They laughed until the DIY retips started to play

by **Paladin** » 20 Nov 2009 08:57

Bravo! Why spend anymore then you have to? Tell all your friends to give you their broken cartridges. Now go out and hug your cactus!

by **bakelite2** » 20 Nov 2009 09:07

We're tough here downunder and we run around without shirts on so hugging my cactus will be no problem for this Aussie .
Will, do I get some sort of name tag identifying me as a member of the "Retippers Club" and will any special offers be afforded to me like getting other members broken carts. The president of the club (you) is not eligable to receive any donations and I think I am next in line.
Settled on 1.5 gms for the time being as 1.2 was a tad light.

by **Paladin** » 20 Nov 2009 09:14

How would you like the number SP12A? No reward for the weary- just send me the broken cartridges that should be thrown in the trash. I'll recycle them for you.

by **1200y3** » 20 Nov 2009 13:00

When setting VTA/SRA I ensure the arm is perfectly level and parallel. Then I have to ensure the stylus point is perfectly vertical by making the flat top (if it has one) perfectly parallel with the record. To bend the tip of the stylus it is very simple. Form a tiny wedge from a toothpick or anything that will rest on the stylus block (knob) and just press the tip against it and you can flatten it to the correct angle. When done correctly it is unbelievably perfect. Or build a VTA/SRA setting jig that rests in front of the cartridge on the table, with an extension (ramp) reaching between the stylus and housing.

The cartridge's sound can be smoothed out with damping material.

by **bakelite2** » 20 Nov 2009 15:16

Nice tip about the toothpick. Once I mount the cartridge on my main arm I will re-set the VTA and see if I need to go down that path with it. Hopefully I will be able to get the stylus pretty well vertical. More on it next week.

by **1200y3** » 20 Nov 2009 15:46

I suggest practice with low priced styli. Line contacts are slightly different. The stylus has to track a bit of an arc. But without infinite compliance a lower stylus bar angle is better. If the stylus bar angle is at the manufcturer's setting, then the tip angle may need vertical alignment.

by **Paladin** » 20 Nov 2009 16:16

1200y3, great tip (and bad pun.) Thanks.

by **Paladin** » 22 Nov 2009 02:17

Ever seen a cactus thorn up close? Looks almost like an icicle.

by **bakelite2** » 22 Nov 2009 02:54

Will I was wondering how beaugonvillea thorns would work. I am planning on jumping the back fence and grabbing a hand full to try. The property is vacant but I have had a knee replacement and am not keen on testing the knee out by jumping over a 6' fence.
I certainly would not have picked those to be cactus thorns, as you say they look like icicles.

by **Paladin** » 22 Nov 2009 03:16

Slick looking, eh?

In the future, how many audiophiles are going to ‘jump fence?’ I do have orange and rose trees around my place. The thorns could work when they are dried out but I think the cactus is just right- ready to pick and use. They are extremely thin and very, very, rigid.

I have a couple of flower stores down the street with plenty of cacti. You might give your local trees a shot since you know what the cactus thorn will do.

What do you think?

by **bakelite2** » 22 Nov 2009 04:05

Very slick looking. I don't have to many cacti to play with here in Western Australia as they are not very popular amongst locals. As for Beauganvilleas they are all over the place. My cacti is just a tad thin so I have to look for something slightly thicker and believe me I will be looking as I drive around. It's not something that I will need lots of but about a dozen thorns will come in handy.
I tried to attach the B&O SP12 to my DIY headshells last night but they were to tight a fit so I will have to make another one this week to accommodate the longer cartridge. What a bummer

by **Paladin** » 24 Nov 2009 15:36

Keep me updated on your adventures.

by **bakelite2** » 25 Nov 2009 02:33

I will certainly keep you updated with my progress on this B&O as I have built another headshell to take this cartridge. Depending how it sounds I may have to go for a better stylus which will be an easy mod.
Listening to a moving coil Fidelity Research FR-1 Mk3 cartridge at the moment and enjoying every note that it is creating so once I calm down I will mount the B&O and get back to you.
Joe

by **Paladin** » 25 Nov 2009 14:28

I forgot to ask; did you use glue and Future Floor Polish to bind the splint?

They laughed until the DIY retips started to play

VTA/SRA

DIY re-tip