Tonearm ...... Acos Lustre GST-801 ..... Yea/Nay

Cartridge's can definitely be the ultimate rabbit hole from where there is little hope of seeing daylight again!
Lol.
😁😁

gibsonian

I'm excited to have found it, and been given a link to one with all parts at a great price. It will arrive thursday. TT arrives tuesday, I'll try to take my time.

I'll check out the lift, let everyone know it's condition.

Co-incidentally, I have been practicing lowering by hand lately, reacquiring that ability, improving but not consistent yet.

lewm

Appearance and Function.

Audio rack supporting this is 23" deep x 47" wide, table height.

3 thick glass shelves, each floating on isolators on 3 bentwood frames, each 4" radius corners. I have a 6" high wood riser/base on top of the top glass shelf that supports my existing single arm TT at a nice working height in front of large picture window. Three audio pieces under that riser/base, just high enough to receive remote control beams.

R2R on separate wood cabinet to the left; Amp and Preamp on separate wood cabinet to the right, Integrated amp just high enough to receive remote beam. Windows behind those 3 stands. Speakers out from the corners either side.

The existing wood base for existing TT is only 16" deep. The dual arm plinth is 20" deep x 22-1/4" wide.
 

I ordered a 1/4" thick tempered glass shelf 39" w x 20" deep. A tray with heavy house plants goes on the new shelf left of the TT adding weight.

I know how I will add support under the rear edge if needed, but I will see how things stack up first with the glass cantilevered 4" in the back. TT81 weight is in the front, Plants are heavy.

New deeper base is easy if needed, but, for access to rear jacks, I will try leaving the 16" deep base

.............................

chakster

LOL, famous last words is right.

But after this big step up, I will coast happily for quite a while. Unless what I bought is defective, hopefully not.

I have to fix my friends TT. He has an awesome system. We listened to a new sealed vintage WAR album here, he loved it so much I sent it home with him. He was not happy with it there. He has a Technics 1200 I gave him years ago when I was using my Thorens/SME. He changed the cartridge to a Grado, set up by someone else, I think they did it wrong.

My new alignment disc, new acrylic block with 2mm grid, new digital tracking force guage, his microscope, level, my lifetime supply of screws, washers, shims, brushes ...

And I can bring my headshells to compare to his Grado after I align it for general comparison.

I am in love with the speed of the new digital force gauge, the old Shure see-saw one takes a long time.

uberwaltz

I try to chase less rabbits than many here do!!!

Probably because of this rabbit tale.

Age 16, travelling across USA with my friend, his relatives in New Mexico took us out to the desert to hunt Jack Rabbits.

I had low cut hiking shoes, and wore shorts, it was very hot. I noticed they had long pants on?

They gave me a long barreled pistol, I was a darn good shot, out of the truck we got. Walk slowly into the desert, dodging cactus.

Bingo, I spot a Jack Rabbit and start to give chase. Everybody starts yelling, NOOO, stop, don't chase him, don't go in there.

Oh no, I'm not losing to a rabbit, he dodges, I leap, .... he gets away.

I come back to the truck, they are all laughing, more than I thought they should, after all I never saw that kind of rabbit before, I'll figure out how they move and get one for sure.

I look down, my legs are bleeding, covered with Jumping Cactus, front, sides, rear, oh behind the knee was the worst. Turns out, you just disturb the ground where these spring loaded devils are lying, up they leap onto you. Then, the more you move, the deeper the barbs get in, especially the ones behind your knees. It was hours cutting and puling the barbs out of me.

'Tiptoe Thru the Tulips' and Jumping Cactus!