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Tonearm recomendations

I am doing a diy plinth project with a Rek o kut B12. I would like to know about tonearm length and where too short or too long comes into play. I would also like to know about wood arms.
Any experience would be greatly appreciative. I need to stay under 400.00 us new or used.

Thanks
fordmod
fordmod OP
30 posts
 
Phill,
Great to hear form you!
I know about turning the deck 90 deg. but I am really seeking a look and feel that prevents this. There are some arms the can be mounted to the orininal location with some minor work. I am also considering more drastic mods to that corner area, or applying some yankee engineering to make it look more like it integrates into the deck and plinth if using a longer arm. I really like the look of the deck and want to compliment this.
I am using birch ply and mdf (free scrap from a cabinet shop next door to our shop), very econmical. I would like to end up around 50 to 60 lbs or even greater. I am also going to do a 3 layer platform under the the plinth, ply,mdf,ply.

Keep me informed of your journey also.
Thanks
Ed
phill
38 posts
 
Honestly Ed I think if an arm is within a few mm when mounted in the existing arm hole it will be OK as long as the cartridge can still be adjusted. I used to have a Scheu Premier MK II table and It was said that it was OK to set the arm up within a 5 mm range. What arms do you know of that would be a direct drop in replacement? I can't wait to complete this project to see for myself what an Idler Drive can do, I've never heard one play before, it should be interesting.

Regards,

Phill
fordmod OP
30 posts
 
Phill
I think the oe hole in the b12 I have is @ 8.25" or just over 209 mm. I think any arm under 225 could be made to fit and look quite good. The rega arms would most likely be ok but at the long end of the range. I am still collecting my data on some other arms before I make a decision. I may look for some used under rated tables,(good oe arms poor decks) to pull arms from and experiment, or I may decide to go for the gold, and find a really nice older arm like SME, Sumiko, Grace etc.
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