New Maplenoll Ariadne owner needing advice

FYI: The air bearing and tone arm have been disassembled. A carbon fiber (now) & wood (later) arm tube w/slight modifications to the arm lift on back of the manifold , bass & lead counter weights for the arm , the bearing tube opened & filled w/ GE dampner, maple plugs countersunk w/ brass threaded incerts for the tube,VTA unit modded and walnut supports for the manifold . AQ phono plugs w/cardas phono wire for the carbon fiber , 46 ga. 9x9 solid copper for the wood arm. The manifold is to be cleaned , inner sleeve brushed & manifold lightly dampened. More later.

FYI : Scott Leventhal contacted me with a listing of replacements for the quite pumps. I shall post soon. Scott is one of those unsung 'Nollers always willing to assist. Thanks Scott.

PS. He wrote the more informed manual for the Maplenoll Line. He knows the platform.

Crem,

sorry to be out o touch. I'm on the road and not near internet.

The suggestion was to fill the existing air bearing tube with snug fitting balsa. Using wood for the bearing is not an option due to tolerance issues.

Piedpiper: Thanks for the explanation. I just sent you an email before checking the posts. Have fun.

charlie

I have my armwand filled with a silicon material to minimize the resonance. I have a teflon tube much to what you highlighted in the center of the armwand to snake the phono wires through. I am not sure it made that much difference though as my first iteration was just the carbonfiber tube. Both sounded better than the stock aluminum arm. I still think one of the keys in the success of my arm is the ridgid construction and clamping system as compare to the vta adjustment with the stock arm. i was never really satisfied with the stock arm because it could be easily flexed. I also feel the direct connection from the cartridge clip all the way to the phono stage adds some value though it is difficult to set up with those fine wires instead of a traditional leads. Please keep us informed as to your progress. I am still working on my project that we discussed earlier, though a new work assignment has me backed up right now.