Upfront Posted July 16, 2013 Posted July 16, 2013 The 301 I've been rebuilding is now complete bar the slate plinth (yet to be started as arms will determine dimensions), so I'm looking for suggestions for a 12" tonearm for it. I have a Dynavector DV-505 that will be used also. I'm not interested in unipivot tonearms as this will be my next project. I'm hoping to get out of it for less than $1000. Second hand is fine but ill need some direction here hence the thread. New, I've been thinking heavily about the Jelco SA750BL very good reviews and about $750 delivered. Also the Schick. I would prefer second hand one of these if anyone knows of one floating around. Cartridges I have are Ortofon Bronze and a Garrott Bros P77 and a couple of others not worth mentioning. MC cartridges will come along also, when I upgrade my phono stage. Let me know if you need to know more but I think I've covered it. Thanks in advance for the suggestions.
Peter_F Posted July 16, 2013 Posted July 16, 2013 Hi Linc Bang for dollar, a new 12" Jelco will be very hard to beat. I do like the SME3012 tonearms but there doesn't seem to be many good ones under a $1000.00 Maybe put a WTB ad on the SNA classifieds for a 12" tonearm and see what comes up? Pete
Upfront Posted July 16, 2013 Author Posted July 16, 2013 (edited) It's possible to make a 9" 3009 sme into a 12" would cost about 800-850 all said and done. Worth doing? This would have been about $600-650 last year but prices have jumped dramatically. Edited July 16, 2013 by Upfront
lovetube Posted July 16, 2013 Posted July 16, 2013 It's possible to make a 9" 3009 sme into a 12" would cost about 800-850 all said and done. Worth doing? This would have been about $600-650 last year but prices have jumped dramatically. why not UF . if you like 12" then that is the cheaper way of getting the 12" . if you do it well it will just as good as any SME12" good luck Duc
Upfront Posted July 16, 2013 Author Posted July 16, 2013 (edited) The reason I haven't Duc, is mainly due to the horizontal bearing in the SME. The few examples I've seen of this bearing have not been good. It hasn't been a smooth bearing. This could be limited to just the examples I've seen and rare. Or could be common. I'm really not sure. Edited July 16, 2013 by Upfront
blinky Posted July 16, 2013 Posted July 16, 2013 +1 for the Schick. It is a great arm. May be hard to find sub $1000 though
shaky Posted July 16, 2013 Posted July 16, 2013 (edited) The Wand Unipivot tonearm 12' http://www.gumboot.com/cgi-bin/ezshop/shop/2052?category=19&categorygo.x=1 Maybe not quite a match for a very nice 301 but only NZ$895 for the 12'. That's what? About AUS$13.95 isn't it ? ;-) Edited July 16, 2013 by shaky 1
Upfront Posted July 16, 2013 Author Posted July 16, 2013 +1 for the Schick. It is a great arm. May be hard to find sub $1000 though If the Schick was 100% the best option then I would buy one new if I had too. Second hand would be better but I haven't seen one for sale on the second hand market. But if I can get 99% of the performance for 50% of the price, like the Jelco. Then I feel the extra would be better spent on a new phono stage or cart. Make sense? Or are am I on the wrong path?
lovetube Posted July 16, 2013 Posted July 16, 2013 The reason I haven't Duc, is mainly due to the horizontal bearing in the SME. The few examples I've seen of this bearing have not been good. It hasn't been a smooth bearing. This could be limited to just the examples I've seen and rare. Or could be common. I'm really not sure. you can always get the arm fully rebuild with new bearing . i have adjusted a few original bearing to get very tight tolerance . Duc
blinky Posted July 16, 2013 Posted July 16, 2013 I think there's a reason there are no secondhand Schicks for sale, and I still think it's a class or two above the Jelco (no slouch by any means), and I concur about the SME, not a fan of knife edge bearings though SAEC did a good job of them.
Willco Posted July 16, 2013 Posted July 16, 2013 Yoh, I believe a fellow changed out his Schick for one of these http://www.analoginstruments.co.nz Willco 1
Upfront Posted July 16, 2013 Author Posted July 16, 2013 (edited) I think there's a reason there are no secondhand Schicks for sale, . I have thought that. Edited July 16, 2013 by Upfront
Upfront Posted July 16, 2013 Author Posted July 16, 2013 Yoh, I believe a fellow changed out his Schick for one of these http://www.analoginstruments.co.nz
Upfront Posted July 16, 2013 Author Posted July 16, 2013 you can always get the arm fully rebuild with new bearing . i have adjusted a few original bearing to get very tight tolerance . Duc If I have the arm rebuilt its back to the price of the Schick and your arm.
andyr Posted July 16, 2013 Posted July 16, 2013 (edited) If I have the arm rebuilt its back to the price of the Schick and your arm. So you would appear to be between a rock and a hard place? So who ya gonna call? As someone who has recently bought Duc's 12" UP arm ... I have to ask ... what do you have against UPs? (Because whatever reason you have, I would have to say is misguided, given the terrific sound I am getting - confirmed by others who have come round to listen, including someone who has never (before) liked UPs.) Regards, Andy Edited July 16, 2013 by andyr
Upfront Posted July 16, 2013 Author Posted July 16, 2013 Like I said in the original post mate, I have nothing against them. At all! I'd like a DP arm this time as my next project, after the slate plinth, will be a unipivot arm. I've started collecting parts already for this. So I'm not biased.
andyr Posted July 16, 2013 Posted July 16, 2013 (edited) Like I said in the original post mate, I have nothing against them. At all! I'd like a DP arm this time as my next project, after the slate plinth, will be a unipivot arm. I've started collecting parts already for this. So I'm not biased. Yes you did. So you'd prefer to build your own UP arm ... rather than buy one that sounds terrific? Regards, Andy Edited July 16, 2013 by andyr
Upfront Posted July 16, 2013 Author Posted July 16, 2013 Aah, so you'd prefer to build your own UP arm ... rather than buy one that sounds terrific? Regards, Andy Correct! I've built most things in audio (some successfully, some not!) and its the next thing on the list.
Telecine Posted July 16, 2013 Posted July 16, 2013 (edited) Yoh, I believe a fellow changed out his Schick for one of these http://www.analoginstruments.co.nz Willco I have an Analogue Instruments Apparition 12 with a Garrard 401, it is a nice arm. You should consider a Schick if you want to use an SPU cart in the future.Duc's arm has received rave reviews from those whose ears I trust. The Jelco is great value for money and hard to beat for the price. My advice is to work out where you want to land this and work towards it incrementally. If you compromise on choices now, you will only upgrade later. Take your time and get it right to begin with, it is cheaper in the long run. Can you provide some information about how to upgrade an SME 3009 to a 12 inch version? I have one lying about doing nothing at present. Edited July 16, 2013 by Telecine
heman_ Posted July 16, 2013 Posted July 16, 2013 I've got the apparition on 12" on my Garrard. I bought it with that arm already installed - and it really is great for the money and I haven't felt the need to upgrade. In about March I placed an order for the 12" Schick, so I could have 2 tonearms on my plinth and use the Schick exclusively for SPU. Since the first few emails, when he told me I had my order placed and everything was confirmed (except payment) I haven't heard anything since - he has completely stopped replying to my numerous emails. As much as I want the 12" Schick arm, I'm kind of hesitant now. I was actually pushing to pay upfront due to the strong aussie dollar at that time, but am now glad I didnt! Really annoying, because it is hard to buy with confidence from a small overseas business when communication is this bad. Have sort of started looking at some of the Ortofon arms instead.
Peter_F Posted July 16, 2013 Posted July 16, 2013 But if I can get 99% of the performance for 50% of the price, like the Jelco. Then I feel the extra would be better spent on a new phono stage or cart. Make sense? Or are am I on the wrong path? The Jelco is very good Linc, but when you start spending serious money then the Jelco, like many similar priced arms, by comparison will fall away. Having gone from a Jelco to the Triplanar they are in completely different universes - IMO of course!
Upfront Posted July 16, 2013 Author Posted July 16, 2013 Yoh, I believe a fellow changed out his Schick for one of thesehttp://www.analoginstruments.co.nz
Upfront Posted July 16, 2013 Author Posted July 16, 2013 The Jelco is very good Linc, but when you start spending serious money then the Jelco, like many similar priced arms, by comparison will fall away. Having gone from a Jelco to the Triplanar they are in completely different universes - IMO of course! The triplanar is a beautiful looking arm mate! If only! So what's your suggestion mate?
Peter_F Posted July 16, 2013 Posted July 16, 2013 (edited) The triplanar is a beautiful looking arm mate! If only! So what's your suggestion mate? I very rarely buy what I can afford. I wait and save and then buy what I really want. But which arm, easy mate, stay away from the nice but fiddly vintage SME's and go with a lovely vintage Japanese arm. THESE ARE THE BEST VALUE IMHO! This is an easy choice (for me) and under a $1000.00 too, plus it would sh*t all over the Jelco - IMHO! http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/190869077091?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 Or something like too... http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Audio-Technica-AT-1010-turntable-tonearm-original-cable-headshell-A-/130944716962?pt=US_Record_Players_Home_Turntables&hash=item1e7ce9d0a2&_uhb=1 There are so many wonderful Japanese arms out there for under $1000.00 mate, that's what I'll be getting for my TD124. Edited July 16, 2013 by flemo 1
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