Mint Tractor

Doug, good write up on the effect the Mint had on your system.

Stringreen glad you started this thread, as we found out, precise cartridge set up IS absolutely critical.

I sent Yip's web info to the VPI dealer I heard the HRX and my Raven at.
Also I apologize to you and other VPI owners for my offencive drunken rant.

On a lighter note regarding the use of the Mint tractor.

I borrowed a high quality 10x loupe with a 40mm barrel from a collector of ancient coins.
I positioned the loupe on the platter with the bottom of the barrel about 3 mm or so from the stylus.

I then carefully ramped the loupe up on a angle so I could comfortably view the cantilever and stylus position on the tractor.
This worked very well and with the exceptional clarity of the optics this was a tremendous help opposed to using inexpensive plastic lenses.

I found these 10 and $20. 8,10,and 12x loupes a real source of aggravation, poor optics and too small to handle in such a fragile area.

Spending a little extra for a high quality loupe you could also use it to view your stylus for stuck on vinyl deposits on occasion.

Dan that's great.
I know you went through a period of doubt with your vinyl play back and came close to giving up on it entirely.

However you kept working away at it, with a bit of encouragement ,it slowly improved.

Then it finally paid off using the Mint.

Palasr, Dan-ed and Tim are the one's who brought the MintLp to our attention and I gratefully thank them...

Palasr and DougDeacon,

Agree regarding NOT having to secure a high mass platter including the Mint.
However I did anyway, per Yips instruction and for reasons Tvad points out.

For those whom skill level is not up there with Palasr, Doug and others , just follow the instructions and tips in Yips excellent manual. You will get there.

My guess with inherently less tracing errors with 12 inch arms, Minting a good one should have mind blowing results.

For those that have a table that will accommodate more then one arm.
Anyone here Mint more then one arm on their table specifically a 12 inch-er?

Sirspeedy
Regarding the excellent Graham jigs for the Phantom arm.
I made a few comments about the jigs through out the Feikert Analogue Protractor thread starting at 06-30-08.

Briefly, ever so carefully using the Graham cartridge jig, end results were close but not spot on.
I would have never of known this if I did not use the Mint tractor to check set up against the Graham jig.

With final set up using the Graham jig I found your simply relying on line of sight which result in an error in set up, for me anyway.

Also I believe different cantilever lengths in the Graham jig could also slightly throw off final set up.

I understand there has been a slight up date to the series two Phantom cartridge jig, a target line of sort for a reference guide.

Sirspeedy, even with the series two Phantom jig, the money spent on the Mint tractor for piece of mind would be money well spent....Double checking and getting precise alignment of your cantilever and stylus will have enormous sonic benefits.

Conversing with Yip several times I realized early on the man is MOST definitely interested in his customers and what his product can do.... Not just making a sale and simply forgetting about you.

Yes this is a minor purchase however I'm sure everyone here has a tale to tell concerning don't care sales staff including audio store owner's and manufactures.

Some people just don't understand what good customer relations can do for their sales and business.

Yip understands it well as does Thom Mackris of Galibier and Jeffery Canalano of High Water Sound, just to name a few.

Myself ,after a long 14 month search for a new record player and other components I was happy it finally came to an end.

On a different note Viper Z comments above that he found the initial set up of his cartridge using the VPI protractor to be correct compared to the Mint, for over hang anyway.

The supplied precision built jigs for my Graham Phantom arm are well above a VPI protractor.

The MintLp arc tractor is another step beyond the Phantom cartridge jig.

I can only guess at the time frame I spent lugging my table out to a suitable work area, re-leveling the table including preparation before using the Mint.

I can tell you it was more then 15 minutes.

Viper check your set up again....