[reeltime]

I bought the Feickert protractor.  Expensive, but there's little doubt that you're spot-on.  The other products left me feeling like I had OCD.

 

[MisterMoJo]

  I bought the Feickert protractor.  Expensive, but there's little doubt that you're spot-on.  The other products left me feeling like I had OCD.

I am actually in the process of buying a Wally Tractor.

 

[analogsurviver]

ALL protractors, those for linear tracking arms included, have one problem.
 
They ASSUME the perfect cartridge. Less than 1 % of any given production run by any manufacturer can be adjusted in that "theorethical" way. Any real world cart/stylus (unless you are the uber lucky ...) is likely to be off by far more than is the difference in the precision of the REAL ALIGNMENT OF THE STYLUS IN THE GROOVE between a  $ 15-20 solid mirrored protractor and Feickert. 
 
Feickert does make great tools - no question about it. It is worth the money - no question about it either.
 
However, if the money is tight, an used oscilloscope, NEW test record and $15-20 solid mirrored protractor can be had for about the same amount of money. Used correctly, set up this way phono rig WILL run rings around Feickert "perfectly aligned" adjustment. No assuming, at least on basic level, no longer applies.
 
Even if you do not have any financial concerns and have Clearaudio device for azimuth adjustment - an oscilloscope and GOOD test record can save you tons of time and eliminate a cartridge that is misaligned beyond reasonable compensation in a matter of minute or two - because even Feickert Adjust software used for setting azimuth again ASSUMES the cartridge to be perfect. Fozgometer is in principle the same as CA, but far le$$ $. $till more than most in this thread are willing to pay for the cartridge...

 

[MisterMoJo]

I have started referring to my turntable as "the money pit."

 

[analogsurviver]

  I have started referring to my turntable as "the money pit."

Too gentle... -  trouble is, there is the same required for the setup of an Orbit or a Horstmann und Petter Derenville - in fact, one needs more for the Orbit, as the biggest badass TT already has incorporated VTF gauge and mini camera for precise setting of the VTA ( at a cool 500.000,00 EUR - 0.5M Eur

 TT ... ).
 
I try my best to remain reasonable - in the sense of an oscilloscope at say $200 or so vs Clearaudio http://www.technologyfactory.eu/index.php?item=clearaudio-azimuth-optimizer&action=article&aid=2453&lang=EN
 
OK, CA unit as a bonus has a phono preamp and headphone amp - but the price differential is roughly 20 times.
 
You will need the same test records with either. An oscilloscope still wins in rooting out any "weed" in stylus alignment.

 

[Silent One]

Getting a used pre-owned oscilliscope sounds interesting...

 

[MisterMoJo]

I found a really good protractor online to print out:
http://www.conradhoffman.com/chsw.htm
It's the "custom arc template generator..."

 

[Eee Pee]

I got my AT 440mla last Saturday.  Opened a beer, broke out my Shure tracking force gauge, the Traveler's included protractor, my mirrored protractor and the magnifying glass.  An hour maybe, and I was in business.  Within the week, I'm 21 full albums deep.
 
Quite obsessing and get to enjoying it already.

 

[Skyliner]

Getting a used pre-owned oscilliscope sounds interesting...

If you want to take that route use a free one. Visual Analyser has every function you could want or need. Requires an x32 pc with soundcard and it works as advertised. This is what I use to set speeds with a test record.

http://www.sillanumsoft.org/

 

[RUMAY408]

If you want to take that route use a free one. Visual Analyser has every function you could want or need. Requires an x32 pc with soundcard and it works as advertised. This is what I use to set speeds with a test record.

http://www.sillanumsoft.org/

Very cool, thank you!

 

[BLACKENEDPLAGUE]

  I got my AT 440mla last Saturday.  Opened a beer, broke out my Shure tracking force gauge, the Traveler's included protractor, my mirrored protractor and the magnifying glass.  An hour maybe, and I was in business.  Within the week, I'm 21 full albums deep.
 
Quite obsessing and get to enjoying it already.

 
 
Since you are a local obsessive, I might buy that cartridge. Thanks man.

 

[macbob713]

I just picked up a new Rega RP 8 and I need some advice. First off, the felt mat picks up dust, and sticks to the lp's. Anyone have some ideas for a compatible mat? I tried a project leather mat,,but it slightly changed the character of the sound. Second, I'm thinking about removing the outer cut out plinth. Where would I find a suitable dust over?

 

[analogsurviver]

I just picked up a new Rega RP 8 and I need some advice. First off, the felt mat picks up dust, and sticks to the lp's. Anyone have some ideas for a compatible mat? I tried a project leather mat,,but it slightly changed the character of the sound. Second, I'm thinking about removing the outer cut out plinth. Where would I find a suitable dust over?

Removing the outer cut out plinth is a good idea. It is there for the reasons of "tradition" only - and not to look too blantantly copy-cat(ish) compared to Funk Firm tables. Idea behind all of those being the same.
 
Felt mat ? No. For the reasons described. There are antistatic mats with "similar" sound characteristics, please try to see what you can get "locally" - but there is always ebay. But with each mat, you will have to take into account some change of sound. Very interresting are mats made from cork or cork/rubber composite, since you can tune the result to the best of your liking. Few examples :
 
http://www.ebay.de/itm/PatheWings-Plattenteller-Auflage-Record-Mat-SET-3-2-1-mm-C-fur-Rega-Thorens-Linn-/330971378819?pt=Plattenspielerzubeh%C3%B6r&hash=item4d0f6e7483
VTA "adjuster" on the cheap for Rega - but can be sonically tuned to n-th degree
 
http://www.ebay.de/itm/Carbon-Fibre-Plattentellerauflage-Plattenteller-Matte-Karbon-Turntable-Mat-/310587601199?pt=Plattenspieler&hash=item485076b12f
carbon impregnated felt, antistatic
 
http://www.ebay.de/itm/Allegro-K-1-Plattentellerauflage-Kork-Plattenteller-Auflage-Matte-NEU-OVP-/381114193022?pt=Plattenspielerzubeh%C3%B6r&hash=item58bc2d147e
cork with label recess
 
http://www.ebay.de/itm/Allegro-K-2-Plattentellerauflage-Gummi-Kork-Plattenteller-Auflage-Matte-NEU-OVP-/261722502400?pt=Plattenspielerzubeh%C3%B6r&hash=item3cefe07500
cork/rubber composite with label recess
 
http://www.ebay.de/itm/Allegro-Carbonmatte-aus-Carbon-High-End-Plattenteller-Auflage-Matte-NEU-OVP-/261718972335?pt=Plattenspielerzubeh%C3%B6r&hash=item3cefaa97af
Carbon - thickness 0.5mm, can be combined with others....
 
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OscarsAudio-Cork-and-Rubber-Turntable-Mat-twin-mat-BEST-VALUE-ON-EBAY-/271420698485?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_Turntables&hash=item3f31ef2f75
They have very interesting and value for money mats - too many to list
 
Then there are acryl mats, etc,etc - just to give you some idea.
 
As you can see, I chose the "generic/no name" but QUALITY products - there is any number of "premium" producers of the basically same thing at premium prices.
 
Then there is "men's jewelry" : http://www.ebay.de/itm/Oyaide-Plattenteller-Auflage-MJ-12-Originalware-/131329423502?pt=Plattenspielerzubeh%C3%B6r&hash=item1e93d7f88e
 
 
 
AND then there are record clamps - no mat has hardly any effect if the (dished) record has contact with mat only at and around the label area, with most of the LP free to resonate FOREVER 

...
 
For the dust cover - due to the awkwardness of shipping - please see what is available locally. It may well mean a custom job. But you can possibly get by with the use of "any" dustcover of sufficient size and arrange for some kind of support/shims that will lift it by sufficient amount. Ebay, Craiglst, etc ...

 

[Eee Pee]

  Since you are a local obsessive...

 
While I am, I meant to use the word QUIT obsessing (AC got me, and I didn't catch it).  I was trying to tell mistermojo to relax already and listen to some tunes!

...

 
Regarding the mat, it seems weird to spend that much and not be able to use it as it came.  Wait a minute, what am I saying?  It took me not long to take the metal platter off the Traveler and swap in my other VPI plastic platter with a clamp...  I'd take the plinth cutout and hang it on the wall.  That'd be neat.  RP8 is just a beauty to look at.
 
The original Traveler comes with a rubbery mat that doesn't look like the shelf liner looking thing they use now.  I was using a pillow cover to keep dust off it, and bought a camera lens bulbous rocket looking blower off'r thing.  After the platter swap I stopped all that and now use a Mobile Fidelity brush on the matless platter before each side.
 
I like the idea of a light and lively sound, but I guess I really like the damp it until it's dead theory more.

 

[macbob713]

Thanks for all the great ideas. I tried to find these on Amazon but no luck.