Stylus overhang - Yamaha PX-3
- Thread starter chapps
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Thanks jb. I found that in another thread on AK and so you are right. Also, apparently the Denon gauge works for the Yamaha PX-3. 50mm.
@SFBayArch I should have clarified form headshell edge to stylus tip.
illini
The Past is Alive
Thanks. It's not listed in there or the service manual. It just says to us the gauge, which is long gone.
interalian
Super Member
^ Use a caliper. Or straighten out a paper clip and form it to 50mm and use it as a gauge. Or drill a hole in a board to fit the headshell peg and use a set square. Hell, even a piece of cardboard with a square edge. Creativity at its best.
truckrglenn
Lost
Does your headshell have the little rectangle nut that fits across top? It makes alignment alot easier.
This 50 mm is wrong it puts the needle behind the record spindle.
On a linear tracking turntable the needle needs to be dead center with the record spindle so it tracks straight across.
I tried the technics 50mm and it sounded bad my needle wasn't centered with the spindle.
I made a jig that made a straight line across the record centered with the spindle and its tracking straight across the record and sounded way better detailed.
Hope this helps someone.
The 50mm is for regular turntables with s curved arm and straight headshells.
Scott
On a linear tracking turntable the needle needs to be dead center with the record spindle so it tracks straight across.
I tried the technics 50mm and it sounded bad my needle wasn't centered with the spindle.
I made a jig that made a straight line across the record centered with the spindle and its tracking straight across the record and sounded way better detailed.
Hope this helps someone.
The 50mm is for regular turntables with s curved arm and straight headshells.
Scott
Rolls-Royce
Active Member
If you are referring to the white plastic Technics gauge as supplied with the SL-1200, that's 52mm.
That's actually not such a bad idea and I would be very interested if you could put up a picture or two of that jig?
Yes, Yamaha does provide that tool with which to measure the overhang distance but I've always thought of it as a rather crude device considering an otherwise fairly stellar, quality turntable. First, when you are using it the objective is to get the tip of the stylus to be at the precise raised point on the end of the plastic piece. I found that less than a perfect way to assess things and actually more of a "get you in the ballpark" idea. Second, having a jig that provides the actual center of the spindle perspective, if properly designed, should give one that center point across the entire travel of the arm from outside to inside of the record and I would think that to be a good thing! Otherwise, when you think about it, if it is not right on then the angle at which the stylus is tracking would not be at 90deg. but instead something either just short of or over the 90deg. and that, when you think further on it, would tend to have an effect on the zenith setting, no? Sure, you can change zenith by slightly moving the cartridge, one side a little farther up or down in the slots, but that's a very tricky thing to get just right. So, we do what we can but it makes a lot of sense to at least start with that 90deg. angle being correct from the spindle. Then, I suppose, one can change zenith a bit and tune by ear. Let's not forget about what happens to the stylus when the tracking force is applied as in when it hits the record surface......will it not be pushed forward a millimeter or so as the suspension allows the cantilever to be pushed upward? I'm just thinking off the top of my head as I write this, so welcome further thoughts or ideas that I may be missing or just plain wrong about.
In any case, thank you @a-cman2 for bringing this to our attention. I just might put my BIA F159 phonostage with the built-in crosstalk reduction system into this system and do some measurements electronically to see the differences......stay tuned amigos!
PS - Or, am I just over-thinking this whole thing??? A considerable possibility no doubt!
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Thunderbox
Super Member
I believe the gauge is just to make sure the stylus is directly over the spindle. There is no overhang on a linear tracking tt.
Good point, @Thunderbox ! I suppose we often think of "overhang" as the position of the stylus in relation to the headshell, that, is how far forward or rearward it is located therein and that, in turn, relates to the distance that it "overhangs" the spindle as stipulated by the manufacturer. But, as you say, with a linear tracking turntable it's about the stylus being located precisely on a line through the center of the spindle during its entire course of travel from the lead-in grooves to the lead-out grooves.
It would be fairly simple to make a T jig. Have a straight section, with a hole drilled on one end for the spindle. And a piece lined up to the TT edge, 90 degree angle on both sides. Draw a straight line from spindle center to TT edge.
Yep, that's what I was thinking as well.....still like to see the jig @a-cman2 made, just curious.
