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Pioneer PL-51 Bias Weight

AshC

AshC

New Member
Hello, I am looking for someone with a Pioneer PL-51 who might be able to tell me the weight of the Bias or Lateral or whatever it's called. First TT, didn't come with the little weight when I bought it on eBay. I'm looking to 3D print a replacement and just need a proper weight and dimensions to get close to. Thank you.
 
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I owned a PL-51, bought brand new in 1974.

What are you talking about, a bias weight? I don't understand? What's a bias weight?
There's a counterweight for setting VTF, and an Anti-Skate Dial on the Arm, that's it. Oh, and a cueing Arm-Lever. Fully manual.

Can you show a picture of what you're talking about and missing?
 
1337739-vintage-pioneer-pl-51a-turntable.jpg
 
I think I know what you're talking about now, that little weight hanging on the left side of the Arm Gimbal, on that little Rod, correct?

I'm not sure just how important that is? I'd imagine other Pioneer Tables might have used that same little gizmo
 
Yeah, it's a little bit pricey, but if you have the Rod present for this weight, then this looks like what you need.
I didn't search that thoroughly though the auction site, there might possibly be others available?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Pioneer-PL...043576?hash=item46ab345238:g:JacAAOSw9WBedYOn

(PS: I've seen some others by simply searching "Pioneer Bias Weight" on that auction site, and while there's a few that look just like it, I'm not sure about dimensions, weight, and attachment being precisely the same? For the few dollars more, might be best to get what should properly fit, and be done with it)

Sure, a competent machinist could make such with precise measurements, not sure if you have the tools and expertise needed. I'll assume the part is Stainless Steel, but might have the underside of the weight hollowed out somewhat to achieve proper precise weight of this part.

I'd have little doubt a machinist just might charge what this readily available part would cost you, and perhaps even more, plus the involvement of more time, and grey hairs. This appears to me to be the exact part you require

Hope this has helped you, best of luck.
Mark
 
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When I first bought this Turntable from MusiCraft on Oak St. in Chicago around 1974, I immediately fell in love with it on sight, tested the display model and bought a fresh sealed unit on the spot! If memory serves me correctly, it wasn't that inexpensive of a table for the time, I believe I paid $350. And for the time, this was a really nice looking and performing Turntablle

I got many great years of service from it, keeping that Turntable until about 1996, when I then bought the VPI HW-19 Jr Table from MusicDirect in Chicago. Looking back, I wonder just how far the performance of this Table could've gone with even better Cartridges, possibly an MC Type?

I had paired this Table with either new Shure V-15 III, or Audio Technica AT-14S Cartridges at the time, got very nice performance, running out to brand new dual McIntosh MC-2105 Amps and 4 JBL L-65 Jubal Speakers.

About the only minor quibble, was no built in Strobe Lamp, but I had at the time bought a small plug in A/C Powered Neon Light designed for the purpose of accurately adjusting pitch on the Platter.

It was a Table that held rock solid pitch adjustment, so the Neon Light was not needed to be constantly used. Sometimes a small florescent lamp can work in a pinch.

I liked the fact that the Tonearm Cable was not a hard wired affair and I had a good quality Shielded Tonearm Cable RCA-RCA with Ground Wire.

Hope you enjoyed these further comments.
 
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