Do Tonearms need servicing


I treated myself to a to. 2nd Hand  SME  309 Tonearm. They have become expensive and rare over the last few months. It is optically in very nice condition and sounds good to my ears. However My estimation it is between 7 and 10 years old. 
I am asking myself whether I should get it serviced. Appreciate your input / sharing your experience.
jorgjean
@pindac,

Impressive stuff. Who would have guessed the connection between audio and dentistry?

’Modernisation, then before monies are spent, a understanding of what might be needing to be discussed will be a good Corner Stone to start the inquiries.’

Yes, relevant knowledge can be of considerable help in letting the individual decide if there’s anything to be gained sonically by upgrading/modernising.

Still it’s good to know that SME arms are held in high regard again after the ridiculing they were once routinely subjected to, even potentially 25 year old 309s!

’Today there are philosophies for Tonearm Designs that will be more focused on how to get the best from the mechanical interfaces for the parts used.’

As ever in engineering, the research goes on. Just reading about things like 3nm processor chips and lowest coefficient lubricants and micro bearings it’s easy to conclude that these are truly ’the days of miracle and wonder.’
Technology has been  ongoing in advancement, materials have become more function specific than generic, hence the application of this into New Conceptions of Design, or to use it on Designs already in use. 
Great contributions!

Response of the producer: no need for service - only if problems.
Response of SME tonearm specialist: No need for maintenace - only repair when needed.
On a sidenote:

It seems that there is a common understanding in the SME community and among dealers that the SME Van den Hul tonearm cables are a weak spot and need upgrading.

I run a test yesterday of a VdH MC D501 Silver Hybrid agains a Furutech AG-12. Imfound the VdH more open, bery clear and detailed. The Furutech warmer, less dynamic, less revealing. 
That VdH I find is not so bad as its reputation.

Is it not possible to post pictures in this forum?

Dear @pindac : "" materials have become more function specific than generic..... ""

this and other of your posts in other Agon threads are only showing your low knowledge levels in the different audio subjects because till now you don’t show facts that can prove what you state just like in that statement: where are those tonearm function specific materials you are talking about? because one thing is talk and the other give proves about. Please name not several materials but at least two function specific materials for today tonearm designs and manufacture it. I ask it in good shape because I'm really interested with due that we designed and manufactured a totally different tonearm kind of pivoted design where I have 3 of them mounted in my analog rig: so is important to know something that can help to that unique tonearm design. Can you?, thank’s.

In your other post talked about ceramic material in the tonearm bearing and this you posted with out knowing than ceramic is way resonant no matter what and it was proved through the audio year in analog rig items.

With all respect obviously that I don’t need an answer coming from a gentleman with no solid and true knowledge levels that perhaps is higher that what he showed here and else where, till this happens I will having same attitude with
. Obviously too that other persons like cd love it and no problem with because at the end only through a good dialogue with true knowledge coming from any whre always helps to improve our each one ignorance levels.


@cd318 : " Who would have guessed the connection between audio and dentistry? ""

some one like you with low knowledge on tonearm bearing kind and what a cartridge needs down there where you don’t need, say, 2K rpm.

Btw, pindac dead silence only confirm your low knowledge levels, bla, bla, bla,....bla is not enough for any one but the ones with similar knowledge levels than you.

R.