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Mounting Graham 2.2

I've been trying to mount a Graham 2.2 on a Nottingham Interspace but the best mount I can obtain leaves the arm about 1/4 inch short of the spindle point on the headshell (Graham set-up feature). My question for the pros is whether I can compensate by moving the cartridge forward in the head shell -- i.e. as long as the overhang is properly set up am I okay to play records? Thanks for your help.
vtl

Showing 2 responses by dougdeacon

dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
The Graham off-table cartridge mounting jig ASSUMES that spindle-to-pivot distance has been set, precisely, using their setup tool.

If pivot-to-spindle distance is off by 1/4" (!!!), setting overhang with the Graham mounting jig will result in a stylus and cantilever that are SEVERELY non-tangent to the record grooves. This will result in extraordinarily high levels of tracking distrortion, uneven and improper stylus and suspension wear and perhaps even record damage.

You have two choices:

1) Accept the 1/4" error in spindle-to-pivot. Align your cartridge with a platter-mounted protractor rather than the Graham jig. If proper alignment is possible (it may not be with such a huge tonearm mounting error) the cartridge will be at a very large angle to the headshell, but at the proper angle to the record. This would be sub-optimal but should not do any damage.

2) Obtain a proper armboard for your Hyperspace that allows mounting the Graham at the proper distance.

Solution (1) is marginal at best, and IMO a waste of your time and the money you spent on this rig. Do the job right.

Doug
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
The safe way to mount a cartridge in these circumstances will be my suggestion #1. You need a cartridge alignment protractor you can place on the platter to get the cartridge zenith angle correct. The Graham jig will be useless.

Depending on your cartridge screws-to-stylus length, some cartridges may not reach the null points on some two point protractors. You might have better luck (though inferior sound on inner and outer grooves) with a single point protrator.

If you don't have an alignment protractor you can download freebies from www.vinylengine.com, or use the one that comes with the HFN&RR test record if you have that.
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