Record Clamps?

Hello Jay, If you're referring to the VPI Type Threaded Clamp, the 2 models (actually 3 if you count the least expensive Jr version Clamp) that VPI make, are two piece, but conjoined, so that when you tighten the Clamp to LP, the bottom portion remains motionless against the Label, thus never causing any marring of the Label, at least none that I ever noticed, or had a problem with.

And as you might know, VPI as well makes a Heavyweight Clamp, which I assume is not threaded.

There's of course other companies, one new one that I've recently noticed, called ttweights.com. Thier VPI Style Clamps appear to me, to be one solid piece of metal, and I can imagine, that yes, while Clamping a one solid piece Clamp down upon the LP, that there's that possibility of Label marring. Only ttweight's Collet Style Clamp appears to be a two piece affair.

TTweights.com also appear to make a number of Clamps/Weights with no threads, probably somewhat similar to the VPI Heavyweight, but possibly not quite as dished on it's underside? They look very nice, and are not really that expensive. Hope this helps. Mark

Thanks for the responses, especially the link, Markd51.

The clamp I'm using now is the stock clamp provided with the MMF7. Its a 2 piece as well, but it doesnt seem to really provide any benefit as it is thin, and only a small portion of the clamp actually touches record.

Maybe I'm miss-understanding the purpose of the clamp.

I've thought about taking an old felt slit mat, trimming it, and hot glueing it to the under side of the clap to prevent this going forward. At this moment, I dont see any draw backs to doing this, but if anyone more experience has any objections to doing this let me know before I muck up a probably perfectly decent clamp.

try a reflex type clamp - Sota makes a good one. They have a lever on top that clamps the spindle instead of rotating against the record label. Not sure how that would work over the threaded spindle on your MMF7 though. You might also simply try a heavy weight that doesn't clamp or screw down but works just be weight.

Fight, Yes there are many clamps that drop on. I use those on my tables. I clean with a VPI Typhoon and the two piece screw down design is a must. No label damage, no way. If I had a threaded spindle on a TT, same answer.

Jay, I'm not intimately familiar with your Turntable, and its Spindle, is it 1/4"-20 Threaded as the VPI is?

In actuality, the VPI Threaded Clamps probably don't fully contact the entire Label Area either, as they are considerably dished, because of the design priciple, that VPI uses a Rubber Washer on the Spindle, and has recessed the Platter for the Label. This when clamping down, the entire underside Label Area drops into the Platter Recess, and by proper clamping, with just the right amount of tension (per given LP) the entire underside of LP will completely. and properly couple to the Platter. The exception being, a LP with a odd-severe Lip Warp, and this was no doubt (one of the reasons) why Harry came along with the Periphery Clamp.

As ttweights I think mentions, and perhaps others, that they try to engineer thier non threaded weights to be most effective in coupling an LP to Platter, but this I feel is a very tough thing to do, to find one single non-clampable Weight that will properly work for all LPs due to variable warpage, and variable record weight (140g-180g-200g).

Collet Style, like the Michell might work fine, but there's the possibility (I'm not saying the Michell will, I'm not sure?) of marring-scratching the Spindle itself? Mark