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My Empire 208 project begins

I visited ejfud's magic kingdom this morning and we (he) fabbed up this armboard. I had tiny slices of time this afternoon to get this much finished.

The arm is just sitting there, I have to finish mounting it and the cartridge, then I'm set to go.

empire21.jpg

empire22.jpg
 
There were some powder coating related issues, the lamp hole had to be reamed out, and the screws that I left in the holes for mounting the start cap/etc just twisted off when I tried to back them off. Another trip to Ace and all was fine. I'm done for today...
 
specialidiot said:
I visited ejfud's magic kingdom this morning and we (he) fabbed up this armboard. I had tiny slices of time this afternoon to get this much finished.

The arm is just sitting there, I have to finish mounting it and the cartridge, then I'm set to go.

empire21.jpg

empire22.jpg
Click to expand...

You can probably get by with just 2 screws (mounted from the backside) to preserve the clean look of the armboard but it's up to you, just maintain 222mm spindle to pivot for the Rega tonearm. The distance from the top of the armboard to the top of the playing surface should be around 1.1" That will get you close to what a Rega turntables setup looks like (regarding VTA) You may have to adjust the arm height to optimize it, but you'll be pretty close.
 
Vinyl-Addict said:
You can probably get by with just 2 screws (mounted from the backside) to preserve the clean look of the armboard but it's up to you,
Click to expand...

We used three, one in back and two down the edge.

just maintain 222mm spindle to pivot for the Rega tonearm. The distance from the top of the armboard to the top of the playing surface should be around 1.1"
Click to expand...

It's sitting pretty much gnat's ass right now. I just mounted the cartridge (NOS Grado F3+) There is still one ground wire floating around underneath, I need to go back to my pictures to figure out where it goes.

ejfud said:
Hey it's spinning!

Nice to see you as always Jeff.
Click to expand...

Hey yeah that was actually pretty fun. Pretty slick how you got me off to the hardware store while you made the cuts.

MY craigslist dropoff was... weird... dude was wearing his longjohns when he answered the door and I could smell the cats from outside. Still, $$$ is $$$!!

Grainger49 said:
This can be quite a table, but turn the "Dust Bug" back around. It's backward.

Look here:

http://www.cognitivevent.com/av_empire.html

He is a great guy and gives some good tips. Especially the rope caulk damping idea.

Have fun with this, it will make you really happy!
Click to expand...

Thanks Grainger! (are you the same guy on the BH forum?

Well the dust bug isn't staying. I had no clue what it was anyway. :screwy:

I have that site bookmarked, and is one of the primary reasons I went with the RB250 tonearm.

I have some rope caulk ready - the same stuff I used on the horns in my Cornwalls. I'm also going to add mass to the base with slabs of MDF. But I think I'll listen to it for a while first.
 
Hey, how come you Cities guys get to have all the fun with the Empires? :tears:

I have to just be satisfied with all the Empire carts. I have. :music:

Anyway, I have to be honest and admit that when you first said you were going to powdercoat the plinth, I thought, "why doesn't he get it refinished as close to the original as possible?" :scratch2:

However, after seeing it now, it does look very nice and preserves the general Empire look. And, I realize that trying to refinish it in the original way would be very difficult if not impossible. :yes:

Those manufacturers always seem to come up with finishing ideas that can't be replicated in the future!

Anyway, great job and I'm sure you will show it to us when it's all done. :tresbon:

Doug
 
Thanks Grainger! (are you the same guy on the BH forum?)

Well the dust bug isn't staying. I had no clue what it was anyway. :screwy:

I have that site bookmarked, and is one of the primary reasons I went with the RB250 tonearm.

I have some rope caulk ready - the same stuff I used on the horns in my Cornwalls. I'm also going to add mass to the base with slabs of MDF. But I think I'll listen to it for a while first.[/QUOTE]

Yes, there really is only one Grainger Morrison in the US.

pRC is a master and you can contact him through the AA.
 
I mounted the cartridge and set up next to my rack. I'm using the Bellari VP129 as a phono stage into my Bottlehead SEX amp, and of course the Cornwall II's.

I need to do some more listening, and I also know that it takes the Bellari a while to warm up, but so far my impressions are very favorable. The table is quiet as a stone.

Here are some glamor shots.

emp01.jpg


emp02.jpg


emp03.jpg


emp04.jpg


emp05.jpg


emp06.jpg


emp07.jpg


emp08.jpg


emp09.jpg
 
SpecialIdiot
Man your table is beautiful !
I keep coming back to this page to look at it.
The finished project it stellar.
bob
 
Looking good Jeff, but get some more finish on that end grain of the arm board please;)

How about some comparisons to the big Denon TT.
 
wow, the powdercoating really did a fine job on that beauty.

makes me miss the one Redboy is now getting so much enjoyment out of.
 
ejfud said:
How about some comparisons to the big Denon TT.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I'll be interested to hear your thoughts too, having little to compare mine to. It's not like I've been doing the vinyl thing for decades before this.

Gary, what would it take to work up another one of those armboards? :scratch2:
treserious said:
wow, the powdercoating really did a fine job on that beauty.

makes me miss the one Redboy is now getting so much enjoyment out of.
Click to expand...
Ture, I'm still enjoying the hell out of that table. Tinkering and tweaking to squeeze more and more out of it - did you see my new tonearm?
 
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