Why is the price of new tonearms so high


Im wondering why the price of new tonearms are so high, around $12k to $15k when older very good arms can be bought at half or less?
perrew
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.
Perrew
that pic is rather misleading.
There would **always** be a counterweight, never not spring only... at least I've not come across a spring only arm.
(Can't see how this even could be made to work.)

To make my point look at: http://www.zenn.com.sg/FR64as.JPG

Cheers,
Axel
Dear Axel, of course - you need the counterweight to balance the tonearm.
Now we have the state of balanced.
Dynamically balanced means ............. no, I think this belongs to someone else to clarify.
My knowledge is too limited - we have other experts on theoretical physical details in tonearm design.
Cheers,
D.
Hey D.
it was our dear friend: Perrew, asking that CW related question, by (I guess) looking at a dismantled arm pic sans CW, OK :-)