I just bought a TT, I guess I'm into vinyl now ? Update pics added !

jagtek · « **on:** 20 Apr 2012, 02:11 am »

Hello new friends,
I just purchased a pioneer pl 740 off craigslist today, it also came
with a cheap Art phono pre all for $30! Anyway I dont even have any
vinyl to play.(I'm shopping tommorow for some).
I do need some help though, the cartridge looks afully askew. I think It needs to
be set it up from the beginning. Where can I find this info ? It did not come
with a manual.
Thanks, David
Here's pics.....

barn fresh

pretty clean

after a wipedown

JerryM · « **Reply #1 on:** 20 Apr 2012, 02:28 am »

AVA's vinyl guy, Wayner, put together a very fine alignment system that's available in several iterations. AVA lists the system, and options, here.

Have fun,

Jerry

jagtek · « **Reply #2 on:** 20 Apr 2012, 02:36 am »

Thanks for the reply. I cant really afford $135 just to set up my $30 TT. I'm kinda looking
for a cheap redneck version

Thanks, David

JerryM · « **Reply #3 on:** 20 Apr 2012, 02:45 am »

Quote from: jagtek on 20 Apr 2012, 02:36 am

Thanks for the reply. I cant really afford $135 just to set up my $30 TT. I'm kinda looking
for a cheap redneck version
Thanks, David

The entire Grade A, All The Bells and Whistles system is only $55.00. The prices go downhill from there. You don't need each of them, only the one you feel you can do well with.

I like "cheap redneck". That's why I got into digital.

doug s. · « **Reply #4 on:** 20 Apr 2012, 04:19 am »

you can align your cartridge for free, w/what's awailable here:

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/freestuff.htm

doug s.

lokie · « **Reply #5 on:** 20 Apr 2012, 11:34 am »

Now you get to hang out with other rednecks at thrift stores and flea markets.

jagtek · « **Reply #6 on:** 20 Apr 2012, 12:43 pm »

Thanks Doug !
and LOL @ Lokie

orientalexpress · « **Reply #7 on:** 20 Apr 2012, 01:11 pm »

just Curious ,what a Redneck?

Lapsan

S Clark · « **Reply #8 on:** 20 Apr 2012, 01:27 pm »

Jagtech- you can most likely find a manual over at vinylengine.com. You just have to register.

Lapsan- Redneck is a tern originally describing farmers and others whose work in fields resulted in sunburns on the back of their necks. It changed to mean someone of lower class or lacking sophistication or education. In this usage, Jagtech is simply saying he want a simple, less sophisticated fix to his problem. A comedian named Jeff Foxworthy made a career from humour about rednecks. I'm sure you can find him on YouTube.

orientalexpress · « **Reply #9 on:** 20 Apr 2012, 02:09 pm »

Thank you

lapsan

jagtek · « **Reply #10 on:** 20 Apr 2012, 02:32 pm »

Ok, Im ready to align the cartridge.
I think the 2 point "stupid" protractor looks redneck enough.
Should I use the Baerwald one ?

neobop · « **Reply #11 on:** 20 Apr 2012, 05:48 pm »

It looks to me like it might already be aligned to Baerwald. Many similar vintage Japanese tables were designed for an alignment like Stevenson. It was popular to change the alignment and that required angling the cart like yours is. By all means check it. You have to make sure your protractor download is accurate by measuring the length on the scale provided. You might have to take the auto-sizing off the printer, or put it on landscape.

You might have to start playing a record and pull the plug in order to free the arm for alignment. On some of these tables the arm lift stays up unless you do that. It will require playing around with it to figure it out. If you go to the library at VE, they might have the manuals for it. Any way, you're going to be limited by the length of the headshell. I think alignment instructions are on there with the protractor. You'll have to move the protractor to get the needle centered on each grid.

For the next investment, you should consider a new stylus for your cartridge. Let us know how you make out.
neo

roscoeiii · « **Reply #12 on:** 20 Apr 2012, 06:02 pm »

Yeah, my first question would be the condition of the stylus.

What kind of cart do you have there? There are some quite nice carts that you can start off with out there. The first two that jump to mind are Audio-Technica AT95E and the Shure M97xE. Not sure about the AT95SE, but the M97xE can be nicely upgraded by changing to a JICO SAS stylus down the road. But you will enjoy the hell out of either of those carts with the stock stylus as well.

jagtek · « **Reply #13 on:** 20 Apr 2012, 08:38 pm »

Ok, so I went secondhan record store and purchased 2 lp's.
Came home, aligned the cart, set the tracking weight (no info so I started 1.5 grams ?)
I cleaned both albums with home made cleaning solution.

fired it up and the first album ,"the Police ,Ghost in the machine" had a big hump in it

like a speed bump. so every time it went over that part the cart would go airborne and skip backwards

On the the next album,"steely dan, Cant buy a thrill" This time it tracked ok.
The sound on the other hand was horrible ! The output was low, even with the preamp gain
all the way up, and all settings checked, also there was no lower end, like no bass, or mid bass for
that matter. I think the cart/needle is screwed. It even looks kinda nasty.

Do these symptoms sound like a bad cart to you guys ?

Wayner · « **Reply #14 on:** 20 Apr 2012, 09:02 pm »

Your alignment is totally hosed up from the photo. You are supposed to line up the front end of the cartridge with the grids on the alignment tool. Your cartridge also looks F'd up.

So me thinks you need a new one. Then do a better alignment job, then consider a better phono preamp.

The road to vinyl bliss is not an easy one for newbies, but you can do it, we will help. You need to get some things in order first. New cartridge being first.

Wayner

jagtek · « **Reply #15 on:** 20 Apr 2012, 09:39 pm »

That pic was from before I aligned it.
I read the instructions and saw a video, I know its good.

just disregaurd that pic,thats how I got it.

I just put some headphones up for sale or trade.
I think id like to start with a known good cartridge.

SET Man · « **Reply #16 on:** 21 Apr 2012, 03:15 am »

Hey!

Congratulation on your new TT.

Be patient it will take some doing when is come to turntable but once set up right you will rewarded with great analog sound (assuming the LP was cut from analog tape)

TT set up tools are essential. Not sure where you are but there might be an AC member that could help you out. If you are in NYC I can help you with the set up for sure.

Anyway, if you do need a new cart on a cheap to get you start with than I can highly recommended you this..

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=100156.0

Also, available on Amazon with free shipping too.

Well, good luck.

Take care,
Buddy

jagtek · « **Reply #17 on:** 22 Apr 2012, 01:09 am »

Thanks for the reply Set man. Last night on impulse I Purchased one of these ..

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-technica-AT-92ECD-Phono-Cartridge/dp/B00006HO3L

That one you recomended looks much nicer for $30

Shoulda waited LOL.
Oh well if this works, I might step up the whole rig ? Who knows.

Oh, I also need help again. my counterweight spins freely on the tonearm, and can be pulled off
easily. is there any way to shim or make the inner diameter of the counter weight smaller ?

Thanks again. David

SET Man · « **Reply #18 on:** 22 Apr 2012, 03:40 am »

Quote from: jagtek on 22 Apr 2012, 01:09 am

Thanks for the reply Set man. Last night on impulse I Purchased one of these ..

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-technica-AT-92ECD-Phono-Cartridge/dp/B00006HO3L

That one you recomended looks much nicer for $30 Shoulda waited LOL.
Oh well if this works, I might step up the whole rig ? Who knows.

Oh, I also need help again. my counterweight spins freely on the tonearm, and can be pulled off
easily. is there any way to shim or make the inner diameter of the counter weight smaller ?

Thanks again. David

Hey!

I see... that is a universal mount cart. Pretty much a P-mount with adapter for standard mount. Universal mount carts when use with standard mount tonearm are not as solid because of the adapter.

That will work with you TT now. Just play around with it for now to get started. Believe me it is better to practice mounting cheap cart like that first than with more expensive one... well I'm sure you know what I mean

When you get a hang of setting up TT and going to use TT as part of you music system than you can move up to better and of course more $$$$ stuff

As for the counterweight... I know some TT like those have counterweight that is easy to turn and move around, but as long as it will stay still in place after adjustment and during and after use than it shouldn't be a problem.

Well, good luck and have fun, go pickup some used LPs clean them up and give them a spin.

Take care,
Buddy

neobop · « **Reply #19 on:** 22 Apr 2012, 10:40 am »

I took a peek in the VE library and there's no manual for the 740. However, there is a manual for the 640 which looks the same as yours. I didn't download the manual, but it might be helpful in adjusting the arm. That silver colored piece on the barrel of the arm could be for adjusting the mass or tracking force. If there is no set screw to hold the counterweight in place, maybe you could use a bit of tack or modeling clay and use the weight on the arm to fine tune? If that silver piece is movable, you'd probably want it as close to the pivots as possible for the AT-92E.