I'm sorry to relate this, but I was the last person to make a Government licensed and authorized purchase. It is no longer available without Pentagon authorization and unfortunately, I'm not permitted to offer it for resale.
Best Regards,
TerryO
Should we shield the tonearm wire or just twist the pairs if using wirewrap?
Anymore kits available?
Anymore kits available?
Just need a few tackion bursts (spelling) and any earbud wire should regenerate into Dilithium aligned silver nano wire.
ok you Trekkies. enough!
tmblack: the kits were a gift to those that were present at the Vancouver Isle diy audio'fest held the last weekend of August. I had intended to attend, but I actually got a job, and thus couldn't (it's about 1150 kms from my house to dave's). I had planned on putting on a "workshop" for those in attendance who wanted to try making a tonearm.
Because I couldn't attend, I couriered the "kits" to dave's place (well actually chrisb's place of employment via overnight air). Bernie brought the headshells and bases with him from his place.
Apparently all of the "kits" are gone, however should any want a "kit", I could make up a few and send them to you. You pay freight and materials cost. Please see the previous post ( post 45 )regarding what is required to finish the arms.
tmblack: the kits were a gift to those that were present at the Vancouver Isle diy audio'fest held the last weekend of August. I had intended to attend, but I actually got a job, and thus couldn't (it's about 1150 kms from my house to dave's). I had planned on putting on a "workshop" for those in attendance who wanted to try making a tonearm.
Because I couldn't attend, I couriered the "kits" to dave's place (well actually chrisb's place of employment via overnight air). Bernie brought the headshells and bases with him from his place.
Apparently all of the "kits" are gone, however should any want a "kit", I could make up a few and send them to you. You pay freight and materials cost. Please see the previous post ( post 45 )regarding what is required to finish the arms.
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compliance
Considering potentially suitable cartridges, that depends on a lot of things. The Grado I currently use is a Sig8 MCZ. I used typical Grado numbers of 5.5 grams mass and compliance of 20. I played around with my HP48G calculator (still an incredible device), and if the mass remains constant, and compliance is dropped to about 8, then the resonant frequency is in the 11Hz range.
Using a Denon DL103 as an example (mass of this cartridge is +3 grams greater than the Grado, c=5@100Hz, but greater @1000Hz, here I'll assume 10), results in F=9.5 Hz.
As a maximum to end up with a resonant frequency in the usual 9-12Hz range and a mass range there are compliance optimizer spreadsheets and interactive tools available if you don't want to do the math.
Considering potentially suitable cartridges, that depends on a lot of things. The Grado I currently use is a Sig8 MCZ. I used typical Grado numbers of 5.5 grams mass and compliance of 20. I played around with my HP48G calculator (still an incredible device), and if the mass remains constant, and compliance is dropped to about 8, then the resonant frequency is in the 11Hz range.
Using a Denon DL103 as an example (mass of this cartridge is +3 grams greater than the Grado, c=5@100Hz, but greater @1000Hz, here I'll assume 10), results in F=9.5 Hz.
As a maximum to end up with a resonant frequency in the usual 9-12Hz range and a mass range there are compliance optimizer spreadsheets and interactive tools available if you don't want to do the math.
kits...
I do need to be careful and not get the forum cops after me... As dave is a forum cop, I hope he's ok with it (and others too). I'm not really setup as a vendor of any sort, but will see what can happen or ask dave to help out...
The arm tubes, bearings, etc are no problem. I'll check with Bernie to see if he could make some headshells (these would be at some cost, provided to Bernie, else I'll make them myself). I'll try to standardize the actual shafts to a particular sized one. The counter-weights would be up to you as well as the cartridge tags, and internal and external wiring. (I prefer an unbroken signal chain from cartridge to phono input). The arms will end up with an effective length of 305mm. Mass will be in the 14 gram range for the arm. The arm/headshell/wire mass should end up in the 20.5 gram range with the bearing installed. I will drill holes to allow the tonearm wires a path to exit the arm from. Bases can be made by the end user or me as per Bernie's design or set screw locking steel collars can be used as per the previously posted pictures. At this point, only actual costs incurred (materials, external costs for parts) and shipping costs will be the "investment" required. You folks that want a "kit" tell me what you want: Kynar wire, cartridge tags, etc...However I will not put any serious investment into Cardas wire or cartridge pins myself as I could easily end up with several hundreds of dollars worth of stuff and no where to get rid of it. A set amount of "kits" would be offered, and once that run was completed, no more would be done unless as a commercial enterprise. Consider any purchasers of "kits" to be "beta testers", so some feedback based on listening would be appreciated.
Should I actually make the arms (complete) and this becomes something of a small commercial venture, I will ask that a new thread in "Vendor's Bizarre" be opened for that portion of any interest. As far as any open design discussion, I think the mods would consider that appropriate to continue on in this thread.
I do need to be careful and not get the forum cops after me... As dave is a forum cop, I hope he's ok with it (and others too). I'm not really setup as a vendor of any sort, but will see what can happen or ask dave to help out...
The arm tubes, bearings, etc are no problem. I'll check with Bernie to see if he could make some headshells (these would be at some cost, provided to Bernie, else I'll make them myself). I'll try to standardize the actual shafts to a particular sized one. The counter-weights would be up to you as well as the cartridge tags, and internal and external wiring. (I prefer an unbroken signal chain from cartridge to phono input). The arms will end up with an effective length of 305mm. Mass will be in the 14 gram range for the arm. The arm/headshell/wire mass should end up in the 20.5 gram range with the bearing installed. I will drill holes to allow the tonearm wires a path to exit the arm from. Bases can be made by the end user or me as per Bernie's design or set screw locking steel collars can be used as per the previously posted pictures. At this point, only actual costs incurred (materials, external costs for parts) and shipping costs will be the "investment" required. You folks that want a "kit" tell me what you want: Kynar wire, cartridge tags, etc...However I will not put any serious investment into Cardas wire or cartridge pins myself as I could easily end up with several hundreds of dollars worth of stuff and no where to get rid of it. A set amount of "kits" would be offered, and once that run was completed, no more would be done unless as a commercial enterprise. Consider any purchasers of "kits" to be "beta testers", so some feedback based on listening would be appreciated.
Should I actually make the arms (complete) and this becomes something of a small commercial venture, I will ask that a new thread in "Vendor's Bizarre" be opened for that portion of any interest. As far as any open design discussion, I think the mods would consider that appropriate to continue on in this thread.
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In my case just the arm, headshell, and bearing. If need be I could make a jig for the headshells and make some for you if Bernie is unavailable. My first interest was to save some time and effort, but I am not opposed to making one.
sgregory...which new table (did I miss something?)
did you post a link or did you provide an earlier description?
Some days I 'm a little brain dead, don't ya know...the Phoenix. Looks very good.
did you post a link or did you provide an earlier description?
Some days I 'm a little brain dead, don't ya know...the Phoenix. Looks very good.
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to possible beta testers: Does this seem reasonable?
OK, how about 10 as a nice round number for "beta testers"?
That way there should be about 15 to 20 folks out there that can try it and comment on the arm. Any that might have the ability to quantify the resonant frequency of the tonearm/cartridge system via a test record would definitely help and allow for some correlation between the equated frequency and the measured frequency...
The only other way I think I could do this would to put the stylus down on a lead out section, and then generate a frequency via the speakers to excite the stylus. The output of the stylus could then be recorded and shown on a graph. Where the spike exists, the resonant frequency occurs.
So any that want to be "beta testers, PM me. I will provide arrow shafts with the bearings installed and drilled to allow the exit of the tonearm wire. I will provide head-shells, probably in Maple, as that is what I have on hand (and it is a nice hardwood with well known attributes). Pen refills will be supplied as well as a base for them to be mounted in. I may remove the pen refill nib as per my previous photos and mount just the nibs in a piece of dowel. You trim the dowel to fit your needs.
I don't have a lot of counterweights, so the testers will need to provide a counterweight with approximately 75-90 grams of mass. I will also supply a finger-lift cut from brass and drilled to accept up to 3mm hardware for the cartridge. The size and spacing of the slots will be such that it will allow a suitable amount of twist to allow alignment with any known alignment type (Stevenson, etc..). Perhaps not as nicely finished as bernie's, but quite suitable. The only real costs would be postage or shipping, and perhaps a few dollars to off-set the material costs only. Else I could make some more out of salvaged parts, but the results would not be standardized if different shafts are used. Does this seem reasonable?
If any beat testers would like to contribute something, perhaps do so at to a local food bank or any other humanitarian charity? We are quite lucky to live comfortable enough to have hobbies, while others may not be able to eat.
I think with 10 more out there, a beginning to finding out if this arm is as "universally" useful and good as I think it might be can occur. Possible feedback (hopefully positive), with users of different cartridges and tables can help verify the validity of Altmann's design and this implementation.
Any interested should PM me. As soon as the number 10 for testers is established, I'll start getting the stuff together. Guess I'll start making the head shells right away.
OK, how about 10 as a nice round number for "beta testers"?
That way there should be about 15 to 20 folks out there that can try it and comment on the arm. Any that might have the ability to quantify the resonant frequency of the tonearm/cartridge system via a test record would definitely help and allow for some correlation between the equated frequency and the measured frequency...
The only other way I think I could do this would to put the stylus down on a lead out section, and then generate a frequency via the speakers to excite the stylus. The output of the stylus could then be recorded and shown on a graph. Where the spike exists, the resonant frequency occurs.
So any that want to be "beta testers, PM me. I will provide arrow shafts with the bearings installed and drilled to allow the exit of the tonearm wire. I will provide head-shells, probably in Maple, as that is what I have on hand (and it is a nice hardwood with well known attributes). Pen refills will be supplied as well as a base for them to be mounted in. I may remove the pen refill nib as per my previous photos and mount just the nibs in a piece of dowel. You trim the dowel to fit your needs.
I don't have a lot of counterweights, so the testers will need to provide a counterweight with approximately 75-90 grams of mass. I will also supply a finger-lift cut from brass and drilled to accept up to 3mm hardware for the cartridge. The size and spacing of the slots will be such that it will allow a suitable amount of twist to allow alignment with any known alignment type (Stevenson, etc..). Perhaps not as nicely finished as bernie's, but quite suitable. The only real costs would be postage or shipping, and perhaps a few dollars to off-set the material costs only. Else I could make some more out of salvaged parts, but the results would not be standardized if different shafts are used. Does this seem reasonable?
If any beat testers would like to contribute something, perhaps do so at to a local food bank or any other humanitarian charity? We are quite lucky to live comfortable enough to have hobbies, while others may not be able to eat.
I think with 10 more out there, a beginning to finding out if this arm is as "universally" useful and good as I think it might be can occur. Possible feedback (hopefully positive), with users of different cartridges and tables can help verify the validity of Altmann's design and this implementation.
Any interested should PM me. As soon as the number 10 for testers is established, I'll start getting the stuff together. Guess I'll start making the head shells right away.
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ok guys...
Just email me direct (my email is open to all). Look up Members. search for "Nanook", my email address should be displayed. Or join "friends of Nanook" in Groups 🙂
That will always get you in touch with me...
so the list so far:
trondkj
nicoch46
SGregory
tmblack?
sled?
cactusboy?
Kevin and wjlamp, any comments thus far?
only a few more to go..🙂
Just email me direct (my email is open to all). Look up Members. search for "Nanook", my email address should be displayed. Or join "friends of Nanook" in Groups 🙂
That will always get you in touch with me...
so the list so far:
trondkj
nicoch46
SGregory
tmblack?
sled?
cactusboy?
Kevin and wjlamp, any comments thus far?
only a few more to go..🙂
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Hey Nanook... I'd be interested in doing a Beta with your Arm against my Cedar Shaft. But for this discussion right now, I just want to say that for Counter Weights...Just go to your Socket Set..A 3/4" is a good place to start...And then add Smaller ones inside it until you hit Balance...
Here's the latest, with Arm Lift...I think that I will start a new thread about Cueing Lifts because there are none that I can find, and they're not as simple as you might think..
Here's the latest, with Arm Lift...I think that I will start a new thread about Cueing Lifts because there are none that I can find, and they're not as simple as you might think..
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