Tonearm without off-set

You'd be better served by doing the opposite: retain the correct offset but consider deleting the antiskate mechanism.

1. The sonic benefits of highly accurate alignment are huge. Search this forum for "Mint" or "MintLP" protractor for a wealth of information and testimonials across a wide range of tonearms and cartridges. You'd be shortchanging yourself not to have the best possible alignment, which won't be feasible without a properly angled headshell.

2. The skating force on a 12 inch arm will be very low, so you'll need little if any antiskating. Many people play without it on shorter tonearms, despite larger offset angles, and your arm will need less (though it's somewhat cartridge dependent). Some, including me, have removed our antiskating mechanisms altogether, to good effect.

3. Unless you apply antiskating there's no more stress on the cantilever/suspension with an offset than without. Since you'll probably play with virtually zero antiskating, this shouldn't be a concern.

So:
- have the correct offset built into your new tonearm;
- consider asking the manufacturer to forget the antiskating mechanism altogether, or at least to make it easily removeable;
- procure a Mint protractor (or a Wally, if you can get one).

My $.02 (inflation adjusted of course).

Dear william62: As Doug point out: retain the correct offset.

The pivoted tonearm offset (along the length of the tonearm ) determine/help to put at minimum the tracking angle error, so if you want a pivoted non-offset tonearm then what you will obtain is a higher tracking error that means higher distortion ( between other things ) on the cartridge signal.

I think that what you want ( like any one else ) is to reproduce faithfull what is on the recording or at least to be nearer to the recording. The non-offset tonearm subject put you far away.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

You dont mention if the arm will be straight, S shaped or a bananna congfiguration. Either way, a 12 inch arm is a jewell. I have a couple of audio friends, one who has a 12 inch straight arm with the head shell at the correct offset. He said (and I agree) that this lowers the mass when compared to an S shape or a bananna arm. He does not employ antiskate, but I can see that (as you are facing the turntable) the cantiliever of his cartridge pulls to the right as if the arm wants to 'skate' in towards the record label. When I see that, it makes me think that a little antiskate wouldn't be such a bad thing. I personally use it on my 9.25 inch Grace 747, but then I kinda need too as I don't have the additional tonearm length to dial it out.
I am envious! Wish I were having a 12 inch arm built!
Enjoy.
Norman