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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
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?

elliottbnewcombjr
7,729 posts
 

I’ve seen a few Thorens TD124 with cantilevered mounting boards for long arms, you could do something like this, on left, rear, right, move your existing l/r/r, get your main arm on the right side.

lewm
14,668 posts
 

What CAN be done is not necessarily a good idea to do it, like that cantilevered arm board on the TD124. In my opinion of course.

elliottbnewcombjr
7,729 posts
 

lewm

I agree with you, I've seen one at VAS, it's very hard material, but still .....

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