AVA Longhorn mod

sunshine · « **on:** 22 Feb 2009, 07:29 pm »

I know some of you have done your own Grado "longhorn' mod, but is there anyone doing the mods since Frank stopped. I understand the mod and what is being done but I don't see how I can be certain that the stabilizer bar is exactly the same length on each side of the cartridge nor that the weight is the same left to right either. And that the bar is perfectly level with the cartridge body. Surely Frank did not just eyeball this and guestimate the weight balance? It would seem that since a cartridge and its setup are so delicate then these items should be rather precise.

JerryM · « **Reply #1 on:** 22 Feb 2009, 07:48 pm »

Sunshine,

Frank published how to do the Longhorn mod in this Audio Basics. It starts in Volume Four and continues in Volume Five. Check at about page 8.

Have fun,
Jerry

Wayner · « **Reply #2 on:** 22 Feb 2009, 07:50 pm »

Go to the Audio Basics section on Frank's website. It's in the April of '82.

Wayner

ohenry · « **Reply #3 on:** 22 Feb 2009, 08:03 pm »

Keep in mind that the big picture is to simply add mass to the front of the cartridge and being reasonably close to perfect is good enough to reap benefits.

I would imagine that Frank and others did "eyeball" the installation, as I did. Give it a shot, you'll be happy.

sunshine · « **Reply #4 on:** 23 Feb 2009, 01:14 pm »

I am interested in the mod; just was not particularly wanting to try it myself. Guess I need to go back and reread the info from AVA one more time and maybe make a stab at it.

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #5 on:** 23 Feb 2009, 02:13 pm »

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=24666.0

Additional information in this topic....look for Frank's posts, in particular. He gives a bit additional information over and above Audio Basics 1982 there.

John

avahifi · « **Reply #6 on:** 23 Feb 2009, 06:17 pm »

The object is NOT to just add mass at the front end of the cartridge. The object was to add mass carefully at the ends of the bar in able to provide a high polar moment of inertia to the cartridge body (to resist the twisting input from the 45 degree - 45 degree input from the record grooves into the stylus assembly). It is mass management not just the addition of raw mass. The brass U-channel is lead filled at the end. Use the same length of solder on each end although you don't need to measure down to the nearest atom. Burnish the assembly with fine sandpaper for a shiny bright finish, knotch the bar for a press fit from the Grado body, and glue it in place. Then pack the remaining inside of the bar with plasti-clay for further anti-resonant control. The result is significantly better bass performance, dynamic range, stereo imaging, and trackability. All for free.

It even works better than the $1000 interconnect cable from the turntable to the preamp.

If you can't come up with the 1000 centistroke liquid silicon we use for damping the stylus pivot, coils, and tone arm bearings, just send me a tiny absolutely leakproof bottle and $5.00 for my handling and return shipping costs and I will supply the "snake oil" for you.

Best regards,

Frank Van Alstine