If you can be lucky enough to find a Jelco TK-850L, jump on it. It was the last generation Jelco and is quite good. Earlier Jelcos are lesser performers, but the better ones are OK.
Tonearms - SME 3012, Jelco, or Schick?
I am looking at buying a long, 12" or so, tonearm. The the SME 3012, Jelco 750L, and Thomas Schick tonearms has caught my eye. Any thoughts or experiences anyone would like to share on these units? They are all in the 1000 to 2000 $ price range and I will be mounting a modern mc cartridge on it.
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A caution on the MS 505 arms for anyone considering one. I agree they can provide very good and convenient performance, but one thing to watch for. When I got mine the stub beyond the pivot point where the counterweight mounts was not in the same plane as the arm tube itself. A search online was not helpful as some reported that was normal. Some online photos even showed the droop. So I sent the arm to a trusted repair service (sadly no longer available) who confirmed it was not uncommon but not normal. They were able to repair it so the stub is now on the same plane as the arm tube.
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For Jelco fans, per my post above: https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650181966-jelco-tk-850l-12-tonearm/ Pryso, a lot of vintage tonearms have a rubber coupling between the main arm tube, and the rear of the arm tube, where the counterweight rides. These rot from age and should be replaced. Often, original pieces are not available, so work arounds must be made. Coupling rubbers for the Shure 3009 series are still available. At $85, or so, not cheap for a couple of pieces of rubber, but it is a project that the hobbyist can take on without too much trouble. And the Shure coupling rubbers can be adapted to some other tonearms. |
- 12 posts total