SME 309/IV/V arm-boards on SL1200

It's to do with the height, or lack of it on the Techies' platters. With modern headshells, even the SL1500 arm is set too high when using the supplied mat. With a Herbies PLUS the oracle mat, it's spot on and sounds quite ok to me :) The older SL120mk1 was fine as the plinth was slightly deeper I recall and I have a suspicion that the chamfer on the platter itself may have been a little steeper as well, but it's a long time since I saw, let alone used one...

The Mike New armboard is definitely super heavy-duty and all-business.
Coupled with his bearing/plate and platter my SME V has plenty of VTA adjustment.

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Originally Posted by gx502

Just a quick question for any folks using a SME 309/IV/V arm on a SL1200.

Do you experience any VTA issues ? I mean any issues getting the arm low enough so that the arm tube is parallel to the record surface.

The reason why I ask, is that I am contemplating putting a SME-IV arm on my SL1200, but I am worried it may not work.

I have noticed looking at images of SME magnesium arms, with some of the popular carts out there e.g DL30x and AT33, that the arm is always at its lowest position in terms of VTA (I was hoping to use a MN copper arm-board (my deck has the MN bearing, but not the support plate), but since it does not have a recessed central section, I suspect it will not work.and this is where the arm board used is one with a recessed centre section).

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G'day Rav, I believe that Mike New uses an SMEV arm, and I would imagine with his own copper board, so there shouldn't be a prob mate buy a phonecard and give give him a call.
Ron
PS Recovering from the Rugby World cup beating Oz got from Ireland today :(:(:(

The SME mounting area is always recessed with these. I suggest you contact Timestep, as Dave does appear to have much experience with these two products and mating them successfully together...

The V has oodles of VTA adjustment, the V will work perfectly well with the MN tonearm board. I've got the baseplate fitted to the MN bearing and I could still put a stack of records under the V. The only problem you will have is with warped records where they may tocuh your tonearm when they are nearly finished playing through. But, if you set the VTA properly then that wont happen.