Great bass from a linear tracking arm?

It's not ALL just a matter of cartridge selection. It's simply that most linear tracking arm wands (plus counterweight) have a pretty low effective mass (because most of them are shorter than the standard 9 inch pivoting arms), so you just have to make sure the eff. mass of the arm is compatible with the compliance of your cartridge (low mass arms like higher compliance cartridges.)
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Yes, excellent bass reproduction is possible with linear tracking arms. The Walker arm certainly delivers in this area. Nsgarch is certainly right about cartridge matching, but design of the arm (e.g., bearing rigidity) has a huge impact.

I have no problems with the bass on the Cartridgeman Conductor with either the AT 33PTG or the DL103R. It matches my Schroder model 2 in that aspect.

Dear Exlibris: In my experience if you choose the right cartridge to match the tonearm you can have very good bass response ( everything the same in the system ) it does not matter if is pivoted or linear tracking.

Now, there are differences in the kind/level of bass in a linear traking and in a pivoted tonearms. In my experience, too, the best bass comes from the pivoted tonearms: solid, tight, no overhang, right pitch, etc, etc and as good the linear tracking are these ones are outperformed in that area for the pivoted ones.

I think that the mechanical grounding in the pivoted tonearms makes the difference against the air bearing linear tracking tonearms or the magnetic bearing on the Shoroeder one. Those air/magnetic bearing tonearms outperform the pivoted ones specially on the whole soundstage presentation.

Right now we are on a tonearm design ( and we want to build the best ever, this is our target: nothing less ) and we choose a pivoted one. I'm not saying that because of that the pivoted is the best, no the linear tracking ones have many advantages and as a fact we are on the research about too.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Rual, I take note of the fact that you say you want to build a (the best in your words) tone arm.

I was wondering what your opinion is on the bearing design. If you do go ahead with a pivoted tone arm design, which type of bearing are you would be considering? Also, would your design be influenced by any existing design?

I am asking because you have a good mix of designs in your collection and are very familiar with the differences in design.

Thanks
Paul