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Questions on Overhang/Cartridge Alignment using Dr Feikert Protractor on VPI Classic 3

So I recently bought a used VPI Classic 3 that came with a low hours Soundsmith Zephyr 2 cartridge.

I wanted to make setup as accurate as possible so I bought the Dr Feikert Protractor.
I first make sure that the Spindle to Pivot length was correct which I read online was supposed to be 258mm.

See pic below.


This was measured by taking off the tonearm and measuring exactly from the spindle to the bare sharp point of the unipivot point.
After that was done I mounted the cartridge to the arm and got the step 1 in perfect bullseye.



Step 2 however is where things get off.   I'm coming up about 2 mm long on step 2.



Step 3 is also off as its about 1.25 mm short of the line.

Here is a shot showing approximately the location of all 3 points.



Any ideas on what I can do to fix this where it hits all 3.   I'm at a loss being that the Spindle to Pivot point is right on at the 258mm length which i was told is correct for the VPI Classic tables.
Thanks for any assistance you can provide.
newguru
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
The MoFi Geo Disk for $50 is all you need. With this the alignment is achieved with the stylus at the same level as when playing a record. You could achieve the same exact thing by taping the free download onto an LP. To tell the truth, my Origin Live Sovereign turntable and Enterprise arm came with alignment printed on a card stock thick piece of paper. Just for fun after setting alignment with the Geo Disk I checked it with the piece of paper. All exactly the same.      

So when people talk crazy price, yeah. Anything more than zero, or $50 for sure, qualifies.
lewm
13,252 posts
 
Chakster, AS is even more precise than the Feickert, if you want ultimate accuracy, and if you have the patience to use it as directed.  It's a real precision instrument.  If you want me to cite the many ways in which it is more precise (if used properly), I could do that at the risk of boring anyone else.  Maybe contact me privately. I admit I more often use my original version Feickert, especially when I am just interested in a short term audition of a cartridge. I don't think there are too many blind persons doing cartridge set-up.
billstevenson
398 posts
 
lewm, do you hear any practical benefit to this increased precision?
lewm
13,252 posts
 
I can’t say I agonize over it, so no.
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
I can align any cartridge using the FREE protractor given with the Hi-Fi News Test LP, it does not have a PS distance ruler, but it’s FREE. Or with a template given by the tonearm manufacturer (or even with a nice 52mm overhang gauge given by Technics for their tonearms). I am not crazy about protractors, it’s a very simple tool and when someone asks absolutely insane prices just for a bonus magnifying glass and a piece of plastic I can remember all those years when I aligned carts without any of those expensive devices.

However, I think Dr.Feickert is good for 100 quids for people with many different tonearms and turntables.
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