Mint Tractor / Protractor for SME IV arm
About 6 weeks ago I went and ordered a Mint Tractor for my SME IV arm. I figured that since I had just dropped a bundle on a new Shelter 901 iii that a hundred bucks for a state of the art alignment tool was not unreasonable.
Yip was very and helpful via email for me to get info and cartridge measurements to him to custom tailor a protractor. The tool arrived well packed and in a timely manner.
My first observation is that the instructions included are not at all for SME arms as they go to great lengths describing cartridge adjusting for overhang. So any SME owners be advised that although there is an explanation on his web site, the instructions are generic and not helpful at all for the SME arm as far as that step is concerned.
My second observation was that the tool itself was an ingenious idea and implementation but that the assembly and finish of the product is horrible. The actual gauge is printed on a type of mylar which is then applied to a mirror surface that is cut and drilled to appropriate shape and size. It is not acid etched or applied via decalomania or silkscreen. The glass was polished well enough on teh edges so there is no danger of accidentally cutting myself with it, the hole was properly drilled, but the actual mirror surface was absolutely filthy with smudges and streaks. It is actually so filthy that using it was more difficult than it should have been if the surface was properly cleaned with Windex before applying the gauge. The big deal here is that the mylar gauge is (hopefully) very accurately applied to the glass surface and cannot simply be peeled off of the mirror for easy cleaning. In fact, the instructions contain warnings about not wiping or disturbing the surface of the tractor.
The third observation is that my alignment was amazingly close having used my trusty old plastic MFSL Geodisc that I have had and used for 20+ years.
The last observation is that making even seemingly tiny changes in alignment made really dramatic differences in especially the so-called soundstage effect. I now have a much greater sense of startling realism in that regard. I haven't even played extensively with the tracking or VT angle yet.
So all in all I am glad that I bought the Mint Tractor, and just wish the guy would splurge on a bottle of window cleaner! I feel like the thing is really ugly and shoddily put together, and for no reason but carelessness. I wrote to Yip and explained what I found, hoping that he would offer to send a replacement (especially since the thing would be no good to anyone else, it's not like I could put the junk one on ebay), but I got no response after 3 weeks.
I highly recommend buying one, and telling him when you do to make %$#& sure he cleans the glass before applying the gauge on top of it.
regards, HM
