bent stylus...

[mickb69]

Hi guys, Mick here.

My turntable is a thorens td 166 mk vi, with rega rb 250 tonearm.

After I bought it (my first "proper" turntable) and I found the stylus was knackered, I decided to buy a brand new audio technica at 95 cartridge and stylus.
I examined it before fitting, and it was sound.
I fitted it with the stylus cover on to protect the needle,
Balanced the arm with the stylus cover off so as not to compromise tracking weight.
I fitted like a surgeon, super delicate and careful, and have always operated the hi fi with obsessive care and attention.
I used the BaerWald method, checked the scale of the print off too.
Anyways, not long after installing said cartridge and stylus, I noticed that the stylus is bent considerably to the right (as you look at it face on).

Does anyone have any idea what could cause this please?
Tracking force and anti skate are set as advised by the manufacturer.

[Fishtails]

It does seem like a tracking issue. When the record is playing do you notice the stylus drag to the right at all?

[mickb69]

Not sure, I'll have a closer look, although I'm pretty sure it's quite steady and not obviously being dragged off, it's quite rigid in it's place

One thing I was pondering, on the at cartridge,
At the end of the actual stylus itself, the stylus housing slopes up and out where it snugly meets the cartridge,and when I was aligning the cartridge I was looking directly down at the alignment protracter for exact-ness, so that the edge of the cartridge, not the stylus, lined up with the Baerwald protractor lines, and I'm wondering if that was correct?

[mickb69]

The stylus is permanently bent, even when sat on it's arm rest, not just when on a turning record

[Fishtails]

I think it's time to post a picture

[mickb69]

Ha ha, ok, I will do, I'll sort it out in a bit.
Cheers

[mickb69]

righto, i have some pic's, but the face on ones don't really do the problem justice and also ar'nt very clear, and the ones showing the baerwald gauge are lined up, but the picture shows them slightly off to the side as if the line that runs down the middle of the headshell is off, but it was'nt.

[Fishtails]

Hi

Thanks for posting the pictures.

Here is what i would do.

1: buy another cheap cartridge and stylus. Maybe the cheapest audio technica one you can get.Or i guess you could get a replacement stylus for the existing cartridge, but i tend to like to test different cartridges as a process of elimination.

2: install the new one and take a photo of it before using to make sure it is all straight etc.

3: play a few records and take a photo of the cartridge while playing.

4: check the new stylus for the same issue.


If you have the same issue it is something to do with the turntable. Probably anti skate set too high.

If there is no problem with the new stylus one you know it is a problem with the old one.

Best to figure this out first before doing anything.

Hope this helps!!

[Alec124c41]

If the anti-skate were too high, the stylus would lean the other way. That's why it's odd.

Cheers,
Alec

[markcass]

Hi

I'd say it's definitely the stylus, not the anti-skate, as the stylus is very obviously slanting to the right with the arm in its rest.

HTH

Mark

[Corbin Gross]

You know, I had a similar problem with my Red Eds bending similarly but to the left. They seemed to get slanty right about when they were done breaking in. I think ultimately it was an issue of the table not being perfectly level. It was off by maybe 1-2 degrees, and when I fixed that the stylus that was on there actually straightened it self out after a few more hours of use.

[mickb69]

You know, I had a similar problem with my Red Eds bending similarly but to the left. They seemed to get slanty right about when they were done breaking in. I think ultimately it was an issue of the table not being perfectly level. It was off by maybe 1-2 degrees, and when I fixed that the stylus that was on there actually straightened it self out after a few more hours of use.

Ah, that could be it, it is very possible I have overlooked the importance of this factor, I'll investigate further., a lesson learned methinks...

Cheers everyone

[vexorgtr]

Years ago I had a Shure V15VxMR that came out of the box with a wonky stylus. I had to do some whining, but it got replaced. I still have the V15VxMR and it's still alive and making music. Sometimes stupid stuff just slips past QC. The bad one rode at a slight angle and did not give equal volume from each channel within spec.

Easiest way to get your way it to find the MFG specs and find out if it's within spec. Not within spec and still in warranty, REPLACED BY MFG.