Aftermarket Overhang Gauge... no brainer?

[jkilla]

I found the following on *bay

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Overhang-Gauge-A ... d=ViewItem

for my Pioneer PL-112d, should I pull the trigger? Or is there an easy, costless method of doing my overhang measurement? This is my first non P-mount table

[josephazannieri]

Yo jkilla:

You can buy this tool, or you can use a T-square and measure 49 mm from the back of the rubber gasket on the headshell, and get the same result. That's the easiest. You can also use one of the alignment protractors that are available on this website to set the alignment of the cartridge, entirely apart from the specification given by turntable manufacturer. Using an alignment protractor may result in a different overhang than the overhang specified by the gauge or the t-square.

The T-squares and the alignment protractors are free, which is less than the overhang gauge costs. You may find that alignment protractor gives a better result. But the alignment protractors are more complicated and you will have to do some reading on the differences between Baerwald, Lofgren and Stevenson alignments to see which one is best for your particular arm and the particular records you play.

And good luck from that cheap old guy,

Joe Z.

[dlaloum]

Me I am really lazy! - Do I have measurement tools with which to adjust cartridge position - yes.

But the overhang gauge allows me to do the job in seconds, where the manual measurement method takes quite a lot more time.

If you want to make life easy - or expect to be experimenting with cartridges frequently, get the gauge!!

[Ldg]

I've got the whole thing down to a piece of card with 7mm spindle hole, and two straight lines. One line to be set exactly between the spindle hole and pivot, extending beyond the spindle hole somewhat. Another line to make the tracking offset angle with the first line, and crossing the first line exactly at the overhang distance beyond the spindle hole. Set the stylus exactly on the intersection, and align cartridge so that the second line exactly passes along the centre of the cartridge/cantilever. With the first line lined up between spindle and pivot.

I think this is so straightforward, cheap, quick, flexible and produces good results. No gauge required !

[dlaloum]

Lots of ways to skin this cat!

[jkilla]

I know Pioneer S-Tonearms should overhang 49mm, but from where? I've heard to measure from the rubber ring at the headshell connection point, but with my headshell + cart combination, I measure 54+ mm from the rubber ring, and it's already dialed as far back as it can go!! It measures 49mm exactly from the beginning of the headshell

[Alec124c41]

If in doubt, use one of the alignment protractors under Tools, at the top.

Cheers,
Alec

[Ldg]

Yes, alec is right. If in doubt, print and use one of the reference protractors above.

Strictly, the term 'overhang' is the distance between stylus and spindle, on the extended line between spindle and pivot. When dimensions as big as '49mm' crop up, it must mean something else, referenced to a part of the arm or headshell. But that seems open to all manner of interpretation and variance. And the meaning of 'overhang' then seems ambiguous, and beyond the strict definition.

[Jackd]

jkilla

Look at photo #3 in the ebay ad from the link it will show you where to measure the 49mm from to the stylus tip.

[jkilla]

jkilla

Look at photo #3 in the ebay ad from the link it will show you where to measure the 49mm from to the stylus tip.

Thanks Jackd,

well this does confirm the fact that my cartridge+headshell combination cannot go further back. This is a bit disappointing, but it doesn't look like I have any options at this point

[Jackd]

Msy just require a new headshell with longer slots. The "Technics" headshells and copies have shorter slots as they were only concerned about a 52mm distance. Some of the generic headshells have longer slots, plus they may be positioned farther back. My JVC'a uae 48mm and that is next to impossible with many cartridges in that type of headshell

[josephazannieri]

Yo jkilla and other overhangers:

There is a possible option. You may be able to use a Dremel tool or a small grinding shaft or router bit and simply expand the slots toward the headshell plug and make it fit. You may have to clamp a straightedge on the top of headshell to keep the Moto-Tool from shifting sideways. Our South Africal friend Blue Angel might have some ideas to make a slot like this happen, You might even be able to use the side of a drill to make the hole expand sideways.

And good luck from that shifty old guy,

Joe Z.

[kelvinMunson]

No cutting edge on the side of a drill; it cuts with the tip. A suitable router might do the job.

[jkilla]

hey gang, looks like I'm a knob. I was measuring incorrectly. if I dial it ALL the way back in my Stanton (technics clone) headshell, it does read 49. I was reading to the front of the needle body and not the tip of the stylus. duhhhh


Things sound fantastic now. Getting the overhang correctly makes a noticeble difference! Thanks all