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Rear arm on VPI Classic 4 Turntable

Has anyone ever put a rear arm on a VPI Classic 4 turntable?  Does a 12 inch arm work comfortably at the back or is a 10 inch arm better?  What hardware is needed? How difficult is it to install - and use?

I’m a unipivot wand arm swapper.  I have 5 12 inch JMW 12 inch wand arms.  I was thinking of adding a 12 inch gimbal to the right sided arm but want to preserve a 12 inch unipivot for my other wandarms.

I am turning to the community for advice because try as I might I cannot get VPI to answer my emails or calls.  They seem to have abandoned customer service for some reason  I do love the turntable though despite being ghosted.

Useful input appreciated!

ulcerdoc
tablejockey
4,403 posts
 

 

Yes, you can fit two 12-inch tonearms on a VPI Classic 4 turntable

. The Classic 4 was specifically designed with a larger plinth for this purpose. 

VPI IndustriesVPI Industries +2

Key details regarding this setup:

  • Capacity: The plinth is large enough to accommodate two 12-inch arms, or a combination of 10-inch and 12-inch arms.
  • Setup: The second armboard typically mounts to the rear of the plinth, often overhanging the edge.
  • Arm Options: The table can be configured with VPI's own 12-inch 3D or Fatboy arms, as well as third-party arms.
  • Recommendation: While it is possible to mount two, users have noted that proper setup of a 12-inch arm requires careful attention to the spindle-to-pivot (S2P) distance and, in some cases, smaller counterweights may be needed to ensure full movement. 
elliottbnewcombjr
7,731 posts
 

Some arms, not many, have heavier weights, often Titanium. That allows a shorter rear counterweight, which might fit on the plinth or inside a dust cover. Also, a small diameter base might be needed if close to something.

I found a compact Mission (Jelco) that just barely fit for my third arm which is typically a Mono cartridge.

They made a fixed version which I started with, and the one I found later with a removable headshell. I just barely squeezed it on the plinth/under the dust cover when on. I had learned by getting lucky with my 2nd arm.

elliottbnewcombjr
7,731 posts
 

Anybody want a DD TT81; two arm plinth; awesome UA-7082 arm (11-1/8" effectve length, 270mm spindle to pivot.

Listed 2 days ago

https://www.canuckaudiomart.com/details/650211441-victor-tt-81-turntable-quartz-locked-direct-drive-with-long-victor-ua-7082-tonearm/

 

CAD 1,100 equals $805 usd, the arm alone is worth that.

add tax, insurance, shipping, tarriff ..... it still might be a bargain, these plinths don’t pop up so often these days like they did in 2019 when I got mine.

My friend is having new veneer applied to his very rare CL-P3 Plinth designed with 3 removable arm boards.

That arm is awesome, very smooth ’on the fly’ height refinement and ’on the fly’ anti-skate. I wish it had an adjustable headshell fitting like the Micro Seiki’s, but I have several Audio Technica Headshells with Azimuth Adjustability to solve that. 

I had my time with a 12-1/2" Effective Length arm, I much prefer this 11-1/8" arm (same exact length as the Micro Seiki MA-505L

It’s big: 508mm deep; 565mm wide, special 7 layer construction, see thru the arm cutout. My armboard is OEM, same layered construction, seriously stiff; some replacement arm boards are different. 

Tis one: rear armboard never drilled, that’s very rare if it’s the OEM board. I had to ease my rear hole a few mm for my Acos Lustre GST-801 arm, and the right board is rotated, original OEM 270mm hole, my little blue level is covering the hole for my 12-1/2" arm. And I made a recess for the 45 adapter that sits in another old hole it came with. I gave that arm to a friend I met here.

 

 

elliottbnewcombjr
7,731 posts
 

Steve Leung owner of VAS

https://vasnyinc.com/

worked with VPI and knows their stuff well. He might be able to give you some answers and suggestions.

He has a big VPI deck and like you several arm wands, unipivots, that have the mini-din connector and VPI junction box.

A compromise length is 11-1/8" effective, either JVC Victor UA-7082 or Micro Seiki MA-505L. I have installed both, prefer the JVC, but highly recommend either.

elliottbnewcombjr
7,731 posts
 

Here’s a 10" EL that has VTA on the fly, Micro Seiki MA-202L

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/147014554998?mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&siteid=0&campid=5336403535&toolid=10001&customid=itemlinkUS

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