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replacing tonearm question?

Hey,
I have a VPI HW-19 MK4 which I love dearly. My existing Sumiko FT-3 tonearm is 20 years old and on its last legs and I want to replace it with a Jelco 750 or 850. Both arms are 9". Would I have to have a new armboard made and drill new holes? Or could I use the existing armboard and hole and just drill new screws? I know I'd havr to factor in the tonearm radius and all the millimeter differences.

I've never done this before so please excuse my ignorance on this.
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rauliruegas
13,101 posts
 
Dear @simao  Ask directly to VPI.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.
yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,724 posts
 
Yes you can! No it won’t!
simao's avatar
simao OP
1,831 posts
 
@yogiboy Thanks!
best-groove's avatar
best-groove
843 posts
 
@simao

I don’t understand the choice to replace the Sumiko with a similar apparent tonearm always produced by Jelco.
If you need an upgrade to be such, the leap in quality and cost must be proportional and substantial, otherwise it is better to keep what you have with you.
The other way around, if you want to replace the tonearm for incompatibility with the cartridge or the cartridges that you have then the switch with the Jelco can have logic.
simao's avatar
simao OP
1,831 posts
 
Hey best-groove ,
Good point there, but the FT-3 is twenty years old, is out of damping oil, and lacks the VTA adjustment. It's simply showing its age. I got the Jelco for a great price and it'll be a way for me to get some experience installing a new arm.

I run either a Hana SL or a Benz Ruby for a cartridge, depending on the record and my mood. 
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