Tool kit for cartridge setup

go to music direct's website and you can buy the new Michael Fremer dvd on how to set up.

And/or read the FAQ's articles at Vinyl Asylum. It's a less organized presentation, but there's a wider and possibly deeper knowledge base.

Tools:
Turntable
Tonearm
Cartridge
Phono cable (if not included with tonearm)
Phono Stage
Bubble level
Cartridge screws (nuts/bolts/washers for unthreaded cartridges)
Tiny screwdriver (for mounting screws)
Small hemostat/needle nose (for cartridge clips, be CAREFUL)
Wooden toothpick (for spreading/compressing cartridge clips)
VTF scale, preferably a decent digital one
Alignment protractor (many choices, often tonearm-dependent)
Strong, moveable/pointable light source
Magnifying glass or loupe
The ability to see small objects
Some familiar LP's (but not your mint condition copies)
A calm, patient and methodical state of mind
No caffeine
No kids/pets/significant others distracting you

Optional:
Test record (I don't bother, but they can help a newbie make sure he's covered all the bases)
Probably some stuff I forgot

Dear Doug and Steve,
Thanks for the information. Do you have a specific recommendation for a reasonably priced VTF digital scale? Thanks again. I bought a denon 103r for practice before I try tweaking my Helikon SL.
Jeff

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Jeff,
.
Buy the digital stylus force gauge that is listed on
Audiogon below. It is incredibly accurate and easy to use as well as an incredible value. Several Audiogoners have posted their positive reactions to this scale:
.
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?accstwek&1158166832
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This one's a no brainer and it will arrive quite quickly.
.
Rgds,
Larry
.

I'll second Larry's suggestion. It will be the last VTF scale you will ever need or want.

One thing that I have found to be of a most particularly troubling nature is the starting point. Do you start with the arm level? Or the cartridge body level? Etc., etc. Drove me nuts until Nsgarch (thanks again, Neil!)posted a methodology that is logical, somewhat easy to use and takes most (not all,depending on your eyesight) of the guess work out of this finding of a good idea of the starting position.

This is the thread:
How to set SRA after determining true vertical?

I won't go through it here, but I would say that if after reading that post the concept makes sense you will want to add a first surface mirror and at least a 10x (or a little more) magnifying glass to your tool box.

From there all you need is a good set of ears, either yours or someone you trust, and a tonearm with easy VTA adjustability.

Best of luck,

Dan