Re: [ARSCLIST] lateral cut switch

[steven c <stevenc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "phillip holmes" <insuranceman@xxxxxxxxxx>
> The mass isn't an issue if you use a low mass headshell with a medium
> compliance cartridge in a medium or low mass arm.  It could cause
problems,
> but depends on what arm and cartridge you're using.  I've had problems
with
> those low mass headshells where I need to use greater than 1.5 grams of
> tracking.  With one mono cartridge that was supposed to track at 3 grams,
I
> added a hex head bolt to the headshell.  I suppose a quarter and some tape
> would've worked too.  And as far as balance of the tonearm, I don't see
how
> it could really mess things up unless it's a unipivot.  The forces applied
> to the end of the arm are at funny angles anyway.  You've got skating,
warp,
> off-center, and any anti-skate you may apply.  That's why most arms use
> gimble bearings (or knife edge, or...) instead of a unipivot.
>
Though it was quite a bit less sophisticated than the systems under
discussion
here, I used to have a "78 deck" built from a c.1955 RCA "record player." In
order to get the best performance, I had to tape two nickels (too cheap to
use a quarter!) to the needle end of the tone arm!

Never tried to figure out a "tracking pressure" (in any case, it was a
lot less than the old machines the records had been played upon in their
"youth") beyond assuming it was "ten cents, more or less" (depended on
which side of the border I was on when asked?). Anyway, it worked...and
I wish I still had it and didn't have to search the net for N8-3D needles...

Steven C. Barr