Bad Tempered tonearm.

[alb]

Twenty odd years of not playing vinyl have come to an end.
Here's a few pics of my homebrew arm nearing completion. It's a simplified version of the Well Tempered arm.
It had it's first outing last night and managed to play several albums without a hiccup, so i guess it's worth developing further, or at least tidying up.

My last vinyl setup was a Linn Axis/dodgy Akito/K5 i think, and that was some considerable time ago. This one is definitely nicer to listen to, but it's in a totally different system so i can't really judge it's worth at the moment.

The armtube is 8mm carbon fibre, strengthened with brass tube and epoxy putty at the headshell end. The gantry bits are 6mm carbon held together by part of a "Helping Hands" thingy. The pulley is made from cheap alloy collets from a model shop and some washers. All suspended on one length of 8lb fishing line. Damping fluid is STP. Arm base is Meranti mahoghany.


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[Spectral Morn]

Hi Alb

Can you resize your photo to 1024 X768 please current size is wayyyyyyyyy to big.

Thanks D S D L

[alb]

No probs. Didn't turn out that big on another forum, so didn't expect it.
Delete this thread if you will and i'll start again later.

[Marco]

No need to delete it, just edit it

Marco.

[DSJR]

Looks good to me. make sure the GL75 main bearing isn't wobbling and is properly lubricated.

[alb]

DSJR.

Yes, i don't like anything wobbly either.
The bearing has been stripped and cleaned, and i fitted new bushes while i was at it. Still very much running in.

[Marco]

Looks nice, Al. I like Lencos - there should be a fair bit of potential still to explore with it

Marco.

[pure sound]

I made a home made Well Tempered arm many years ago using a Mayware arm. I recall having a good deal of fun playing with the shape of the paddle and the viscosity of the 'fluid'. There were certainly some advantages in the removal of bearing 'chatter' that I was used to with other arms I had at the time. However, getting the paddle/fluid combination stiff enough to give really good bass but still fluid enough to leave the arm usable (ie for cueing etc) proved to be beyond me & I went back to the conventionally pivoted arm with bearings.

I've always run into the same issue with the air bearing LT arms I've tried and listened to. The bass performance has always been compromised.

[Marco]

Interesting, Guy.

I've always thought that tangential, air-bearing, arms knock spots off of pivoted arms in terms of 'accuracy', particularly with voices and midrange detail and a general lack of perceived distortion, but felt that something was still missing, musically... Perhaps it's like you say and that they lack authority in the bass?

I've only heard a couple of examples, certainly none in my system, so therefore haven't been able to notice that discrepancy so far in great detail.

Marco.

[alb]

I made a home made Well Tempered arm many years ago using a Mayware arm

I also made one around 25 years ago. I used an arm from a cheapish Rotel deck with some success. It used STP for the damping fluid, as does this one. So in a way i'm just revisiting my past.
Judging by the sound it's currently making, things have evolved a bit since then.
As for the bass, well it's good enough for me. Until i get a reality check from listening to someone elses setup.