Spider27 Posted September 24, 2019 Posted September 24, 2019 I personally have not tried 12" tonearm and found that most of 12" tonearm is quite expensive (over $1K minimum). I am thinking to delving into custom TT based on Lenco Idler driver TT with 12" tonearm. Obviously I do not have skill or equipment to make custom plinth so might have to purchase one available on eBay. However, keen to give a go building simple yet good performing 12" DIY unipivot tonearm. Does anyone know any DIY tonearm that works well and not too expensive or too hard to make? So far, I found Nanook 219 tonearm which is DIY and looks not too difficult to make and maker claims that it is performing as good as his SME 309 tonearm. Love to see what SNAers do make their own tonearm and get inspired by...
aussievintage Posted September 24, 2019 Posted September 24, 2019 I am surprised you think you can't build your own plinth, but want to try your own tonearm. I would say a plinth is much easier The only thing I would be careful of is that longer tonearms often end up heavy, so watch effective mass and the suitability to the cartridge(s) you have in mind. 1
Spider27 Posted September 24, 2019 Author Posted September 24, 2019 Yes, I might be wrong.. When I saw custom plinth made on internet, it looks complicated (all those in & out cuts) and it is not a huge cost comparing with tonearm to purchase. On the other hand, here is the Nanook 219 tonearm. I believe that there is more to it than it looks...
Decky Posted September 24, 2019 Posted September 24, 2019 http://www.karmadon.net/shop/viscous-damped-unipivot-tonearm-12/ 1
Gryffles Posted September 24, 2019 Posted September 24, 2019 http://temaadaudio.biz/pre-amps-and-amps.php 2
Spider27 Posted September 24, 2019 Author Posted September 24, 2019 3 minutes ago, Decky said: http://www.karmadon.net/shop/viscous-damped-unipivot-tonearm-12/ Super thanks for sharing the link. Have you tried the tonearm by any chance? It says 12" tonearm and mounting distance is only 27cm. If I understood correctly, most of 12" tonearm is 29~30cm PTS distance.
Spider27 Posted September 24, 2019 Author Posted September 24, 2019 4 minutes ago, Gryffles said: http://temaadaudio.biz/pre-amps-and-amps.php You are saving my time and effort going through all those trial and error. I did not realise that tonearm manufacturers sell kit form too. The one that you referred looks like this once completed. Have you tried this tonearm? If so, have you liked it? Lastly, this might be dumb question... Why unipivot tonearm does not have antiskate mechanism? I found that Gimbal designed tonearm has Antiskate to adjust but many unipivots do not.
Gryffles Posted September 24, 2019 Posted September 24, 2019 @Spider27 I had the better version, name eludes me, and it sounded pretty good. Dunno re anti skating but a friend went through my arm/cart set up with Analog Majik software recently and it was found that no antiskate at all was required. This was a 10.5" Reed arm. 1
Spider27 Posted September 24, 2019 Author Posted September 24, 2019 5 minutes ago, Gryffles said: @Spider27 I had the better version, name eludes me, and it sounded pretty good. Dunno re anti skating but a friend went through my arm/cart set up with Analog Majik software recently and it was found that no antiskate at all was required. This was a 10.5" Reed arm. Re; antiskate, Great to know Is the one that you tried Siggwan or Apparition tonearm?
Gryffles Posted September 24, 2019 Posted September 24, 2019 No, it was from Temaad but wasn't the kit version and higher spec. I have had a Siggwan as well but they are OOP.
mloutfie Posted September 24, 2019 Posted September 24, 2019 I've made a couple of design of a diy well tempered style 12 inch tonearm made from 3d printed cup and a carbon fibre arm wand. But family commitments has stopped me from completing it. Hopefully some time off during end of year will give me time to complete it 2
Spider27 Posted September 24, 2019 Author Posted September 24, 2019 Just now, mloutfie said: I've made a couple of design of a diy well tempered style 12 inch tonearm made from 3d printed cup and a carbon fibre arm wand. But family commitments has stopped me from completing it. Hopefully some time off during end of year will give me time to complete it Awesome. Love to see when it is completed. Are you using golf ball like original one does?
mloutfie Posted September 24, 2019 Posted September 24, 2019 I'm planning to use the flat paddle type of the original well tempered turntable. Which I have 1
andyr Posted September 24, 2019 Posted September 24, 2019 7 hours ago, Spider27 said: Lastly, this might be dumb question... Why unipivot tonearm does not have antiskate mechanism? I found that Gimbal designed tonearm has Antiskate to adjust but many unipivots do not. Both my UP arms have antiskate. In fact, I've never seen a UP arm that doesn't (leaving out VPI arms, as Harry used to - may not, now - think that antiskate was a myth). Andy
Owen Y Posted September 25, 2019 Posted September 25, 2019 Hi @Spider27 - back in around 2010, I made this Kwila hardwood 12' univot tonearm: Cheers, Owen Dark Lantern blog - http://darklanternforowen.wordpress.com/ 1
Spider27 Posted September 25, 2019 Author Posted September 25, 2019 6 minutes ago, Owen Y said: Hi @Spider27 - back in around 2010, I made this Kwila hardwood 12' univot tonearm: Cheers, Owen Dark Lantern blog - http://darklanternforowen.wordpress.com/ Awesome. Very well made indeed If you don't mind asking, how does it compare with the other arm (Siggwan) that you have? And, have you had any wood splitting issue later on? I was told that tonearm made of NZ Rimu wood later had wood split issue.
Owen Y Posted September 25, 2019 Posted September 25, 2019 (edited) Hi @Spider27.... The other wood arm is an Apparition , fore-runner of the Siggwan, so well-spotted I never A/B''d them, but I'd say that the Cocobolo wood Apparition/Siggwan is a tonearm as good as any tonearm that I've heard. My own DIY effort above wasn't bad, perhaps a little less snappy & dynamic, from memory. Have a go at your own tonearm, unipivots are easy to implement. The counterweight above, was just a 'bucket' of lead shot - easy to adjust VTF by adding/removing shot I should mention that the unipivot bearing i used, was just a 'ballpoint' (glued solid, made by my pal Dave Whittaker, of Aura TT fame) with a watch/clock-maker's sapphire thrust pad. The armbase was borrowed from a Hadcock 228 arm. Try to find or make an arm base that allows height adjustment. Earlier, I copied Dave's Balsa Wood tonearm (my version below) - this was a 10" arm, using the same brass bearing boss. Cheers, Owen Dark Lantern blog - http://darklanternforowen.wordpress.com/ Edited September 25, 2019 by Owen Y 1
Owen Y Posted September 25, 2019 Posted September 25, 2019 (edited) Here's another shot of the 12", which will give you a better idea of the essential geometry, - the headshell angle offset, the bearing outriggers (for side-balancing), headshell 'mini-outrigger' which doubles as a finger-lift, etc. Wood warping: Use a wood that might be good sounding (Cocobolo is a 'tonewood', a scarce wood used for musical instruments, but more commonly available woods such as Mahogony, Rosewood, should be good. too). Use a hardwood, a seasoned wood too, both of which will avoid warping problems over time. Most NZ timbers are 'softwoods'. Also check the wood for 'tone' & resonant signature - I like a wood that has a tone that is 'quick', not too soft & 'dull', when tapped. I put on a wax finish for cosmetics, but helps also against drying out & minimise possible warping. Cheers, Owen Dark Lantern blog - http://darklanternforowen.wordpress.com/ Edited September 25, 2019 by Owen Y 1
TOPSHELF Posted September 26, 2019 Posted September 26, 2019 I'm planning to use the flat paddle type of the original well tempered turntable. Which I haveOooh interesting, is this something you are thinking of selling or more of a 1off build?
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