Need help and advice on a VPI 3D arm


I was wondering if anyone else has had this issue with the new 3D arm? I bought a new Prime table 4 months ago to try the new 3D arm I also have a Classic stainless steel arm to load another cart on to compare the two back and fourth, last night I was going to switch the cartridges on the two arms and could not set the azimuth on the 3D arm, to get the azimuth right I had to tilt the drop counter weight plus the Soundsmith intuitive way off of center and it is causing the side weights to rub against the adjustment column and is very tilted, after walking away from the setup 3 times I pulled the arm, pulled the side weights off so it would sit square on a level marble counter top and set it flat on the surface and eyeballed it, this thing has lost its shape, the barrel of the arm has a gradual bend downward and the cartridge shell portion of the arm is rolled down and in. This is really throwing off the geometry of the cart in the arm. I placed the stainless steel arm out in the same way and its barrel is perfectly straight and it's head shell is straight as well, it's only issue is that it is slightly off on the azimuth but that can be adjusted out easily. The fact that the barrel and the headshell on the 3D arm is so far off I certainly can not trust my setup to be accurate. I store whichever arm is not being used in a VPI holding case for the 10 inch arms and it has not been dropped or subjected to any drastic temperature changes. I am going to call VPI on Monday but if this is an issue with these arm wands I certainly don't want another one. Let me also add that I believe that this has been a gradual demise of the arm and that I do love the arms sonic signature so would hope VPI has an answer. Tooblue
tooblue

Dover said :
"This raises the question of whether both the stylus and your records have been damaged - not good. For example - if a cartridge miss-tracks once, the record is permanently damaged."

Reply :

You're probably right about minor damage occurring but once the arm & cart are properly set up or e.g. the cleanliness issue is removed by deep cleaning, it's unlikely you'll ever be able to hear any signs of damage. (As long as it's a one-off playback and not persistently exposed to the same mistake.)

I could be wrong of course but I've had situations like this and the LP has come up smelling of roses afterwards - as if the mistracking never happened. It's always easy to pick out those moments for "analysis" during replay because it invariably happens on peaks.

My 3D arm is functioning perfectly.  Everyone...even VPI is awarded a screw up from time to time...  This however, could have been done from shipping....VPI will support you.

I personally have 10 3D arms in all lengths and will tell you the armtube has a 1/4" copper tube running through it so it cannot bent or twist.  The headshell is the only part that can bend when confronted with heat, cold, or sun.  Under normal conditions they do not move at all.  If yours twisted you will get a new one even if you bought it years ago because we stand behind everything we make.  Make sure Marc sends you a new one.

HW

I will Harry and if you would please view the pics I sent to Marc they are quite revealing. My arm should be back at VPI so you can look at it as well. Thanks for your response.