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Thorens TD 125 tonearm

A

Arno93

New Member
hi, I just had a Thorens TD125 with a SME 3909 tonearm. The tonearm needs to be completly rewired and there is a broken part at the back.
Since it might cost more than the tonearm itself to fix and because I'm out of this budget I was wondering what tonearm you might think of a replacement. I will first have a Ortofon 2M blue.
Thank you.
I'm reading a lot on the equipment subject but I'm pretty new in specific equipment.
 
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It might be cheaper to fix the SME than to buy a new arm. Lets see pictures of the broken part.
 
I seriously doubt that you can find a used replacement arm (that is even as good as the 3009) for less than the cost of repairing the one that you already have,let alone a new one. If you are handy at all,re-wiring is something you can do yourself for minimal cost,and there are many video's etc on the interweb showing the complete process.
Also, replacement parts are readily available.SME Canada has lot's of stuff:)
 
The rebuild with a rewire is about 350, close to the value of the arm, I'd guess, but it makes it new again only better.

The rubber parts needed for back half to sit properly, if that is the issue with yours is 35 plus shipping, but would be included in that service. Other parts are available. What makes you know it needs a rewire? This is something along with replacing the rubber parts, that could be done by someone handy with working on small parts and such. That would be a cheap way, doing it yourself, to getting the arm up and running right. Wire isn't too expensive, even for the good stuff. If my arm needed this work I would do it. I'm in the middle of a different tonearm right now as I clean up all my TT loose ends this fall.

But you could probably put just about any 9" tonearm on that table just replace the armboard with one for the arm you install. Maybe a take off from some table like a Thorens, Kenwood or other that is offered with and without an arm and someone is changing out the original. The Thorens arm would not offer the front panel cuing unless the take off has that with it. The Kenwood (from the KD-550 or KD-650, have cue levers by the main mounting post.
 
Hi everyone! Thank you a lot for all the answers. Actually it is a knowledge friend of mine and also electronics tech and hifi lover and owner who told me that after measuring outputs there was one open, so it was better to rewired. And as I don't know how thw back part is build, yes it seems to be a rubber.
I will try to find a video that explain all and I'll try to take pictures to show you what it is all about. But the TT is at my friend's shop for now.
My concern was more about the value of this tonearm vs the repair price.
Also I am wondering how old school TT works on new recordings, usually way more compressed than back in the days, and if a Ortofon 2M blue was a good choice compare to the tonearm SME.
I really apreciate your concern, thank you
Arno
 
We don't know which 3009 you have they made a dozen of em, not really but more than a couple/few.
The 3009 is The Most Documented Tonearm in the World. Vinyl engine has downloadable info, just join, it doesn't hurt and they don't spam.
Probably need pics
There are a couple different end connections to make the weight fit properly and not droop if that is the issue.
The arm is worth 300-700 depending on which one it is and condition and the Ortofon is only adequate in that the arm can take a much higher level cartridge and get the most from it. Doesn't matter about shitty records today the SME will get the most from them. Need to know the tonearm to know if the 2M is right for it.
 
Interested in what exactly you have. With the number probably 3009 and the S2 being used on more than one series of arms from SME (in the online world at least), it is still difficult to state specifically what have you have based on what I have read so far.

The S2 was a version of the early 3009 and the S2 was also a version of the 3009 Improved (the s2 being the one with the removable headshell). I don't know the SME Truth but I'm still confused as to which arm you are specifically referring to above. Maybe you can point it out on this page

http://www.analogue-classics.com/html/sme_3009___3012.html I believe the Improved arms are the most numerous.

Just trying to narrow it down to know exactly what most folks think is the effective mass. The literature for the Improved arm might be mistaken according to how I read the web and that document.
 
I just watched this page. Mine is exactly the one with removable headshell.

http://www.analogue-classics.com/html/sme_3009___3012.html

If we say that all the detached pieces picture is the first picture of the page so mine is the third picture. And my brocken part is the part on the left of the balance weight.
The little black ring keep the weight part to the arm and I don't know if originaly it was glued but for mine it does not hold anymore and can easily been take off.
Hope it is nothing too dramitic
 
Someone is selling an ortofon 2m bronze with 100hours at a reslly good price, so I might go for it instead of the blue. If you guys think it is worth it
 
That is nothing too dramatic. http://www.smetonearms.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3_10&products_id=20 is the part you need and well those guys should know how it is kept in place. Might be worth it to replace if the old one is deformed, hardened or otherwise tired of doing the work of holding the counterweight properly. Somewhere on the interweb there has to be a utube video of that repair. That and rewiring both not to complicated for someone used to working small. A tech maybe or if you want to try it.

Now looking at your 12.5g effective mass, you have options for lots of cartridges. The Bronze is a good healthy step up from the Blue, better body and better stylus. The cartridge will put you just below the lowest limit for ideal resonance frequency with that arm, cartridge (compliance 22) and mounting. Going to a lower compliance would be better overall. Maybe a nice moving coil. You can use the cartridge database and resonance evaluator on vinyl engine to get some ideas but many cartridges will work. Seems 20 cu would be the upper limit for that arm.

It is the more desired arm, too, higher value so you gotta keep it and make it right.
 
Now you are right that it may not be the right match cartridge. I will post a new thread on that to have the optimal cartrige.
 
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