mounting a jelco sa750 on an sl1210

[Zoidburg]

I think I've now got hold of a jelco sa 750 arm and am planning on using it on my recently purchased sl1210. This seems like a popular choice but I'm not sure what I need for the combo to work together. Do I need a different arm board and collar?

If anyone can give me a link or two to suitable items I'd be very thankful. Very happy to run with pre owned items if anyone has anything suitable.

Finally I will also need a tonearm cable to get me up and running, needs to be something decent but not bank breakingly so.

Thanks in advance

Cheers

Ben

[Ammonite Audio]

Yes, you do need a specific arm board. The Rolls Royce option is one of Speedy Steve's ebony boards (see http://theartofsound.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?83-Magna-Audio ). The budget option is one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jelco-SA-750D-SA-250-Armboard-Plate-Technics-SL-1200-1210-MK2-MK3-MK4-MK5-M5G-/152096889809?hash=item2369ae5bd1:g:yVEAAMXQeKNTLbn e which are actually very nicely made - by far the best of the alloy plate alternatives and way better than the price might suggest.

Tonearm cable recommendations really depend on whether you intend using a MM cartridge, in which case keeping the capacitance low is generally a good thing. For decent performance and sheer value you can't beat this one http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SME-V-5-IV-4-309-1-1M-Tonearm-Interconnect-Cable-SME-RCA-Timestep-Ultra-Red-/262048504186?hash=item3d034ed97a:g:YYEAAOxyNThTc5X I but push the boat out towards the Black Rhodium Stylus and it's clear that you can get better, at a price, although I do have an ex-dem example of the BR Stylus available at a price that softens the blow considerably. The BR Stylus is not a million miles off the Audio Note AN-vX cable that I use most of the time, at a fraction of the cost - it really is rather good.

[mikeyb]

I can recommend one of Speedy Steves ebony armboards too as that is what I use on my 1210.

[337alant]

I can recommend one of Speedy Steves ebony armboards too as that is what I use on my 1210.

Yes they look very nice quality think Ill order one for my 1200

Alan

[Zoidburg]

Thanks for the suggestions dudes.

Funds are reasonably tight so will probably go with the 2nd armboard option (could find a price for a speedy Steve version though).

Cartridge will be an at150mlx, any other reasonably priced cable options greatly received cheers.

[mikeyb]

My Ebony board from Steve was £140 including delivery 😉

[Zoidburg]

Another quick question for you guys....

will i loose the VTA adjustment swopping to a jelco arm and starndard mounting plate? If so how do I know the arm is at the correct height?

cheers

Ben

[Ammonite Audio]

VTA adjustment is easy with the Jelco - at least with my improved mounting collar. The arm pillar just slides up and down, secured by a single grub screw. The main point when mounting any tonearm on a Technics is that the platter is very low-slung, relative to the top chassis, so the arm needs to be mounted low enough so that you get a good range of VTA adjustment without having to resort to thicker mats, headshell spacers, cartridge shims etc. This is why Speedy Steve's armboards are recessed.

[keiron99]

I'm not the biggest believer in small VTA adjustments, but with the stock Jelco arrangement, it's quite tricky. The stock mounting collar is a weak point and I can't understand why they haven't improved it. In short, the arm doesn't sit square in it.

I recommend one of Hugo's improved versions. You will just sleep easier knowing it's in place :)

[etphonehome]

Some pics of mounting a Jelco SA750 in the post below...adjustment of vta is very easy with the Ammonite Acoustics Mounting Collar and the Magna Audio armboard is worth every penny:

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?6216-Speedy-Steve-s-custom-made-counterweight-balance-and-armboard-service!&p=737911#post737911

[Mike_New]

I'm not the biggest believer in small VTA adjustments, but with the stock Jelco arrangement, it's quite tricky. The stock mounting collar is a weak point and I can't understand why they haven't improved it. In short, the arm doesn't sit square in it.

I recommend one of Hugo's improved versions. You will just sleep easier knowing it's in place :)

What is really required for all these tone arms which required an adapter collar, is my modified VTA mechanism, which I made a prototype of about 3 years ago. But is generated little interest.
It is not easy trying to slide the column up and down the collar and then locking it.
My modification retains the excellent co-axial double threaded mechanism and clamping which permits the careful adjustment of VTA on the fly.
The centre however is machined away and a solid brass insert fitted to take any collar of choice.
I guy in NZ has just bought the first one I produced and I will get him to provide a write-up on it.
The problem with this option is that I require a redundant Arm/VTA unit for every mod.
Warning: Don't get your local model engineer friend with a cheap Asian lathe and drill to try this work, or you will end up with a mangled mess
of metal. It does require a precision approach by a reasonably skilled person.

[Ammonite Audio]

What is really required for all these tone arms which required an adapter collar, is my modified VTA mechanism, which I made a prototype of about 3 years ago. But is generated little interest.
It is not easy trying to slide the column up and down the collar and then locking it.
My modification retains the excellent co-axial double threaded mechanism and clamping which permits the careful adjustment of VTA on the fly.
The centre however is machined away and a solid brass insert fitted to take any collar of choice.
I guy in NZ has just bought the first one I produced and I will get him to provide a write-up on it.
The problem with this option is that I require a redundant Arm/VTA unit for every mod.
Warning: Don't get your local model engineer friend with a cheap Asian lathe and drill to try this work, or you will end up with a mangled mess
of metal. It does require a precision approach by a reasonably skilled person.

Your comment which I've highlighted in bold may have relevance to Jelco's original collar design, in which the little grub screw tends to mash up the arm pillar, so it snags when you try to adjust height (as well as leaning over). But, my simple redesign solved that, and sliding the arm pillar up and down becomes smooth, easy and accurate. All without expensive and exotic engineering - just good and inexpensive design.

You have to remember that the Jelco arms are good, unpretentious budget arms, being astonishing value for the performance that they do offer. They can also be helped along considerably with decent support and better headshells etc. But, they are always budget arms and in the real world buyers don't want to spend heaps on things like fully adjustable arm bases - that's probably why the TTW product died (financially speaking).

[Mike_New]

I can't disagree with you Hugo, the fact is that some people want to be able to
adjust VTA on the fly. And some Tone Arm suppliers do pay homage to this with their micrometer
adjusting devices.

[Ammonite Audio]

I've been asked for this a couple of times over the years, but I'm now wise enough to realise that the demand for such things is actually rather 'niche' and certainly not worth me pouring in considerable amounts of money for design, prototyping, small production runs etc. Audiomods already do a well-priced arm with VTA on the fly, so this sort of thing is already well catered for.

[Ants]

Next to the direct drive motor unit & the simple responsive controls, the VTA mechanism on the Technics is one of the very best features of the SL 1210 in my opinion which makes it so user friendly. I'm looking forward to getting and using Mike's VTA mod for different tonearms for the SL1210. Mike's VTA mod looks massively engineered (like his bearing!). I can't wait to install all the mods - Mike's bearing , Mike's VTA mod, different tonearm (Alphason). I need to get external PSU next.....(soon)

[337alant]

My Micro Seiki MA202 arm has a pretty neat VTA adjustment that lock afetr setting as well :eyebrows:
I could definitely see myself with one of them nice ebony arm boards though :eyebrows:


https://c3.staticflickr.com/3/2921/14380609866_81caf2fb4f_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nULoiq)IMG_1221 (https://flic.kr/p/nULoiq) by Alan Towell (https://www.flickr.com/photos/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

https://c3.staticflickr.com/4/3857/14217134690_d90e8851bd_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nEjwPU)IMG_1218 (https://flic.kr/p/nEjwPU) by Alan Towell (https://www.flickr.com/photos/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

Alan

[Mike_New]

The problem is you are paying a premium for an on-the-fly VTA adjuster fitted to the Tone Arm.
And is it really needed.
Although my modified VTA unit is not in-expensive it does allow for the use of different arms.

[Ants]

With Mike's VTA mod, I will have the very user friendly VTA on the fly of the Technics plus the Alphason (VTA adjustments possible if i mount it without the VTA mod but fiddly)..... seems like win win to me. Seems like a great solution to me - well worth the money. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Zoidburg]

My Micro Seiki MA202 arm has a pretty neat VTA adjustment that lock afetr setting as well :eyebrows:
I could definitely see myself with one of them nice ebony arm boards though :eyebrows:


https://c3.staticflickr.com/3/2921/14380609866_81caf2fb4f_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nULoiq)IMG_1221 (https://flic.kr/p/nULoiq) by Alan Towell (https://www.flickr.com/photos/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

https://c3.staticflickr.com/4/3857/14217134690_d90e8851bd_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nEjwPU)IMG_1218 (https://flic.kr/p/nEjwPU) by Alan Towell (https://www.flickr.com/photos/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

Alan

I like that a lot - very stylish indeed.

Looks like I now have all the various bits needed for mounting the new jelco. A standard tonearm plate along with an ammonite collar are on route to me and I hope the sa-750 and tone arm cable will arrive by mid next week as well.:eyebrows::eyebrows:

[Tolstoi]

Hope you enjoy your Jelco. I had a 750D on my SL-1210 and really loved it.

[Zoidburg]

Hope you enjoy your Jelco. I had a 750D on my SL-1210 and really loved it.

Thanks mate, so far it's proving to be a very nice indeed both in terms of sound and it's nice solid feel when using it.