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P-Mount woes (crazy skipping and looping)

Managed to adjust the counterweight in the back (there was a screw you could turn), so now it tracks at around 1.29g (+ or - 0.1 gram)
 

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It still skips and loops on the Amy Grant record, but I'll play other records to see if it skips on anything else
 
I think I figured out why the Amy Grant record skips and loops. It is an uneven pressing. When it is playing on the C8 (the only turntable that plays this record without skipping or looping), the tonearm had to oscillate left and right a tiny bit to keep the stylus in the groove. Somehow the JVC doesn't like that at all.
 
I'll go back on what I said about the Amy Grant record. It still skips and loops on all problematic records, and there's even more distortion and sibilance. Considering I've ruled out pretty much everything else by this point, I'll blame the cheap aftermarket stylus. Should have gotten a genuine one (as in the ATN81CP stylus) instead :( Also, come to think about it, the stylus I got might not have even been a Phansteihl one. It didn't come in a Phansteihl box but rather a clear plastic case with no brand name. I just thought it was because the listing for it on eBay had Phansteihl's model number for that stylus. Besides that, the listing made no mention of Phansteihl.
 
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But hey, at least through your help, I solved the other issues with my setup I didn't even know I had, like how the turntable was off level and how VTF was too high for that cartridge (1.88g vs recommended range of 1-1.5g). Thanks for your help, everyone!
 
But hey, at least through your help, I solved the other issues with my setup I didn't even know I had, like how the turntable was off level and how VTF was too high for that cartridge (1.88g vs recommended range of 1-1.5g). Thanks for your help, everyone!

Sometimes it takes time to figure out a problem. You have been very patient with the process, and that can help in learning what it going on. And hopefully, you have learned how patient and understanding AK members can be. Welcome to Audiokarma!
 
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RZ1 said:
I'll go back on what I said about the Amy Grant record. It still skips and loops on all problematic records, and there's even more distortion and sibilance. Considering I've ruled out pretty much everything else by this point, I'll blame the cheap aftermarket stylus. Should have gotten a genuine one (as in the ATN81CP stylus) instead :( Also, come to think about it, the stylus I got might not have even been a Phansteihl one. It didn't come in a Phansteihl box but rather a clear plastic case with no brand name. I just thought it was because the listing for it on eBay had Phansteihl's model number for that stylus. Besides that, the listing made no mention of Phansteihl.
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I have an AT15Sa cart, and before I managed to score an NOS stylus, I bought what turned out to be an extremely inferior copy. I can still remember the hairball of vinyl on the stylus :yikes: It pays to sometimes pay a little more for the assurance of a standard of quality. Something this hobby finds it necessary to do I think.
 
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Just to verify my thoughts, I decided to do a separate experiment with my Crosley C8 turntable setup. Since I am currently using an actual Phansteihl stylus (model 4211-D6 with an aluminum cantilever, and it came in the cardboard packaging Phansteihl styli usually come in rather than a clear plastic case) on the AT3600L cart that I am using on my C8, and that this stylus can track from 1.5-3.5g according to thevoiceofmusic.com, I adjusted the VTF on there from 3g down to 2g (I was noticing the cantilever was riding pretty low to the record at 3g. After adjusting I verified with my scale) and lo and behold, it plays perfectly! Sounds better and with less surface noise than at 3g, with no skipping and looping in sight! And this all the while playing the same records that skipped and looped like crazy on the JVC (like the previously mentioned Amy Grant's "Unguarded"). I feel this separate experiment confirmed my suspicions on what was happening with my JVC P-Mount turntable...
 
Aftermarket styli - including (or especially) Pfanstiehl - are also extremely hit-and-miss when it comes to suspension quality, as well.
 
Got the genuine ATN81CP stylus today. The Amy Grant record was the first thing I played, and no skipping or looping whatsoever! It also sounded a lot better than it did with the aftermarket one. Case closed :)
 
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