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VTAF Garrard 301 and EMT 997 tonearm

192.206.119.3

Nice to have a VTAF forum. I've looked at the VTAF for about two years but have not contacted you for one reason or another so I guess the forum will help.

I have had this this Garrard 301 grease bearing NOS for about two years since I purchased it NOS. I rtripped and oiled the motor and mounted the TT in a large 1" solid alder "plinth". The plinth uses three 3/4" stainless steel rods machined into a point as huge spikes. I also bought a NOS EMT 997 tonearm and a new EMT TSD15 tondose (cartridge). The plinth was supposed to be temporal but so far it has worked very well and I have no plans to replace it.

OK, so much for background. I'd love to have a VTAF adjusted for my set up. I don't know if you're acquainted with EMT tonearms so more detalis:

The EMT tonearm is fixed to it's support via two screws. These screws leave marks on the pillar once installed even if not much pressure is applied.

The height of the tonearm base is not enough to compensate for the height of the 301 so I had to include an "armboard" which is just a toroidal plate above the board. The one shown in the picture was to tall so I had to build another one, about 1/2" tall.

Also the socket where the tonearm goes is significantly wider than the tonearm. Thus when the screws are tightened to fix the tonearm in place it's hard to maintain it straight.

I'm not sure if I'm providing with enough information. Please let me know.

Thanks,

xavier

Follow Ups:

RE: VTAF Garrard 301 and EMT 997 tonearm - PeteRiggleAudio 14:59:08 01/18/08 (2)
Xavier:

So nice to hear from you. What a beautiful plinth. Also, what a beautiful cabinet which houses the table. Looks like a whole herd of bottlehead components! You have given me an added nudge to get my 301 up and operating. From direct experience I can say that the 301 is a great sounding table. At RMAF Chris Bradey, Mr. Teres, demonstrated a rim drive for his tables, and compared it with the belt drive he has used from the outset of his commercial offerings. I was astonished at the improvment I heard.

Advantages of the VTAF are smooth and easy adjustment of VTA with the record in play, and isolation of the tone arm from the arm board, with many attendant sonic benefits.

If the tone arm mounting post of the EMT tone arm has a diameter of 23 mm or less, we can fit a VTAF to it. For smooth arm posts, the VTAF Adjuster Screw is bushed (if required)to an inside diameter a touch larger than the the tone arm mounting post, and secured to the post with a pair of axial wave springs. With the wave springs, the arm mounting post is pushed rigidly against the side of the adjuster screw, for a non- resonant connection. The axis of the adjuster screw ends up parallel to the axis of the arm mounting post. I Charge $10 for the pair of wave springs (fabricated from .010" thick stainless steel shim stock), and $20 for the labor to bush the VTAF Adjuster Screw, if it needs to be bushed. The bore of the VTAF Adjuster Screw is .906 inches (23 mm). Arm posts with a diameter between .850 inches and .906 inches fit the Adjuster Screw without installing a bushing into the screw. I can provide information on how to the bush the adjuster screw and or fabricate the wave springs yourself if you are interested. Some folks are DIY, some are not.

An advantage of using the pair of axial wave springs to mount the VTAF Adjuster Screw to the tone arm mounting post is that the VTAF Adjuster Screw can then be slid up or down the post for coarse adjustment of VTA. Correct coarse adjustment of VTA is typically when the cartridge body is a little lower in the rear than in the front. The VTAF has a 1/2 inch adjustment range that then allows the VTA to be easily swept through all values of interest.

In its lowest setting, the VTAF adds a height of .23 inches to the tone arm assembly. This will not pose any concerns to you with the rather high platter of the Garrard 301.

If the tone arm mounting post of the EMT tone arm is larger than 23 mm but no larger than 26 mm, help is on the way. I am in the process of making available a Large-Bore VTAF. Not ready yet, but coming.

The VTAF typically guides off some feature of the tone arm bearing pedestal. An example would be an extension of the tone arm bearing pedestal used to support an arm rest. For tone arms which do not have such an extension I have can provide a plate with an extension for the guide assembly to engage. This is shown in the attached image. This plate is threaded to the top of the adjuster screw, and is firmly secured by staking and locktite. This extension adds $70 U.S. to the $149.99 U.S. cost of the VTAF. If the user can come up with a simple way to add an extension out the front of the tone arm pedestal, this $70 U.S. expense can be avoided. I have enough DIY in me that if I were a consumer, I'd come up with a simple extension myself and save the $70. But if time is more important than money, the extension I provide solves the problem.

Summary:

If the arm post diameter is .906 inches (23 mm) or less, we can fit a VTAF to the EMT arm.

The price of the standard VTAF in Lacquered Brass finish (protective lacquer over engine turned solid brass)is $149.99. U.S.

If you wish to purchase the guide extension we provide, the price is $70 U.S. additional.

If the tone arm mounting post is smaller than .850 inches, and you wish us to provide a bushed mounting screw, the price for bushing the screw is $20 U.S.

If you wish to purchase the wave springs we provide for mounting the VTAF Adjuster Screw to the post, the price is $10 U.S.

An optional VTAF Teflon Upgrade is available for $30 U.S.

An optional Smokey Silver finish (protective lacquer over nickel plate over engine turned solid brass)is available for a premium of $30 U.S.for the VTAF and $15 for the extension plate.

Please advise if you have additional questions or concerns.

Pete
- VTAF home page (Open in New Window)
- RE: VTAF Garrard 301 and EMT 997 tonearm - xcortes 13:58:30 01/21/08 (0)
  Thanks for answering Pete and Thanks for your comments on my gear. I'm indeed a Bottlehead guy as you noticed!
  
  I like very much my Garrard and my EMT tonearm but I feel that their weakest link is the coupling of the tonearm to the plinth, or better said the support of the tonearm. EMT tonearms are tricky in that you cannot adjust or align the cartridge so you have to position the tonearm base the closer you can get to the recommended distance and voila no cartridge alignment ever!
  
  I'm pretty sure that the tonearm diameter is less than 23mm but I'd better buy a caliper (new word to me, in spanish it's named vernier) and make sure.
  
  I couldn't really follow what the wave springs and bushing are for so I'd go with whatever you recommend.
  
  When you say that the tonearm adds .23 inches to the height I don't really follow it. 0.23 inches to what? I attached a picture of the tonearm that I found on the internet that shows the base or support it uses. It's already "tall" but not "tall" enough for the 301 so that's why I had to mount it using the wooden toroid that you can see on my turntable. I would like it very much to get rid of such piece and attach the VTAF directly to the plinth without any other "armboard" but I'm not sure the height will be enough.
  
  The extension pedestal also I don't follow what it's for. If you see my picture my arm rest is glued to the plint.
  
  I assume the teflon upgrade is an improvement so for $30 I'd go for it. The same for the smokey silver finish which I think I would like better than the raw brass.
- RE: VTAF Garrard 301 and EMT 997 tonearm - PeteRiggleAudio 15:12:48 01/18/08 (0)
  Xavier:
  
  I have an error in my message above. The price of the extension is $50 U.S., in Lacquered Brass finish.
  
  Yours,
  
  Pete

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