Feickert analogue protractor....Owners impressions

Because right now I believe I just dialed in my cartridge beyond what the Feickert could ever do.

Congratulations. Do you hear a difference?

FWIW - for holding platters and protractors in place, I use that blue painters tape used to mask off edges and borders - works like a charm and easy to remove with no marks left.

I just re-read the first several messages in this thread - been a bit of journey since the last 10 days of June, eh. :)
 
Tim
 

I have one of Yip's Mint protractors coming as well in the post as we speak.

I am used the wally tractor on my old VPI JMW 12.5, however that is useless now that I have teh 12.7.

Anyway, it will be interesting to see how the mint goes vs the Graham Phantom jig alignment

Tim, sounds like you and your soundstage buddies need to do a comparison of several alignment protractors like the wally, mint, ken willis, db, freikert etc and publish it in soundstage.
Use your table/arm and someone else's. It would be interesting reading on the positives and minus's of each.

Tim
Initially when I first posted the question about the Feikert protractor I felt I needed an additional set up tool.
In addition to what the Feickert tool did, it also provided a strobe disk for precise speed setting.

My conclusion on the Freikert are this tool would be put to good use at an audio dealer.

Set up is fast, easy and close enough for all they care.

I once owned a Linn table from 1983 to 2001. Cartridge set up and fine tuning the suspension was done by a friend that did turntable set up as part of his living for many years.
I never really involved myself until now.

Overall I found setting up my own table arm and cartridge relatively easy, if you plan ahead and have " patience ".

Securing my platter I found using cabinet door bumpers to work supremely well, more so then tape.

We had a new kitchen installed acouple of years ago and the fellow that did the work gave me a pad of bumpers.
I thought at that time these nifty little things may come in handy for something down the road.

These particular bumpers come in a pad of perhaps a hundred or so. They are clear domed shape soft rubber that are self adhesive.
I used a pencil to ever so gently wedge 4 against the patter.

This securely locked the platter in place 100%.
Removing them after set up , I used a pencil to pry them off the deck. They left no marks.

The use of painters tape as Tim suggested to secure the Mint tractor is the way to go.

I have approximately 44 hours logged onto my table arm and cartridge, any meaningful changes in sonics I need to spend some time with my system.

We have overseas company visiting at the moment, yesterday my wife took them all shopping for the entire afternoon.
This was my window of opportunity to use the MintLp.

07-30-08: Sonofjim
As a side note, my measured pivot to spindle distance for the 10.5i on the SSM table agrees well with VPI's published value of 256 mm. I'm not sure why the value was off for the Aries 3 but my guess is that the rest of the values for overhang can be assumed to be accurate.

Sonofjim, the 256mm that you saw on VPI website is the correct value but originally they were publishing 262mm. They finally changed the number after I called Mike up and told him that I measured 256mm on my Aries-3 w/ JMW10.5i.

It must be nice to be able to actually go "hands on" with the great analog toys,you all speak of....The "jig thing" is fun....A nice way to spend a week-end of "hobby".

My last experience,of months ago,left me "cold"!!Both towards a well known dealer(a joke,who could have saved me serious "repair" money,and major aggravation,if he gave a crap,or "knew his products")and the frustrated experience of not having the correct info on hand,to allow proper set-up....The lack of correct info caused major problems,and could easily have been avoided!Luckily my perseverence has led "ALL" of this to a major upgrading of all products involved....It was NOT worth it!!!

Anyone around fifteen to twenty years ago,should remember the "Jurassic Period",of well versed analog dealers,who could answer simple questions,"be local",and help avoid potential customer problems.Maybe(if you were lucky) they cared enough to follow up a problem.I had one of these!....Back in the "Jurassic"!

I had a dealer/analog guru/ employee/store manager/friend who became quite reliable,and it was "he" who spent loads of time going over different set-up parameters with me.This led me to know my analog,a little bit(P.S-he got fired,once Digital got going!) ....Not many fellows like that these days!One reason for the value of this kind of forum.

I'm not going to elaborate on this problematic dealer's name,or any mfgrs,but all potential customers should arm yourself with "knowledge",because EVERYONE down the chain is going to claim innocence,and attempt to pass the buck...to maybe you!!..."Laughable"!!

OK,sorry(I still need to vent)...but one aspect of the experience was the loan of the Wallytractor alignment/set-up tool.....

A dear friend uses this,and before it's usage I was underwhelmed with his switch to a pivoting arm.His previous LLT arm was performing far better.

With the Wally,things got alot closer,and the accuracy of set-up was clearly heard.

My short time(two weekends) with the "Wally",which was cut short by an almost catastrophic set-up problem(yes I am gnarling my teeth, STILL)..was one of "really" being impressed with it!...This is a damn good little "gizmo"!

I cannot understand why anyone would need to read three pages of "posts",after utilizing one of these babies....

Next weekend,I'll FINALLY be able to set-up an analog rig again!My pre/phonostage is coming back the week after that..with a major upgrade/mod...BUT...

sadly I won't have the Wally to double check things(I sent it back to the "dealer").Doubt I'll ever call the guy again,yet.....I don't think I'll care too much by then! -:)

Sorry for the "definite" rant....as well as the lack of "Doug-osity"(ie: "interesting technical input",which was sorely missing in my post)

Best