Refurbish Fidelity Research Tonearms

I’m using a FX for the first time. I bought this as NOS but to me it seems like it was used but very low mileage. The VTF dial is smooth and light with nicely defined clicks. Bearings seems great. I don’t want silver wire or a 1 piece cable from leads to termination. Is there any reason for me to send it in to RM for an overhaul?

Unrelated question, the clasp that holds the arm tube to the arm rest rotates 360 degrees and is in the way of the lift lever when operating it up or down. I hold the clasp out of the way while I use the lever. Is this normal?

Unrelated question, the clasp that holds the arm tube to the arm rest rotates 360 degrees and is in the way of the lift lever when operating it up or down. I hold the clasp out of the way while I use the lever. Is this normal?

No, it’s not normal. You have to loose and rotate the armlift mechanism then tight it up again when the position is right. They do not have to touch each other in any way with the arm lock.

You have no reason to send 64fx anywhere, it’s next generation of FR tonearms and if it’s not broken do to waste your money on all these nonsense. I have 64fx and 64fx PRO, prior to this I sold one fx. All of them are perfect compared to much older 64s where armlift with its pad is garbage. The bearings on 64fx are absolutely perfect if the arm is  NOS or like new (not damaged). 

DIN connector is amazing option to swap different phono cables! If someone will tell you silver is better than copper you have to try both, I like copper cables.

and if it’s not broken do to waste your money on all these nonsense

Chakster, may I ask what’s your problem?

no idea about the arm before / after and you write such an comment.
One man’s ceiling is another man’s floor …Or just being a pretentious ignorant?

Thanks @chakster I will look into moving the arm lift mechanism. 

@syntax when there is a problem with bearings on 64s I can understand it (this is a complicated job, indeed) and very old tonearm, but a poster above asked for FX model in mint condition!


Tonearm rewire is very simple process, replacement of the DIN is also very simple process for technicians. I remember how we rewired/refurbished my Lustre GST-801 tonearm and replaced DIN connector with a friend. Took one hour or so, cost nothing. Any tech can do that for $100-150.



I gonna replace the grease on my FR-66fx myself, it’s very simple once you know the type of the grease and have an access to the vtf side spring (I have).



Reading this thread: some people may think it’s necessary to pay $800-1000 for some new bearings and some new wires for FR tonearms, but it’s NOT. No matter what you think. Especially newer models like FX, PRO, MKII. Refurbishing is absolutely nonsense for Ikeda tonearms (unless it’s broken).



For people who just bought them my advice is to use them as is, until there is an audible (or mechanical) problem.



For people like you FR tonearm is like a religion, it’s fine. Probably your 64s or 66s were used for 20-30 years by yourself. But there are almost unused or nos FX or Ikeda on the market, harder to find unused 64s are there too.


Any tonearm can be maintained, refurbished, rewired, but in most cases it’s just not necessary, especially when the cost just for the service is close to 50% of the tonearm market value today! This is just a bit of common sense (just my opinion). I like FR 64s and fx tonearms, Ikeda tonearm too. I must admit that Lustre GST-801 is another great tonearm from the same era, when I bought a NOS sample, my rewired sample went to a friend, but I enjoy NOS on the higher level now. 


There are always people who think they know better what to do, I posted earlier as an example that Dynamic VTF on FR 64s considered as evil by many “experts”, one of them is Thimas Schick, but you said you don’t care. 



When Isamu Ikeda explained why IT-347 is different from 64s you said you don’t care about designer’s opinion about his product. 

Now when I say $800-1000 for rewiring/refurshing is “nonsense” you are not happy about such comment.