I've been running a Kuzma Airline for more than 12 years. I like it, it is made well, no issues other than dealing with air compressor, which adds an additional layer of complication to what is otherwise a pretty straightforward design and execution. Otherwise, pretty easy to set up and dial in, minimal maintenance.
I gather the Trans-Fi is the cat's meow at an easily digestible price.
I remember the Rabco. I think the arm on the Goldmund Reference (old) was similar, but there were/are tweaks to get it to play nicely.
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@clearthink- Have you owned, possessed and used a linear tracking arm for any length, duration or period of time? I'm curious, wondering and eager to know whether your view, opinion and position on these arms is based on experience, involvement and actuality, since my ownership, use and experience has not really required, mandated or necessitated ongoing adjustments, alterations or calibrations.
Thank you, regards and salutations,
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As little more than a long haired child back in the day a neighbor had many Citroen, including an XM that he bought new, circa 1972? His son, my age, used to borrow it and we'd drive it for the regular boring routine that teenagers had back then --the carpets were deeply padded, it had a purple cast to the windows and of course that hydraulic suspension. (I can't remember if the headlights pivoted, i thought those got outlawed at some point in the States). It had a nice engine burble, but subdued. I'd hate to have to restore one of those today. Maybe a Pallas D Decapotable by Chapron? |
@ct0517 - I'm interested in your comment about setting the ET for highest vertical inertia. How do you accomplish that? I've had the Kuzma Airline for at least a dozen years and remain happy with it (the only issues have been compressor related and now that I have a relationship with the SIL folks here in Texas, I've pretty much solved that problem, though it does require more maintenance than a conventional arm). Bass? Not in your face, thwacking slam. But if it is on the record, you will hear it. There is something very 'unmechanical" sounding about these arms. I did have an ET that was given to me many years ago, but never got around to setting it up. Herb Wolfe, who only recently passed away, was supplying a lot of the pumps and hardware to the NY audio mafia back in the day. He was a very cool guy. |
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@ct0517 - I can ask Franc about the counterweight. Dunno. This is a pretty old arm, circa 2006-7 is when I bought it from an authorized dealer. |
10-4, @ct0517 - very helpful. Thanks. |
@ct0517 - thank you. The FAQ on Franc’s site talks about an optional lighter counterweight. The Airtight Supreme is going to get rebuilt very soon, and I may also try a couple other cartridges, but I guess what you are suggesting is what- smaller lighter weight to go further back on that rod further away from the headshell? My bet is Franc could probably supply those without much trouble, but yeah, there are a couple of pretty good people here who rebuild vintage bikes, do basic mechanical work, so getting it done isn’t a problem, knowing exactly what to ask for is my challenge.
Or, re-reading, it is a materials issue, not just a weight/balance issue? |
@ct0517 - another good question which will require a little exploration by me. Just when I thought I knew how to set this thing up after all these years! Your learning is valuable and obviously transferable--
Just literally removed my regular cartridge- have a rebuilt vintage cartridge arriving today as a stop gap (of all things, one of those old Monster Genesis 1000s). So, I can at least mess around with the arm a bit even though the cartridge I'll be using for now is far different in mass (and other things) from the Airtight that is going off for a rebuild. |
https://flic.kr/p/S8x8RW Dunno if this will work but here’s a shot of where the counterweight threaded tube mounts on the back of the air-bearing housing- looks like it is a threaded hole. Period. Thanks, @ct0517 if you click on the image link, and then click the image itself once it opens, it will enlarge. |
This has been a pretty informative thread~
For another story, I knew a guy back in Pittsburgh, where I grew up, who mounted a Vestigal arm (remember those, with the wagging headshell attached to a string which tensioned it?) to a Rabco. In theory, I guess it made sense.* In practice, I don’t remember. This was back in the mid-’70s.
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*Or maybe not, given the discussion of vertical inertia here- I don't have the physics knowledge to assess this meaningfully. |
Question for you Trans-Fi and ET 2 users- what kind of cartridges have you found best in terms of compliance? I have been using fairly high compliance cartridges since i got the Kuzma Airline years ago (Lyra, then Airtight) and using this stopgap Monster Genesis, which is medium compliance, its behavior seems better suited to the horizontal play of my arm. Thoughts?
BTW, uberwaltz- i use a center clamp/weight- the Kuzma table came with a pretty hefty screw down clamp, and i've been using the Stillpoints weight pretty much since it was introduced. Obviously, different set up than the Trans-Fi. |
@ct0517 and @terry9 - thanks both re my cartridge compliance question. I'll do a little reading.
regards,
bill |
