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SME 3012R Confusion

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Bnoyes12

New Member
I’m looking for an sme 3012R and found one for not a horrible price. Only thing is the counter weight looks different. I’ve tried finding the reason but unless it’s right in front of me and I’m not seeing it, I can’t find anything.these are the examples. I’m looking at the one that looks like it’s missing a part of the counterweight. Any and all help is appreciated!7BB41C7E-FFBD-4A31-8FA0-9D4EF761B8FB.jpegAEDA73FD-CB2E-440B-801B-8CDFCBD16C16.jpeg
 
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It could be the photo, but I do not see the standard cuing lever.

And the cuing bar the arm is resting on is not SME either.
 
The 3009 "R" is the best of the 3009 series. The arm tube behind the pivot can be moved left or right of the main arm tube. Arm will have a better horizontal balance when using different headshells. The "R" model is the only one that has this feature. Arm tube is stainless steel.
 
Bnoyes12 said:
So it’s an incomplete arm?
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It looks like it is mounted on something like a Thorens TD-520/521, with the cueing mechanism built into the turntable, rather than the arm.

Unless an original cueing lever can be retrofitted, it would not function properly on another turntable (no cueing function).

67CD89F5-9F02-4C3D-99D7-0E7E1D01CB1A.jpeg
 
Is the 12” really necessary? Adds 1.3 grams of extra mass (over the 3009) unless your cartridge can handle it based on the Vinyl Engine tables. Also needs more mounting room on your deck.
 
Coolhandjjl said:
Is the 12” really necessary? Adds 1.3 grams of extra mass (over the 3009) unless your cartridge can handle it based on the Vinyl Engine tables. Also needs more mounting room on your deck.
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You make a valid point. Except I didn’t mention I’m shopping for an armless original thorens td125 LB :D
 
If you’re going that route, you really want to invest a bit more and get a fully rebuilt SME arm. The SME guys in Canada rebuild 30xx arms, a fully rebuilt and rewired 3009 runs around $1200. Not sure what they charge for a 3012.
 
Coolhandjjl said:
If you’re going that route, you really want to invest a bit more and get a fully rebuilt SME arm. The SME guys in Canada rebuild 30xx arms, a fully rebuilt and rewired 3009 runs around $1200. Not sure what they charge for a 3012.
Click to expand...
Never heard of this site. Could you provide a link?
 
Coolhandjjl said:
Is the 12” really necessary? Adds 1.3 grams of extra mass (over the 3009) unless your cartridge can handle it based on the Vinyl Engine tables. Also needs more mounting room on your deck.
Click to expand...

The main advantages of 12” arms are the higher effective mass for paring with low compliance carts, and decreased distortion.

Plus the coolness factor :beatnik:
 
You would want the second click together weight for any heavier cartridges/headshells.
Here are a couple 3010R pics.
20210225_170550.jpg 20210225_170505.jpg
 
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Coolhandjjl said:
If you’re going that route, you really want to invest a bit more and get a fully rebuilt SME arm. The SME guys in Canada rebuild 30xx arms, a fully rebuilt and rewired 3009 runs around $1200. Not sure what they charge for a 3012.
Click to expand...

Compared with a Series II arm, getting a fully rebuilt 3009R/3012R is much less important, primarily because the R arms are newer, being manufactured in the 1980s compared with the 1960s-1970s for the Series II; and the R arms have RCA jacks instead of the problematic proprietary SME connection used in the Series II arms.

Personally I would most definitely not pay about twice as much for a rebuilt (really just re-wired) 3009R or 3012R arm.
 
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