Graham Model 2 Tonearm

[Andrei]

Would this Graham be a goodie for a 1200?
http://www.trademe.co.nz/electronics-photography/home-audio/turntables/auction-705345287.htm
Also would a SME mounting board be ok? I have a Jelco and I am very happy with it, so I would want to be confident that this would be a significant improvement.
TIA

[Spectral Morn]

Would this Graham be a goodie for a 1200?
http://www.trademe.co.nz/electronics-photography/home-audio/turntables/auction-705345287.htm
Also would a SME mounting board be ok? I have a Jelco and I am very happy with it, so I would want to be confident that this would be a significant improvement.
TIA

In theory the Graham model 2 should fit as its not as massive as the Phantom. The potential issue is the vta adjusting tower, so a flat SME arm board or Graham mount is required as the recessed armboards won't allow for that VTA tower.

I have both a Phantom and a model 2.2 but its a Graham mount not an SME one (Phantom is SME mount) so I don't have a suitable armboard to try it. I have tried the Phantom and it looks like it won't align correctly but I am not 100% sure it defo won't but it looks like it won't.

How the model 2 will sound I am not sure, mine sits on an Oracle Delphi mk4. The earlier Graham arms have a lighter tonal balance, not bright but lack the weight and scale of the Phantom so getting a model 2 to sound right means a cart with a warmer less analytical approach such as VDH or Benz.

The exchangeable arm wands makes exchangeable headshell swapping look crude by comparison and the Graham cart mounting jig is pure genius. Getting a spare armwand for a model 2 will be difficult and only available S/H. Worth looking out for is the cart Graham had made for them by Transfiguration, which was part of an armwand, so no mounting hardware as cart and arm are one piece. Here is a photo of a Graham Nightingale.....

http://www.hifiaudiosound.co.uk/images/graham_engineering_cartridge_nightingale_lrg.jpg

Vital if buying one that all accessories are with it (especially the cart mounting jig and platter centre spindle armwand/tonearm alignment stub) and that the threaded armwand mount isn't damaged. Graham doesn't offer upgrades for these anymore, but will service but many of the parts are not available now.

The IC70 cable (one for the Phantom) is a good upgrade on the IC50 cable that came with these, well I say came, you had to buy it separately as the arm didn't come with a cable in the box.


Regards Neil

[NRG]

it's a thing of beauty! :)