AudioCircle

Audio/Video Gear and Systems => The Vinyl Circle => Topic started by: rcag_ils on 11 Jul 2010, 09:59 am

Title: Grado lab wood tonearm
Post by: rcag_ils on 11 Jul 2010, 09:59 am

If anyone could provide some info on a Grado lab wood tonearm, I'd appreciate it. I bought a NOS one that's never been mounted. It will go on my Rek-O-Kut L-34.

Thanks in advance

Title: Re: Grado lab wood tonearm
Post by: Wayner on 11 Jul 2010, 11:32 am

Is this the one?

 (http://www.vinylengine.com/images/model/grado_micro-control.jpg)

Wayner

Title: Re: Grado lab wood tonearm
Post by: rcag_ils on 11 Jul 2010, 09:47 pm

Can't see what it is, but probably not I bought it locally.

Title: Re: Grado lab wood tonearm
Post by: Wayner on 12 Jul 2010, 11:57 am

I'm asking if this is the model, not the exact one  :duh: , Grado has 2 different wood tonearms.

Wayner  :D

Title: Re: Grado lab wood tonearm
Post by: eclein on 12 Jul 2010, 12:13 pm

Wayner-the picture you posted doesn't seem to be showing, its like the link is broken or something.

Title: Re: Grado lab wood tonearm
Post by: rcag_ils on 12 Jul 2010, 02:13 pm

since I can't see the picture, so it's the Grado Laboratory series, not the micro control.

Title: Re: Grado lab wood tonearm
Post by: Jeff K on 12 Jul 2010, 04:49 pm

I had one on a Lab Series TT in the seventies. Though it was long since discontinued even then, Grado sent me a copy of the manual for free. Who knows, maybe they still can. It might be worth a shot.

The arm was massive. You'll have to go low compliance on the cart.

Wish I hadn't sold it.  :(

Title: Better yet
Post by: Jeff K on 12 Jul 2010, 04:52 pm

It's on Vinyl Engine.

http://www.vinylengine.com/library/grado/laboratory-series.shtml (http://www.vinylengine.com/library/grado/laboratory-series.shtml)

Title: Re: Grado lab wood tonearm
Post by: Wayner on 12 Jul 2010, 06:52 pm

I doesn't show? I see it, and got it from the internet. I'll try a different photo.

I know what I did, it was from the vinylengine and it's password protected!  :duh:

Sorry.

I'll try again.

Wayner

Title: Re: Grado lab wood tonearm
Post by: Wayner on 12 Jul 2010, 06:54 pm

Can everyone see this one?

 (http://www.antique-audio.com/php/file8/data/grado1.gif)

W

Title: Re: Grado lab wood tonearm
Post by: ebag4 on 12 Jul 2010, 07:18 pm

That one comes up Wayner.  I couldn't see the first one initially, so I copied the link from the properties of the missing pic, once I saw it on the other website I could see it here as well.


Best,
Ed

Title: Re: Grado lab wood tonearm
Post by: eclein on 12 Jul 2010, 07:43 pm

Yep...looks good. I didn't know they made wood tonearms...learn something everyday.

Title: Re: Grado lab wood tonearm
Post by: rcag_ils on 13 Jul 2010, 12:55 am

Nope, mine doesn't look like this, the headshell looks almost identical. The pivot is different, and mine has a counterweight in the rear, and a tracking force weight on the side by the pivot. The one in the picture looks like NOS as well, very clean, it looks like a Micro.

I am looking for inputs like how this type of tonearm sound, is wood better, the history behind it, who designed it that sort of things. I've heard this type of Grado wood tonearms were hot items at one time.

Title: Re: Grado lab wood tonearm
Post by: Jeff K on 13 Jul 2010, 03:41 am

The one I referenced and provided a link to on V.E. is yours.

I used mine with an Empire 2000eIII at the time. It worked, but was probably too compliant. It came mounted on a Grado Lab Series tt which had two synchronous motors driving a heavy flywheel via a belt under the suspensionless plinth.

I think it was a sixties design. 1962 in fact. That's all I know.

Here's an AK thread and some pics.http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=222993 (http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=222993)