Need help setting overhang on the Technics SL-1200

Riley804 - does the height of the M97 cartridge, 15.875mmm, include the stylus? I measured roughly 18mm on mine with the styles included which would mean that the height of the arm should be set at 3mm if you go by the Technics SL-1200 manual. Also wonder if Technics takes into account the thickness of the record.

Hi Bob,

I didn't mean to imply that the steps I took are specific to my gear. They apply to most turntable and cartridge combos, and certainly to the Technics tables that we have.

For example, when you set the VTF (vertical tracking force) at the outset, just get it close because any movement you make with the cartridge (forward or back) during null point alignment is going to affect VTF because you're changing the balance of the tonearm assembly. Similarly, VTF and VTA are related because the force on the stylus changes the deflection angle of the cantilever.

There has been a lot written about TT setup and you can read to the point of overload and exhaustion. Note that there are practitioners of the TT arts who have a fanatical devotion to detail and demand absolute adherence to the one-and-only proper procedure, i.e., the procedure they themselves practice while spitting on all others. They may descend upon you like a plague of locusts... or not. Most of them don't think the 1200 is worth fussing over. If they show up, listen to what they have to say, but don't lose sight of the goal: sound that *you* like, reproduced by equipment that doesn't damage your records (or itself) during the process.

Your manual, if you got one, has a page with VTA settings based on overall cartridge height. This is probably an approximation at best, as is the overhang jig. Download or buy a protractor. Get a stylus force gage. A decent, powerful magnifying glass and a good flashlight are invaluable as well. Move your TT to a comfortable, level working position if its location in your equipment rack will make you spend a lot of time bent over or on your knees.

But first, read up. Google is your friend, as are the denizens of this forum. You may want to start here, just to get an idea of what lies ahead:

http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/cartbasics.html

http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/ttsetup.html

Bobgates ..

Buy as soon as possible the MintLP Best Tractor for the Technics SL12xx and let the white plastic gauge into the box , you can't imagine the difference!

Ho72 - actually I have always felt that finding the correct overhang is the most important thing and have always done this before anything else; after the overhang is found I check the tracking force and set the antiskate; and lastly I attempt to find the best VTA. Thanks very much for gcaudio.com link.