Wood Plinths: removable armboard or no armboard?

[YNWaN]

I won’t bore you with detail but I’ve done a lot of turntable, plinth, armboard experimentation, theorising and building. In theory, perhaps, no seperated armboard is the best solution. However, I have found that a unified armboard and chassis combo works just as well and has many practical benefits. What I would also add is that the material and form/construction of said armboard can have a profound effect on the performance of the attached arm and I personally spend a great deal of time designing the armboards I use (I wouldn’t personally use just two screws to mount an armboard).

[nickbaba]

Russ armboard Img_6095.jpg

I'm sure I won't be giving away any trade secrets if I illustrate how RC makes his standard armboard fixing (the image is on his website) - the board is supported on a narrow ledge and fixes with 2 screws.

However he is very open to customizing options. Assuming that I'm sticking to wood as a material, what could I do to improve this design? Add 2 more screws, to have 2 at each end of the armboard?

[montesquieu]

Russ armboard Img_6095.jpg

I'm sure I won't be giving away any trade secrets if I illustrate how RC makes his standard armboard fixing (the image is on his website) - the board is supported on a narrow ledge and fixes with 2 screws.

However he is very open to customizing options. Assuming that I'm sticking to wood as a material, what could I do to improve this design? Add 2 more screws, to have 2 at each end of the armboard?

Russ will do four recessed nuts to take bolts, if you ask him

[nickbaba]

Thanks Tom sounds good

[montesquieu]

Thanks Tom sounds good

Not the best pic but shows my rear armboard with its four bolts. I swapped out my ply armboards for these funky stone-resin ones from Konnedesign on ebay. See top of the deck below. These work pretty well I think.

I have to say I was pretty impressed by the effect of Townshend Seismic Pods on the sound of the deck. Well worth the cash.

[Barry]

Ugh - they look awful (or rather - not to my taste). Are they really an improvement over solid hardwood, plywood or acrylic TD124 armboards?

[WESTLOWER]

Ugh - they look awful (or rather - not to my taste). Are they really an improvement over solid hardwood, plywood or acrylic TD124 armboards?

I reckon they look very good indeed. Very Individual Plinth combination
Sounds flipping incredible to boot!

[Barry]

Even if they do make an improvement in SQ over the usual TD124 armboards (and I will accept that they might), I would still want them sprayed semi-matt black for the sake of appearance.

[WESTLOWER]

Even if they do make an improvement in SQ over the usual TD124 armboards (and I will accept that they might), I would still want them sprayed semi-matt black for the sake of appearance.

That’s a bit ...dull! When you have an opportunity of creating something nice and different.

[nickbaba]

I think they look pretty 50's chic, quite appropriate really, and also match the green leather!

btw Tom, do you have the seismic pods attached or stuck to the plinth somehow, or does it simply sit balanced on top of them?

I see Townshend do a seismic platform too, with 4 pods fixed to a metal plate to rest the TT on... but its about £150 more than 4 single pods.