[CButterworth]

The flyer in my new Rega P2 gives some basic instructions on how to set the tracking weight.

Basically, the idea is to set the weight until the needle hovers 1mm above the record.

BUT, when I try to do this, the needle simply skips across the record, ending up in the tonearm rest.

I tried altering the leveling of the plinth, but to no avail.  Could the tonearm support be designed to have so little friction?

In the end, I sort of managed something.  I adjusted the weight to the point at which the needle just begins to skip across the record, then added 1g tracking force.  Then I adjusted the bias to match the 1g.

Have other folk experienced this?

Charlie

[eric the red]

Do you have the plinth perfectly level? I found that my P3 needs to be almost perfectly level in order to not have happen what you are describing.

[CButterworth]

Eric,

I expect that the turntable is not exactly level.  I simply mounted a couple of sturdy brackets to the wall and screwed down two 8 inch wide melamine shelves to give a 16 inch shelf.  I did notice that one of the shelves (cheap from Home Depot) is slightly warped.

When I get back home, I'll screw and glue the slightly warped shelf to give as level a surface as possible.  After that, I'll have to use paper or cardboard rounds under the Rega feet to bring it to accurate level.

Thanks,
Charlie

[eric the red]

I built a wall shelf pretty much the same way out of some really sturdy Stanley brackets from Walmart. I ended up having to add shims between the shelf and the brackets to get everything level plus the squishy Rega feet aren't exactly Nasa tolerence as far as height goes. I used a maple cutting board for the shelf.

[Wayner]

If I'm reading you right, you've only completed step 1 of setting up your cartridge tracking weight. Step 1 is to get your arm to zero balance. Rega recommends that the arm float about 1 MM above the surface. The arm should hang in mid air when it is zero balanced. If you touch it up or down and it returns to this position, it is now Zero Balanced. Now you add the weight by dialing in the amount of tracking force you want. If you want 1.5 grams, (hopefully you have a scale) you can add the weight to the cartridge from the zero balance point, giving it it's proprer tracking force. The reason for zero balancing is that Rega has no idea what cartridge you are going to install and zero balancing will make all cartridge/arm combinations start with zero weight. Hence the floating arm.

You were only have done. You will be moving the counterweight forward to add more weight. Does the Rega counterweight have markings on it for gram force? Don't forget to set anti-skating after the tracking force is set.

W

[eric the red]

I'd also suggest purchasing the $20.00 Shure stylus pressure gauge. The stock Rega counterweight to me seems like a lot of guesswork. The Shure gauge has a small V in it that holds the stylus in place while you are adjusting the tracking force. Plus there's less danger of ruining your $380.00 Dynavector 10x5 mc cartridge while doing so