WTD tonearm

[Bigbird]

Hi guys I’m in the market for a second arm on my new 301 project.

I have a Reed arm and AT Art9 which will be my main combo but I’m looking for a second arm to use with my Soundsmith cartridge which will be used on the less Hifi recordings and some older records .

I’m looking for something used so I get more bang for my buck, budget will be up to a grand so I can get something fairly high end.
Possibly a 12inch.

If all else fails I will likely go for the new Audiomods 6 10.5 but fingers crossed there’s something decent out there.

Cheers

Karl


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[Made in 1968]

Modern arms do not seem to look right with '301'. What about a SME 3012R?

https://www.analogtubeaudio.de/en/sme-3012-s2-special-heavy-counterweight/

[disco]

I have a boxed SME 3012 MkII - asking £750
Also an SME 3012 MkI but that is over your budget.

If you want to go really retro and quirky I have a Ferranti FA-21 tonearm from the 1950s (made in Scotland).

Have you already bought your 301 because, if not, I have a white oil bearing type and 2no grey hammertone grease bearing types.

[scotty38]

What about a Jelco 850L?

[Bigbird]

Hi gents thanks for the replies . A jelco 950L mk2 , and 12 inch Ortofon TA210 have been added to the shortlist with the audio mods 6.

I disagree about the modern arms on a 301. Certain ones look(and sound more importantly ) great. My Reed is one of them. Not sure I’d whack an SME v on there’s but that’s all personal tastes and I’m sure it would work wonderfully.

I have bought a 301 already . It’s the classic turntable company’s top spec full Monty jobby, so all sorted for a table thanks.

Any other offers considered , thanks


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[Made in 1968]

So a 12" Tik-Tok would be ok? :D

[Barry]

I have a boxed SME 3012 MkII - asking £750
Also an SME 3012 MkI but that is over your budget.

If you want to go really retro and quirky I have a Ferranti FA-21 tonearm from the 1950s (made in Scotland).



Only of interest if you have the Ferranti ribbon 'head' (mono only).

Might I suggest an SME 3012R; the best of SME's arms using knife edge bearings - or an SME M12-R as alternatives?

[WESTLOWER]

Only of interest if you have the Ferranti ribbon 'head' (mono only).

Might I suggest an SME 3012R; the best of SME's arms using knife edge bearings - or an SME M12-R as alternatives?


Those would be my recommendations too. The SME M12-R being cheaper and much easier to track down. I’ve had both in various forms and can say bang for buck the SME M12-R is a cracking arm.

[Barry]

Those would be my recommendations too. The SME M12-R being cheaper and much easier to track down. I’ve had both in various forms and can say bang for buck the SME M12-R is a cracking arm.

I have one - which is why I recommended it. ;) I also have a 3012/II but would love to try a 3012R, as I much prefer the counterweight decoupling mechanism of the latter. But were I to obtain a 3012R arm I would want to change the nylon bearings for steel or gunmetal.

[Bigbird]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I think they are both out of my reach at the moment . The M2-12r is 1400+ and the 3012r even more if you can find one. Maybe a used m2 will pop up. I shall keep my eyes peeled


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[AJSki2fly]

What about a Jelco 850L?

Great arm, I had the 850M 10" on a Voyd and it was superb easily as good as an SME IV or V IMO and a quarter the price, fit it with and EASY VTA adjuster and you are set up for a long time.

[WESTLOWER]

I have one - which is why I recommended it. ;) I also have a 3012/II but would love to try a 3012R, as I much prefer the counterweight decoupling mechanism of the latter. But were I to obtain a 3012R arm I would want to change the nylon bearings for steel or gunmetal.

I wouldn’t mess with the nylon knife edge
It’s already a very dynamic arm, much more so than the SME 3012.
SME Mik (turntable Mik) always advises against it.

[SAP7]

I’ve got a ten inch jelco. 750.
Best one of the lot in the range just before the new ones out now.
Sweet spot. Lofgren geometry. Better than the 12 inch... and took me months to find!

Boxed

[Barry]

I wouldn’t mess with the nylon knife edge
It’s already a very dynamic arm, much more so than the SME 3012.
SME Mik (turntable Mik) always advises against it.

I replaced the nylon knife-edge bearing on one of my SME 3009s with an original steel bearing, leading to a noticable improvement in SQ. However the "R" versions are different beasts, in reverting to stainless steel for the arm tube they have less internal damping than would be obtained with an aluminium tube, so maybe the nylon bearing tames matters.

[Lurch]

I currently have a 9.5" Origin Live Encounter 3C in the classifieds. Only selling as have just bought a Conqueror 3C.

[Bigbird]

I currently have a 9.5" Origin Live Encounter 3C in the classifieds. Only selling as have just bought a Conqueror 3C.

Hi thanks for the offer but one of our other members has kindly offered me an illustrious for £850 which is still on my radar .


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