Mint Tractor

SirSpeedy,

I haven't seen/used the Phantom jig but I have used the one supplied with the 2.2.

Besides having no parallax arrangement for sighting accuracy (as noted by Stiltskin) the flip-over piece sat at a different angle depending on the height of the cartridge. This moved the cross-hairs forward or aft, which meant that overhang was only accurate when mounting a cartridge of the same exact height as whatever cartridge Graham designed the jig for.

If the Phantom jig is similar, I'm sure you'd find the Mint worth the investment.

I finally got the MintLP today! But I am a little disappointed, because I find that my initial setup using the VPI Jig agrees (spot-on) with the MintLP in terms of effective length. I only have to adjust the zenith angle very minorly. It took me less than 15 mintues to make sure everything is in place.

I haven't had the chance to 'listen' yet.

Doug/All, I tried to explain the features of the Parallax Feature on the Mintlp Tractor, but I know my previous descriptions fell short. Probably anyone's will, until they see for themselves how neat this protractor is, and put it to use on thier rig.

I feel, just for the Zenith Alignment feature alone, this Protractor is worth the price of admission.

This was one parameter I felt I had "nailed down" exactly with everything I had in my arsenal, which in truth isn't much, the Geodisc, the TB Mirror, and an emailed paper tractor from Ken Willis. (not to detract from Ken's stuff, this was just a simple print up he emailed me free)

Picture looking down a 1/4 mile drag racing strip, with your Cantilever Looking like a large Log sitting in the middle of the road. And the road slims as it goes further away from you, just like looking down any two lane Road. You'll position your Stylus at the center of origin of this "Road", then as you look further back, one can so easily see how the Cantilever either skews to the right, or left.

And to add even more, about how Doug, and everybody else is talking about here, there's that reflected image of the Grid Lines, on this Second Surface Mirror, akin to the cheapie TB Mirror Protractor. (No, this isn't a Telescope Mirror, which would have a first surface Mirror, with refelctive coating on a polished-figured surface)

This is one very important key-feature to making this Protractor really outstanding, that just a slight shift with your head, or eye, you can easily see you are not properly aligned with the protractor, to see proper zenith with Yip's design. As I said before, this man is very clever, and I applaud his craftsmanship, and design.

The eye is a quite sensitive instrument. I know of men who build, and can test world class Optics with Laser Interferometer, but the eye can be in many cases, the final criterion, surpassing even the worlds most delicate instruments.

Smartly, I configured another Turntable (Denon) to the exact same S-P Distance, and I'll be checking this one as well. Since nobody wanted my like new Benz Ruby 3 in my classified here, out it comes to go on the Denon.
As they "really" say, you only live once. Don't believe the "James Bond Movies". Mark

Doug,Mark et al.....Absolutely NO complaints from me!!The credibility expressed has proven the logic of your arguments,and makes total sense.

Thanks.

Viper, I too found my Zenith Angle off.
I'm certainly no expert on Cartridges, but I take it that Zenith Angle is a very important adjustment.
Probably not so, with a Conical Stylus, but who's running one of these, unless maybe you're running a Denon DL-103R?

For these Micro Line Stylus', like my ZYX, I take it that this is very important to get right.

Don't feel like you got cheated, or wasted money, know that you were one of the very few "lucky" folks, who had at least thier overhang correct. You still found error, and this is a testamnent of how good this Portractor is (a compliment in diguise actually).

Pleae let us know what sonic differences you hear, if any. Mark