initially jacked the thread, I should have taken the high road and let it slide.

Still, as I first posted, we have yet to know if the OP has checked the actual platter speed, which would be the first step in diagnosing the problem.
oregon
827 posts
 
Kthomas,
I recently purchased the remastered Moondance. Compared to the original, as in many pressings, I prefer the original. Many remasters sound overdone. In this case too bassy, vocalist in your face and music seems either bloated or in the background. With the original, the band and Van seem to be in the same room, playing with each other on the stage and not in separate rooms with their own volume controls (bass and vocal mic beefed up). That's how I hear the 2. (Could be the crappy Lenco.)
On another note:
I just saw a a film at the NW Film Festival called "Irish Rover" good footage of Van playing with Dylan and The Chieftians.
For his earlier stuff, which I like very much, get "Van Morrison In Review" on eBay for $18.00.
Post removed 
More to discover