Pickering V-15 brush does not clear the headshell

[Redd House]

^ b/c the brush bristles are pushing the whole contraption upwards by their compliance. They're like little springs that require about 1 gram of force to resist.

That's what I always thought and probably the main reason I take the brush off - so I know exactly how much VTF I'm dialing in. I mean, how can you know it's 1 gram except for that's what the company tells you?

 

[empirelvr]

That's what I always thought and probably the main reason I take the brush off - so I know exactly how much VTF I'm dialing in. I mean, how can you know it's 1 gram except for that's what the company tells you?

When I got my digital VTF scale I measured various Stanton and Pickering brushes because, like you, I was always a little bit skeptical. All were one gram each.

 

[sKiZo]

I sit corrected on the static dissipation capabilities of the brush. Thanx to @cafe latte posting the official Pickering side of things in that regard.

PS ... no issues with brush clearance here. ;-}

 

[Mr Boochie]

That's what I always thought and probably the main reason I take the brush off - so I know exactly how much VTF I'm dialing in. I mean, how can you know it's 1 gram except for that's what the company tells you?

Can't you put the stylus, plus the brush, onto a digital scale. At record level, to find combined tracking force?

 

[Redd House]

Can't you put the stylus, plus the brush, onto a digital scale. At record level, to find combined tracking force?

Yes, that's what I was thinking too. Try it with the brush on and set it for 2.1g. Then take the brush off and see it reads 1.1g.

 

[Evonimos]

As usual, a great deal of confusion around the simple, yet elegant "Dustamatic" brush.
It's useful to read through the original Pickering brochure, posted by VWestlife.

On the matter of audible improvent by using it, I run my ABX tests and couldn't hear it.
Regardless, i always like to use it (wherever possible).
It allows for an extra gram VTF (always welcome) and for cleaner records/tip.

 

[cafe latte]

As usual, a great deal of confusion around the simple, yet elegant "Dustamatic" brush.
It's useful to read through the original Pickering brochure, posted by VWestlife.

On the matter of audible improvent by using it, I run my ABX tests and couldn't hear it.
Regardless, i always like to use it (wherever possible).
It allows for an extra gram VTF (always welcome) and for cleaner records/tip.

Yes there seems to be a massive amount of misinformation re the brush.
Chris

 

[Blue Shadow]

And of course we can use a small dab of the extra 300,000 cSt silicone fluid we all have on the hinge points for these brushed and make them fluid damped!!

I don't understand the need to know exactly what the tracking force is and removing the brush for that reason. Tracking force has a range and most cartridges sound best at the high end of the range. Some can hear the difference between 0.1 gram settings but many would hear the difference between the minimum and maximum recommended tracking force. I wonder how many here are using the minimum tracking force to avoid record wear when in fact that causes more wear due to mistracking.

 

[Blue Shadow]

Oh, I loved the extra cleaning the Stanton brush did on my first table. Those original brushes are alright in my book. The aftermarket stiff ones are junk.

 

[Bicyclist]

I have a pickering v15 with the brush and it looks cool as hell, i cant hear the brush...

 

[T68]

I have an aftermarket stylus and brush on my Stanton 680 and it seems to work ok. Have never ran the stock version so cannot compare though. Not sure of which brand the aftermarket stuff is. Got it off some small time dealer on the auction site who claimed it was "Swiss made" without beeing able to state the brand. But it was cheap and left me a little something to get a cold one or two. And it sounds just fine.

 

[Johncan]

So I used a Mobile Fidelity GEO-DISC Cartridge Alignment Tool instead of the built in stylus position gauge on the Elac Miracord 50H Mk II. They align slightly different, but it aligned enough to get the brush to avoid the headshell. I added 1 gram back to the tracking force. Now for some active listening over the 3-day weekend.

 

[sKiZo]

Oh oh ... I can see this thread devolving into a "which gauge is right" debate ... ;-}



PS ... I was originally a Baerwald alignment method junkie but eventually migrated to Loefgren B ... mostly because I always wanted to try it, and couldn't be bothered to set it back afterwards as I couldn't hear any audible differences in the results, except for MAYBE a bit better performance on the inner tracks.

In any case, good to hear the OP has a working solution. WITH the brush attached as the Pickering gods intended.

 

[cafe latte]

Oh oh ... I can see this thread devolving into a "which gauge is right" debate ... ;-}



PS ... I was originally a Baerwald alignment method junkie but eventually migrated to Loefgren B ... mostly because I always wanted to try it, and couldn't be bothered to set it back afterwards as I couldn't hear any audible differences in the results, except for MAYBE a bit better performance on the inner tracks.

In any case, good to hear the OP has a working solution. WITH the brush attached as the Pickering gods intended.

Yes there is no right and wrong Bearwald is better for distortion over the whole record, but Loefgren is fine, I had to use the latter on my EPC 205cmk3 as its integral headshell does not allow for Bearwald offset angle. Both methods are a fudge in reality.
Chris

 

[Johncan]

In any case, good to hear the OP has a working solution. WITH the brush attached as the Pickering gods intended.

And with the right cartridge and stylus match too .