Help with an old rega P3 - Page 2

TheBIGHEAD   Does the grace have a model number???? Most Rega cartridges have THREE mounting screws that go down through the head shell into the cart..........   To replace the whole new cable from cartridge tags the (little clips that go over the Cartridge pins) through the arm down the main arm pillar (bottom of tone arm) and then straight to the R and L RCA inputs +ground wire is about 350.00 or so + or - a few bucks.....But many guys and Myself included used the original cable that came with the RB-300 arm, and "it" served me well while I used it in the 80's up to 1995, I wish I still had my Rega 300 B arm........But I just had to up grade........It would make a damn good arm for a mono cartridge, to go with my Graham 2.2 that carries my Helikon or my Clearaudio Signature cartridges, on my reference TT............  Remember if you find the grace model number go to parts express and see if they have a replacement stylist...Have you tried (gently) pulling the Stylist out.....Be careful, hold the arm and slowly take hold of the front part of the cart. and pull straight out slowly.........Maybe look up the model # on the grace 1st...good luck man.......And don't forget to listen to "IT" after they install the new RCA plugs.........

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBigHead 

I was reading a little bit about these rega turntables, it sounds like the cable setup is a poor design and alot of people change the way it is grounded when they get work done to the cables.  Is this something I should look at doing while I have it in the shop?  If its in there should I jsut get the whole thing re-cabled?  I think depending on price I would rather do that, I dont really want to haul it back and forth to the repair place a bunch of times

Hi

If the cable has no problems apart from needing new RCA plugs then I recommend you leave it in place.

The cable is not a bad design at all, it is perfectly good.

The story with the Rega RB 300 arm is that absolutely vast numbers of them have been made and there is this huge market in "upgrading" them.

So, there is this industry in convincing people that they should have new cable fitted because there is "something wrong with the original cable".

I would not have the arm re-cabled if it is good because if the person re-cabling the arm is not experienced then he or she could damage the bearings.

Rega RB 300 arms use the earth shield of the cable as the earth for the actual arm. This is an absolutely fine practice and there is no problem with it whatsoever.

So, if the cable is okay I suggest you leave it be.

However do take the measures I suggested to check the cable for any problems. Notably make sure the clips on the little wires for the cartridge pins are in place.

On the subject of the cartridge connections of the cable.

If you are replacing the cartridge great care must be taken not to break off the little clips on those tiny wires.

I always used a pair of sniped noes pliers for this task.

However whatever system suits you is best.

It is, however, something to be careful of.