How to add a second tonearm to a turntable

[garysrq]

I have been curious on how to add a second tonearm to a turntable.

I have tried google search as well as a search on AK and couldnt find anything. I am looking to pick up a thorens TT and thought it would be nice to have a mono cartridge and a stereo on the same table.

I have an old Technics someone loaned me for the time being , so i cant take apart and look at a thorens

My questions

- how hard is it to do.

- how is it hooked up?

- do i need another motor / belt or something to drive the table?

thanks

gary

 

[Wigwam Jones]

I have been curious on how to add a second tonearm to a turntable.

I have tried google search as well as a search on AK and couldnt find anything. I am looking to pick up a thorens TT and thought it would be nice to have a mono cartridge and a stereo on the same table.

I have an old Technics someone loaned me for the time being , so i cant take apart and look at a thorens

My questions

- how hard is it to do.

- how is it hooked up?

- do i need another motor / belt or something to drive the table?

thanks

gary

Generally, tables with more than one tonearm are older, completely manual designs. That is to say that there is no mechanical connection between the tonearms and the platter. They are totally different and independent mechanisms.

In the early days of higher-end turntables (as well as radio-station type broadcast tables), a person bought a turntable and that's all it was; no tonearm. Then one added a tonearm of one's choice to it.

If there was enough real estate on the plinth (which was often custom-built for the purpose), one could add a second tonearm. Sometimes the reason for two tonearms was to have one set up for monophonic and the other set up for stereo playback, but reasons for them varied.

It's not difficult to have two tonearms on a modern table, providing you have the real estate to install two of them and have the geometry right on both.

The tonearm itself will not have any electronics in common with the turntable; the wires coming out of the tonearm go to the stereo.

So basically, the turntable gets power in and puts nothing out. The tonearms put signal out and get nothing in. They do not interact.

Now, if you are talking about having a semi-automatic type table, where the arm lifts at the end of play, or an automatic table where the arm picks up, moves over and sets down at the beginning and end of play, then you are talking about some complicated shizz. I would suggest you scratch that from your list; without paying through the nose, it's not happening.

 

[vinyl1]

The best solution for this is the ultra-high-end turntables with separate arm pods. You just buy another arm pod, mount an arm on it, and put it in a suitable place next to the turntable.

Easy enough, if you can spare the $$$.

Doing this on a vintage table is another matter. They space on the plinth is usually too small.

 

[garysrq]

thanks for the comments , i am eyeing a thorens so this might be interesting to set up

 

[Wigwam Jones]

thanks for the comments , i am eyeing a thorens so this might be interesting to set up

Again, it's important to have the geometry correct. You can't just slap it down anywhere on the plinth that there is room to fit it.


Fairchild 412-2 by Wigwam Jones, on Flickr


Fairchild 412-2 by Wigwam Jones, on Flickr

This is my vintage Fairchild 412-2. Please note how large the plinth has to be to properly mount two tonearms. Unless you plan to build your own custom plinth or have it done, I don't know how you intend to mount two arms to a stock Thorens plinth. You might manage to mount it physically, but unless the geometry is correct, it won't work right.

 

[garysrq]

I understand , i would probably have one made , and may change the plinth altogether - i have not decided anything , hell, dont even have the table yet

 

[sKiZo]

Or maybe go with an add on box that allows for the geometry?

Then again, to do it right, you'd need completely separate electronics also. If I had the room, I'd go with separate turntables ... multiple arms is neat, but maybe not practical if the table isn't built that way ...

 

[KrisM]

If it's just about having a mono and a stereo cart, why not just go with one arm and have separate headshells for each?

 

[beatcomber]

Which Thorens are we talking about? Make sure it's a totally manual one.

 

[KentTeffeteller]

The only turntables which can take two arms are high end audiophile or broadcast units. In Technics, only the SP series can accept two arms if the plinth has sufficient room.

 

[beatcomber]

This is my vintage Fairchild 412-2.

I didn't know you had such a bitchen old table! :thmbsp:

 

[Wigwam Jones]

I didn't know you had such a bitchen old table! :thmbsp:

A very fine AK member who wishes to remain anonymous clued me in to a CL listing. It was a most excellent price. It is being used in my 'vintage DJ' booth, which I am still building. I want to create a video podcast that looks like it came right out of a 1950s or 1960s radio station, like the cover of "The Nightfly" kinda thing.