[TheChairGuy]

Matt/gooberdude,

I sent it out on Friday morning to you...to arrive on Wednesday or so in Chitown. 

L2t, PM Matt to get on the list from there.  If goober isn't cutting them up himself for everyone, you'd be after woodsyi in No. VA to receive it (unless someone has contacted gooberMatt in the meantime)

[Wayner]

O.K., now I want some.

W

[gooberdude]

hey guys, the chunk of Moca wood arrived yesterday...thanks TCG!!!

I'll get a few slices done this weekend, if not earlier.    I have one request for a 1/4" thick slice, does anyone else have a specific thickness they'd like?     For my TT, i'm thinking the thinner the better so initially i'll take a 1/8" slice for myself and then make cuts for those who have contacted me.   The chunk looks to be about 1.5" wide.

if anyone else wants a slice or wants the chunk next just PM me.   

Matt

[TheChairGuy]

1/8" might be too thin to make much a difference.  The smallest I could cut cleanly with my hand blade was about 3/16".  1/4" might be perfect....but you need a lot of VTA adjustment for many cartridges. 

Anyhow, enjoy guys.  I STILL haven't used my chunks...I'll have to someday soon.

[gooberdude]

Hey guys,

sorry i've been awol on this project.   I finally had the time to play with this wood yesterday, thanks TCG & Pyscyhanimal.
 
I cut a 3/4" wide x 3/4" long x 1" thick piece with a handsaw and table mounted vice grip, not a problem.
a 1/4" slice is possible, but not much thinner with a hand saw.   i haven't mounted it though.

If you guys would like a chunk of this rather than a slice, let me know.  i think there's enough for 2 indiv 3/4" x 3/4" x 1" pieces for those who contacted me earlier.   this'll make 8 Isolators if they are all 1/4" - enough for an army.      might be fun to tinker with multiple thicknesses.

it has a cool tone just tapping the block with my fingernail.  its not dead whatsoever.
interesting grain too.

Psychicanimal, is this air dried or kiln dried??

shoot me a PM or Reply...i'll get it out in the next few days.

TCG, have you had time to mount this stuff??


matt

[TheChairGuy]

Nope, haven't mounted one yet.  Need a shortie cartridge to do it as I don't have VTA adjustment

[Psychicanimal]

it has a cool tone just tapping the block with my fingernail.  its not dead whatsoever.
interesting grain too.

Psychicanimal, is this air dried or kiln dried??

That wood has been air dried for more than four years.  It is old growth heartwood, which is extremely hard to get.

That "cool" tone is what sets Moca apart from other woods like Ebony or Maple.  That "interesting grain" is what makes resonanses dissipate. The grain has big interspersed pores.  I think that has to do with its anti resonance properties.  If John could post the pictures of the cartridge body Uwe made you'd see it in great detail.

***

[Derockster]

Hi guys can i have some.I'm in sunny Barbados.regards Derockster aa

[TheChairGuy]

PA,

Not sure my 4.0 megapixel camera will show it off well...closeups are not it's strong suit.

[Psychicanimal]

PA,

Not sure my 4.0 megapixel camera will show it off well...closeups are not it's strong suit.

I have the pictures...

[gooberdude]

Gey guys,


I PROMISE to get the wood out today or tomorrow.  Spent the better part of Saturday in our wood shop.

Everyone on the list will get 4 different Isolators to play with (i had to sweeten the deal!)

Derockster, if you want in please PM me your address in Barbados (and send me some rum!)


2 of the isolators will be chunks of Pysichanimal's Moca Wood, just cut 2 difft ways to try out an isolator with the grain going difft directions...Somewhere i read this can matter.

1 of the Isolators will be a 1/4" pice of Oak.  A while back i ordered samples of real wood blinds, so i made good use of those samples.  best part is both sides are perfectly flat.

The 4th isolator is actually a piece of a good friends 'Save the Date' wedding invitation.  It was printed on a 1mm thick piece of wood veneer.   So far, this is the only isolator i've used...and against my better judgement I think it sounds good.   I'm really of the camp that thinks direct contact betw the cart and arm are best...trying to prove myself wrong!    TCG, if this 1mm thick Isolator will work with your VTA hinderence, please send me your address.

Everyone will receive at least 2 chunks of the Moca wood (to make 3-5 indiv isolators), plus idiv Isolators of the Oak and the wedding invite.    I will send out indiv Isolators of the Moca Wood to those who indicated they just want one piece, but be advised some sanding might be needed to get all the surfaces flat.   Tough to do with such small pieces of wood. 

Most folks will be receiving a cool package that will keep U busy for some time...


matt

[Psychicanimal]

Everyone on the list will get 4 different Isolators to play with (i had to sweeten the deal!)

I just hope you labeled the different woods!

[gooberdude]

Yup!    most will arrive in separate baggies too 


Each of the types looks difft from one another also...


thanks again for providing the wood PA... 

[TheChairGuy]

The 4th isolator is actually a piece of a good friends 'Save the Date' wedding invitation.  It was printed on a 1mm thick piece of wood veneer.   So far, this is the only isolator i've used...and against my better judgement I think it sounds good.   I'm really of the camp that thinks direct contact betw the cart and arm are best...trying to prove myself wrong!    TCG, if this 1mm thick Isolator will work with your VTA hinderence, please send me your address

GooberMatt,

Thanks for the offer, but I think you have more than enough to get out to folks in Moca-lators now.  Take care of the folks that have VTA adjustment.

I wasn't in any particular 'camp' of either directly adhere to headshell or isolator in between....but the Plast-i-Lator I made up helped the Grado just a little bit better than directly adhering to the headshell from the cartridge body. It'll be interesting to hear your tweeky thoughts on the subject.

John / TCG

[Listens2tubes]

This should be interesting, I will be very interested in the results and how they compare with others findings. 

[Psychicanimal]

You know,

If I would have sold them pieces for $50 you guys would have payed me and installed them by now.

But they were free...

[Listens2tubes]

He's right! Ugh! I have been waiting for the Van Den Hul gold plated copper cartridge tags to arrive from their N American distributor for months. I will then mount the Rega RB250 with Cardas tonearm wire from tags to Copper Bullets to the Petter Riggle VTAF modded armboard allowing for the necessary VTA adjustments. I luckily found the correct thread size screws in longer length for the Karat 17D2 Mk II. I guess my point is, adding an eighth to a quarter of an inch between cart and headshell is a complicated business and takes time to assemble everything that's needed. I'm sure the effort will be worth it!