2. analog
  3. 1072798218

I'm scratching my records

After carefully setting the stylus pressure using a scale (to the lower end of the Lyra Helikon's recommended setting) on my JMW 12.5, the needle will 'skate' when initially placed on the lead-in groove until it 'hits' the music tracks and makes a horrible and damaging sound...(Now my Norah Jones LP has a minutes worth of 'tic-tic-tic-tic' :(

Is my stylus pressure too low, or too high?

Not all records do this, maybe 30%, and if I'm careful to get the stylus very near the music start and away from the edge as much as possible it helps.

Suggestions, comments, criticism??? All appreciated.

Damn, this analog is hard!

John
Atlanta, GA
jbatlanta
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Nice post Zaikesman, excellent advice. Considerable physical involvement is necessary to play LP's properly anyway. Why not cue manually?

I'd forgotten that a JMW lacks any real antiskate mechanism. If his wires aren't twisted (or worse, if they're twisted the wrong direction) the lateral acceleration on that downslope will be even faster.

Happy New Year to all!
reb1208
518 posts
 
Get the new Wally anti-skate kit for the VPI arm.
jbatlanta OP
97 posts
 
Thank you for the suggestions. I have found that my tracking force was only 1.5G, this for a Lyra Helikon that recommends 1.6 to 1.75G! So, I have now upped the force to 1.7G and the stylus seems to stay put better. Also, the distortion I was hearing during very loud passages is gone...(I suspected the force was too low, but hadn't had the time to adjust it)

Well, today I have the time...am watching football with the sound off, and the stereo on (turntable of course), in front of the fireplace...aaaaaaah!

My only hassle is from two cats giving me dirty looks as evidently my music is interfering with their nap time!

I'll put something more restful on, I guess. :)
chazzbo
1,007 posts
 
anybody know when Wally is shipping new skate?Any idea how much?
Chazzbo
chazzbo
1,007 posts
 
Actaually I spoke with Wally a few days ago and had so many questions all over the place I forgot to ask what his anti skate would go fo.But he did say that he heard that VPI was issuing it's own anti skate but he thought his would perform better.He than said while he thinks VPI puts out a great product he was in the anti skate is manadatory camp sonically and to protect stylus and LP's.Anybody out there used his VPI tuning kit?
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