curved rega tonearm

[padego]

Hi folks
I have an option to buy an older rega p2 with the above early tonearm. I believe its from the late 70s, early 80s. The turntable is in great condition as its hardly been used, but I can find no info on the arm. Does any one know (a) anything about them, (b) are they tweakable? I know I can upgrade the motor but am I throwing good money away if the arm is substandard?

 

[EC8010]

I have a suspicion that the arm is the old Acos Lustre. In which case, it's quite high mass and would be best suited to a cheap moving coil cartridge (the Lustre had quite good bearings).

 

[padego]

thanks for the reply
It turns out that audioorigami has worked on several of these arms and has photos posted
I hope to start tinkering by the end of the month...

 

[planet10]

I've one of those. The arm is a reasonable but pretty off-the-shelf japanese arm, likely made in the CEC factory next to all the others.

It's not an RB250 but isn't bad.

dave

 

[barryblue]

I bought my Linn LP12 in 1975 with this arm fitted. At the time it was called the Rega RB200. I am just replacing it with a modified OL1.

I used the RB200 with a variety of cartridges includign Dynavector MCs and Roksan MMs. They all work well.

Barry

 

[PierreG]

It is an RB200. It was a good tonearm for its price in 1978. But it is not close to a RB250 and even farther from an RB300....It is now a substandard tonearm.

 

[audiobomber]

Years ago I bought a Rega 2 with the RB200 arm. IMO the arm was a lot better than the table. Rega claimed it had lower friction than the contemporary SME. It was rather low mass, and it should be just fine with any of a number of moving magnets.

 

[planet10]

not close to a RB250 and even farther from an RB300...

many would say an RB250 has more potential than an RB300... my buddy sold his RB300 to get a 250 (and then rewired, added teflon/brass counterweight and telfon beraing bolt + more)

dave

 

[audio-kraut]

sorry - the rb 200 is/was crap. I had it with my transcriptors for years - heavy, but even on slightly warped lp's it was jumping all over the place. Used it with an ortofon mm system m 20 super or so. If that system was maybe a little stiffer than todays, that arm still despite its mass was not able to control it.

And - it was sold seperately as the ACOS and people selling it on ebay try to convince buyers by claiming it to be "highend" or high quality.

No comparison to the rb 300 - which I have modified with the origin live kit - wiring and new and better mounted counterweight.

 

[planet10]

I'm happy with mine (especially for the price -- $105 CAD with Rega II & Grado F3)... working on a swap for a Linn Basik thou.

dave

 

[audiobomber]

sorry - the rb 200 is/was crap. I had it with my transcriptors for years - heavy, but even on slightly warped lp's it was jumping all over the place. Used it with an ortofon mm system m 20 super or so. If that system was maybe a little stiffer than todays, that arm still despite its mass was not able to control it.

Your arm or cartridge must have been defective. I used the Ortofon M15ES and I had none of the problems you experienced.

I'm not saying the RB200 is as good as an RB250 or 300. But it's good enough for a P2 and a MM. I'd use the table and arm and save my pennies to upgrade both.

 

[audio-kraut]

ok - jumping all over the place is slightly exaggerated - but compared to what I can run using the rb 300 or even the old rabco 8E sl - just no comparison. What bothers me are the prices charged or paid on ebay for such a piece of..equipment.

 

[padego]

This is primarily for fun, I have a gyrodec with a modified rega 600 and a decent mc cartridge. I guess it's more to experiment and learn what its all about. Personally I can read all about this stuff till I'm crosseyed but when I have it in pieces in front of me it starts to make sense, just the way my brain works.
I certainly dont think this will hold a candle to my beloved gyrodec but in the end I'll understand a lot more.