The Secret Society of Lathe Trolls

It's been such a long time since I bought the mats that I can't be absolutely sure. However, as I'm in the UK, I think I used these guys: https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/number1gasketshop/Turntable-Mats/_i.html?_storecat=33339673011 They can make just about any size turntable mat you need - just send the...

Just checked my stock Technics SP10 mkII mat and, sure enough, it's not flat either!
Never knew that as I don't use it to cut on - I bought a neoprene one from eBay ages ago which is perfectly flat for cutting on.

Hi ya, Quick question... are you absolutely certain that it's the mat which is the cause of the 12" outer diameter lift? For example, you need to ensure that any mat you use sits inside the raised lip of the SP10 platter. Most standard turntable mats are too large. Also, if you're using the default ...

Hey Peter,

I can do better than that!
PM sent.

Admittedly, mine isn't quite a 14" plate, but it does fit my SP-10 mk II very nicely! In case you're interested, just measured it and its dimensions are (all in mm): 323 total diameter 8 underside rim width 3 underside rim recess 307 inner diameter 7 thick 3x levelling grub screws, 20 in from plate ...

As you have the luxury of having multiple VRs :) I'd start by comparing the dash pot on the problem one against the dash pot on the good lathe. Do they look the same? Is the spring in the same position, top and bottom of the cylinder? Is the plunger contacting the sides or is there any additional fr...

Personally I've done both methods; cutting pink noise and music I know well and which has a wide frequency range.
Then I've used both to find the right balance in my final cutting eq.

Agreed - the type of feedback system employed by the VR head I own (basically an Ortofon Concorde DJ cartridge interfaced with the torque tube) doesn't perform consistently. If its main function is to counteract the mechanical resonance, then it only does so in an inconsistent way, thereby making it...

I have no technical figures to share unfortunately, but the only thing I will say is that I've had the feedback head and amp from the start and haven't used it in years. It just doesn't work that well and if you cut a pink noise track without the feedback amp in the chain, then create a input eq cur...

Not so much a hook, more of a flat blade.
Lift the front of the cutting head with the blade until it just begins to move off the blank - it has a handy needle on the gauge to tell you what the maximum read out was.

Well said Discomo - it's good to have balanced opinions on here.

I use one of these for setting the cutting weight:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/0-50-grm-TENSION-GAUGE/233234202502

When it comes back, would you mind making another post on this thread to let us know what the problem turned out to be please?
It'll be useful for other who have similar issues in the future... and I'm curious to know too!

Agree with markrob - sounds to me like the LM317 voltage regulator has died. With the shorting phono plug pulled out at the rear of the main unit, the pitch motor should be running as fast as it can. However, if the LM317 isn't working, there's a good chance that almost no voltage is being put acros...

Sorry that you're still having problems mate! :cry: One thing I'd try first before measuring voltages is this: - unplug the shorting phono plug markrob mentioned, located at the rear of the main control unit - turn the motor switch on - does the pitch motor (the one located at the end of the feed sc...

Do the cleaning of the pot first, then at least you can eliminate that as the source of your problem.
We can move on from there if you're still having issues.

The knob at the back has nothing to do with the groove control motor (it's for gain attenuation of the input audio signal). I suggest that the first thing to try is to clean the groove controller knob's potentiometer. Take the lid off the main unit and squirt a little cleaner such as DeoxIT F5 into ...

Thanks for the quick reply Todd - I'll drop you quick PM to explain my rather specialised reasons for asking you!
PM sent (in a few minutes)

Very very nice Todd - fantastic work as always :wink: I mentioned this before but are you able to offer this head with a VR mounting post please? I'm guessing that there'll be additional costs involved as you'll need to measure where the post should be so that the 1-E stylus lands in the same place ...

It'll take much longer to heat up than a black blank, that's about it
Best of luck...