JMW 10.5 tone arm

[khenegar]

I have purchsed a VPI classic 1 turntable and i am having a problem gettng the damping to work with my 10.5 arm, can anyone tell if when you take the arm off and look underneath is there something like a paddle there to go into the damping fluid or how do they do it? i have nothing there and i cannot get the arm to touch the fluid. the well for the fluid is all the way full you should start out only half full or 3/4. thanks

[Tedrick]

Have you tried without the fluid? Its use is optional, and from what I understand, unless you're using a cartridge that is a large compliance mismatch with the 'arm you really don't need to use the damping fluid. I have two VPI's with versions of the JMW 10.5 arm (including a Classic), and thus far have felt no compelling need to use the fluid.

[khenegar]

first thank you for answering my question, i am using a Shure V15 type lll with an Ed Saunders stylus. I was told to use a little damping with it so i tried with no success i cannot get the arm to touch the fluid no matter how much i put in. Called VPI they mentioned the set screw on top of the arm to turn counter clock wise to lower the arm that it was to high to hit the fluid i did this and it still would not touch the fluid no matter how much i lowered it it would not go into the damping fluid. i lowered it so much the arm wouldn't move still no luck do i have something missing? can you give me any advise on what might be happening? my truntable is the VPI Classic 1 with a SDS ac controller. thanks

[Tedrick]

I'll try to pull my Classic 'arm this evening and have a look underneath. I'll let you know what I find.

[Tedrick]

Checked both of my VPI 'arms, and there is no paddle, and not really any room for one. It looks to me like the fluid forms a layer or film between the walls of the fluid cup and the lower part of the arm housing where the needle pivot fits, and the viscosity of the fluid in the gap is what dampens the tonearm.

[khenegar]

tedrick: thank you very much for doing this for me i have come to the same conclusion, as matter of fact i got it to work and was using damping for the shure type lll and it mistrack so bad i had to take allot of it out in order for it to track correctly.. thanks again

[Ottermel]

If you need more input, why don't you call or email Harry Weisfeld at VPI?