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SL1200G - Tonearm shape from side question for owners

I’m sure this is a silly question, I just bought a SL1200G, I’m used to a flat tone arm. This one seems to curve down a bit then flatten out where the head shell attaches. 
 

This is normal I assume? From back to front it seems to swoop down a little. It’s not flat. 

With a nicer headshell and a herbies mat, Dynavector 20x2 w/VAS Boron cantilever & Elliptical stylus it sounds amazing. I’m waiting on the custom protractor made for this table to ensure it’s lined up right. 

chriscox000
lewm
13,100 posts
 

Do you mean to say the tonearm, when viewed from above, has an S-shape?  Or that when viewed from the side, it is not more or less flat?

chriscox000 OP
6 posts
 

Viewed from the side it’s not more or less flat. It has a very slight downward curve in the middle viewed from side.

pryso
1,932 posts
 

@chriscox000, I never noticed any irregularity with mine, but you made me double check.  I don't see any downward curve.

I do agree it sounds great, even with my current modest Shure V15 4 with SAS stylus.

You should still take a photo with a straight edge parallel to the bottom of the arm and send that to your dealer and/or Technics.  If it is not flat horizontally then it is defective.

avanti1960
1,480 posts
 

dont try to sight the tonearm level.  use a small bubble level on top of the headshell. make sure the vtf is backed off temporarily to compensate for the mass of the level.  

mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 

@chriscox000 

That arm should be perfectly flat in side view, straight as a ruler. The S shaped curve is only in the horizontal as viewed from above. Either the arm tube is loose or it was damaged or not installed correctly.

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