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Feickert analogue protractor....Owners impressions

I'm contemplating the purchase of this brand of protractor.

Over the years I have relied on a good friend to mount cartridges and set up the few tables that I have owned in the past.
Relying on someone else to do this was for good reason.

I would never make it as a watch maker or any other profession that requires a fine touch and skill with steady hands.
The time has come where I will have to do this totally on my own.

My question to you owners of the Feickert protractor is what is your experience with it regarding ease of use and accuracy compared to other protractors?

Secondly, the disk has strobe markings for speed set up, does the Feickert package come with a strobe light for the $250. selling price?

I asked these question of a dealer sent via a e-mail and have not received a reply as of yet.

Thank you for your replies.
stiltskin
mjglo
127 posts
 
Tim,
"The fine gradient movement of the SME's sled makes small adjustments simple to dial the stylus in the arc across its length"
Wouldn’t you be defeating the purpose of a custom protractor by changing the spindle to pivot distance as an adjustment? If you order a protractor for SME isn't the arc based on the 233.15 spindle to pivot distance, the distance you change to adjust? I bring this up because you mention that the Wally is the best method for SME alignment(IMO), I'm not sure it or any arc protractor is unless the cartridge one uses produces the correct effective length for the 233.15 arc. I just mounted a SME IV.Vi so I'm looking for feedback also. Now, if I measure the effective length and back into the spindle to pivot measurement and it's not the SME suggested 233.15, I wonder if it would be better to order a protractor for the SME suggested 233.15 or order one based on the spindle to pivot number derived from the actual effective length? HMMMMMMM.

Mike
thom_at_galibier_design's avatar
thom_at_galibier_design
729 posts
 
Hi Mjglo,

Your question is indeed a valid one. Every effective length has one and only one correct pivot to spindle distance and offset angle.

Tim is adjusting for a change in effective length with the pivot to spindle change (and likely adjusting offset angle slightly with his oversized screw holes).

I suspect he's getting such good results with a Wally because his cartridge's stylus position closely matches SME's design assumptions, and therfore his tonearm's effective length is close to specification.

Cheers,
Thom @ Galibier
lewm
13,109 posts
 
So, if one wants a custom-made arc protractor, shouldn't one supply to the maker the ACTUAL spindle to pivot distance, rather than the optimal theoretical one, which may not pertain to the arm for which the protractor is to be used? Forgive me if the question is redundant.
mjglo
127 posts
 
Consider this, the gauge that comes with the SME arm is driven by the effective length and you change the spindle to pivot to dial it in. So, maybe the 233.15mm spindle to pivot recommended by VPI is not cut in stone but a starting point, if that is the case maybe a a protractor based on the effective length is best for this arm.
Mike
mjglo
127 posts
 
"So, maybe the 233.15mm spindle to pivot recommended by VPI"
Sorry, SME not VPI
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