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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
elliottbnewcombjr
7,729 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
7,729 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

mulveling's avatar
mulveling
2,449 posts
 

VPI had been showing off a standalone arm pod on social media. IIRC it was called "the pod". I don’t know if it’s a product they’ll "flirt" with but never release. 

You might try their Facebook group "I love my VPI turntable", if you’ve have trouble through call / email inquiries. Matt and Harry both frequent that group and are very helpful. There’s other extremely helpful & informed folks there, too (prepare to be impressed by Sherry). I’ve had the experience (from calling) that VPI’s other employees are far less than impressive, ugh. 

I don’t have experience with Classic, but their sandwich plinths (Aries, HR-X, Avenger) seem very sensitive/reactive to bass frequencies especially in combination with the 3D arms. Speculating here, but a standalone pod might help to break that up?

exigem2
12 posts
 

I just purchased a Classic 4 and installed a 2nd arm. First, I added a 10" unipivot and then a 12". I ended up getting a 12" fatboy gimbal for the main (my reference) tone arm and moved the 12" Unipivot to the left side. It works great, The guidance that lewm provided is what I did. Measuring the distance and then positioning the base and drilling the holes. It was a PITA but works great and now that it is done, I bought a 2nd 12" unipivot arm and I can swap arms in a min with a pre-mounted cart. I'll try to post some pics. 

ulcerdoc OP
68 posts
 

Thank you exitem2.  Glad to find someone who has done this at last.  Why did you have to drill holes?  Doesn’t the VPI hardware just drop in?

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