Installing cartr.:slide it all the way to front?

Hi Doug, I'm familiar with sound reproduction through vinyl, but was never interested in technical questions like how to install a tonearm correctly, but now I am! Why do tonearm manufacturers specify a pivot-to-spindle distance for each arm they produce? If there is no such rule as: for each arm there is an optimal pivot-to-spindle distance (to minimize the lateral tracking error), then you can place the arm anywhere you like. So, if you have to move the tonearm to get the overhang right, another pivot-to-spindle distance would be the result. This is the compromise with a non lineair tracking arm. One has to choose for: exact alignment of the overhang or not to deviate from the specified pivot-to-spindle distance, if the cartridge is fixed within the head shell or if a SPU is used. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Doug: I think that SME don't change the spindle-too-pivot distance. They " move the arm " but mantain fixed that distance. Maybe I can't explain it: they mantain the geometry relationship between the overhang number and the spindle to pivot distance.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Robdoorack is correct. Like him I've mounted cartridges on several Rega type arms, some using the Rega (single point) alignment and some using Baerwald (two point) alignment. Baerwald results in lower overall tracing distortion, but it cannot be used on a Rega mounted at the specified 223mm. With the arm that far from the spindle most styli won't reach the two Baerwald null points.

Moving the Rega closer, to 219-220mm, does the trick. Of course this requires a table that allows moving the arm mount. Child's play on a Teres/Galibier/Redpoint or Raul's Acoustic Solid. Not so easy if the table has a fixed armboard. In that case drilling out the headshell slots, as Rob mentioned, is certainly an option. I prefer a pivoting armboard myself!

Dazzdax,
I'd suggest you pay an extended visit to the FAQ's section at Vinyl Asylum. There are many good technical articles archived there. Well worth the time. (Some of them contradict others, which makes it more fun!)

The goal, as I mentioned before, is to position and align the cartridge to minimize tracing error. A pivoting arm can be set up using any of several valid alignment schemes. Each scheme requires a different spindle-to-pivot dimension, so there is no magic mounting dimension. That of course means there is no magic number for overhang either. Each of these interdependent variables changes depending on the alignment null point(s) you choose.

Overhang,
Where are you? Have you measured your tonearm's mounting distance yet.

Raul, I'm almost certain my friend's SME V slides toward/away from the spindle, but it wouldn't be the first time I was wrong. I'll have to check/ask him.

P.S. If you haven't checked my system in a while, take a look. Bad news: still plenty of "equalizers". Good news: no more SUT. I think you'll approve!

P.P.S. We went to the symphony the other night and I paid special attention to the kind of LF ambient info you described on your subwoofer thread. You hit the nail on the head amigo. Even with only violins playing the hall size was most evident from very LF info. Very astute observations you made. Gracias. (Now where am I going to put two subs?)

Wow!I am overwhelmed.Thanks guys.I don't even know where to start right now.I've always been a digital guy and had analog on the back burner via a simple Rega 25/Dynavector/CJ EV1 setup.Recently i decided to take it a step further and mounted RB 600 on Michell Gyro SE.I also bought a Shelter 501 II cartridge.I thought that i will install the cartridge by simply using the cadboard template that came with Rega turntable and was more concerned with should i use a 2mm spacer that i used with Dyna cartridge or not.(In my previous post i didn't get a straight answer to that)Now that i asked i feel completely helpless as to where to start.Can you please tell me step by step what to measure first and what to adjust after those measurements.
Let's say the cartridge is already in a head shell sliding back and forth freely.Also what exactly is a pivot point on Rega arm?I feel embarassed by my amateurish questions.
P.S.Word "Overhang" always kinda amused me the same way as actor's name Michael J.Cox amuses in adult movies.