To damp or not to damp JMW-9 Sig ?

12-22-07: Stringreen
I...discovered that a bit of the damping fluid is a good thing. ... Too much oil will deaden the highs....The results are improved midrange - more depth and air between the notes, and improved low bass. ....

A couple months ago I added the KAB fluid damper to my Technics SL1210 M5G, and that is EXACTLY what I got. When I first filled the trough about 2/3 full, the presentation was quieter, but it was also deader, with initial transients and high treble info missing. I lowered the fluid level in the trough to about 1/3 and voila! Magic!

I got the same improvements you mentioned--improved midrange, more depth and air between notes (especially noticable in better stage depth and decay of notes), and improved bass.

It also tracks like a mo-fo. Hideously warped records don't phaze it at all.

So my conclusion is that a *little* damping is an improvement over no damping, but too much damping (and you'll know it when you hear it) sucks the life out of the music.

FTR, I thought about trying less fluid. I thought it may have been over filled. But there was no fluid on the underside of the JMW-9 arm when I took it off of the pivot. That made me believe that there was not too much fluid. The trough was about 1/2 full. I may try it again. I've got lots of experimenting going on right now. So far I've tried 4" maple platform with the Super Feet and a sandbox without the Super Feet. I'll post some results when I have something more definitive

Artemus_5..try the Gingko platform under the VPI. Check out their website. Vinh the owner is extremely nice and very helpful.

Thanks for the recommendation Stringreen. I've heard good things about the Gingko. Many also recommend the sandbox. However I have found that the benefits of the SB are highly dependant upon the platform material that is used atop the sand. I tried MDF and that was too much damping. I found that Travertine tile was a good material to use. It livened things up and gave better definition throughout the spectrum. It worked well with the ScoutMaster with standard arm. I started to play with Maple as well, thus my 4" platform. It didn't work as well as the SB but that was while using the std arm. My next project will be to try maple atop the sand of the sandbox, which I have heard is the best of both worlds. I am a woodworker so I have the ability and tools to do the projects.
I should note that my sandbox is a 2 piece unit with a separate box for the motor. I have talked to Harry at VPI who liked the idea very much. FWIW, he suggested that I remove the rubber feet from the motor and replace them with machine screws. He said it would improve the sound, but I can't say that I have heard any difference.

I've experimented with damping with my Scoutmaster/20 XL, and found that about 1/3 full(maybe a bit less) is beneficial. Too much, as has been pointed out, isn't good, but for me, a bit is better than none.