Feickert analogue protractor....Owners impressions

Islandmandan wrote:
I found my overhang was off using the VPI jig

You have to be a little bit careful if you're using the VPI table. Because VPI publishes some bogus specs on their website which were not the real things. MintLP requires very accurate specs, so if Yip designed the Best Tractor based on the bogus specs you'll expect to find some differences from the VPI jig.

I have a VPI Aries-3 turntable and when I checked VPI's website, originally it says the PS distance is 262mm, I did my own measurement and found that it's 256mm on my table. I called up VPI and sought clarification, telling them about my measurements. VPI soon corrected the number on their website. But then there're a bunch of other number, like overhang, offset angle which I cannot verify. I found that if I use their published numbers I cannot get the same null point as shown the VPI jigs. The whole thing just appears fishy. And that's the reason why I haven't yet ordered a MintLP, because I don't know what specs to give Yip.

Viper,
That is exactly what I found with my Aries 3 and 10.5i arm. The 262 number was bogus, I did my own measuring before I ordered a protractor from Ken Willis. So those with a VPI 10.5i arm should not order a protractor based on the 262mm distance.

Mike

I read these series of posts through, and just can't understand why anyone would want to go nuts over this. VPI has a perfectly good alignment jig. My SME also came with a plastic jig similar to VPI's that works well...I double checked them both with a DB protractor and all is well. Why agonize over this?

Stringreen, I'm not agonizing in the least. I'm enjoying a sound from my Signature Scout that really satisfies on a level that is hard to believe is coming from said Scout. The VPI jig supplied with the Scout, and other tables, gets you ball-park close, but the Mintlp tool is VERY precise, that's how you find out that set-up was not as close as you thought with less precise tools. Best 100 bucks I've spent yet on my analog rig. I recommend it highly.
Dan

Stringreen, I'm certainly not agonizing over anything...

I see you used a DB protractor to double check your set up with the supplied factory jigs.

Viper, was the misprint on VPIs web site you caught only for their 10 inch arm?
I believe Islandmandan is using the Signature 9.

Tvad, was there a notable improvement once you dialed in your cartridge with the MintLp?