Why is the price of new tonearms so high

Hi D.
did you actually read my post # 130 on the suggested use of "so long so wrong" ?
(I hope I counted # correctly...)

The spring 'grease'(yeak)/damping "something" I actually mentioned.
In fact the stuff is slightly visible squeezing a bit out behind the VTF dial on the SME-V - it's as thick as it gets, and noticeable by the VERY reluctant turning action of that dial.

Be interesting to see what Raul will have to add to it all.

Any comments?
A.

Perrew
y.s.:
>>> and therefore there will be less sideways/twirling force and this force is parallel with the force on the needle? <<<

In theory... hm.
But recall, the counter weight is now once more further back by exactly that same amount, mass = force...

The nice thing is, you can use your TT on the moon! And it still works! (using dynamic VTF, it is independent of gravity :-)
A.

Atmasphere, 20 years thats impressive not a lot lasts that long in this hobby. Problem for me is I have only single ended input on my amp and the MP1/MP3 seems to have only balanced output. Another thing is I wasnt really looking for a line amp but I see that my dealer has both the MP1 and MP3 so I might give them a listen. Is it possible to only use the phono stage?

Axel, my thought was that looking at these pics for example http://www.thomas-schick.com/FR64.htm that the spring is in the turret so there will be no moment like the counterweight has force times the distance away from the turret? Maybe this is not important at all Im just thinking high school mechanics with force arrows.

Dear Axel, dear Pär, - as for the Schick-site and the FR-inside-photos shown there......
Did you notice that there is hardly any grease around the VTF-spring? That isn't but 1/8 of should be there - and was there when new.
In picture 3 counting from above you can see the inner opening of the rear of the FR-tonearm pipe.
Do you notice that there is another pipe inside the outer (as original described by I. Ikeda) armwand?
This is usually called inside tapered......... can it be, that this is the reason why I still can't hear this internal ringing and the distortions described by the mexican authority on FR-tonearm ?
Well - I have so far only opened up, serviced, re-wired and put together into flawless action again about a dozen FR-60 tonearms - so I am not that much into the inner design of these specific tonearms as others.
But as this is now brought up by someone who is not - like me - half-deafed by a hearing which desperately longs for distortion, I feel free to guide some of your attention to this point.
This is done to re-establish the high regard a genuine designer like I. Ikeda deserves.
He has addressed issues other think they have discovered 20 years ahead of them.
However - I admit, that there are cartridges around which indeed do tease the ears with a sonic presentation which is anything but smooth, mellow or distortion free.
But in that case I would always look to geometry first -for good reason.....
Cheers,
D.