EvanInJH

Sorry for the cross post.

I have a Technics SL-3200 direct drive automatic turntable. I have
been wrestling with a skipping problem for a long time now and am
looking for suggestions.

The turntable is level, sitting on a nice, heavy table. I have a brand
new needle for it (Stanton 500 AL II) and the tone arm is calibrated.
If I'm completely still, records track wonderfully and sound great.
But if I walk on the floor, even tip-toe, I can send it into paroxysms
of skipping. I have the weight all the way up and the anti-skating to
match. Even with a quarter on top of the head shell I can have
problems! Any ideas? Are there any other adjustments I can make? Do I
need to take it in for repair? If so, I live in Queens, NY -- if
anyone has any suggestions for repair people or shops.

Thanks,
Evan

Randy and/or Sherry

EvanInJH wrote:
....
> But if I walk on the floor, even tip-toe, I can send it into paroxysms
> of skipping. I have the weight all the way up and the anti-skating to
> match. Even with a quarter on top of the head shell I can have
> Any ideas?

Yeah - put the transit screws back in it (usually big green-headed).
(Some) Panasonic suspensions are particularly susceptible to "wood floor
resonance bounce"... particularly bad in many old houses. Locking down
the floating carriage with the transport screws usually fixes the problem.

I've a 1300 that suffers the same problem - yet with the transport
screws in it - it'll track at 1.5 gram perfectly - even if I walk right
by it.

best regards...
--
randy guttery

A Tender Tale - a page dedicated to those Ships and Crews
so vital to the United States Silent Service:
http://tendertale.com

Randy and/or Sherry

EvanInJH wrote:
....
> But if I walk on the floor, even tip-toe, I can send it into paroxysms
> of skipping. I have the weight all the way up and the anti-skating to
> match. Even with a quarter on top of the head shell I can have
> Any ideas?

Yeah - put the transit screws back in it (usually big green-headed).
(Some) Panasonic suspensions are particularly susceptible to "wood floor
resonance bounce"... particularly bad in many old houses. Locking down
the floating carriage with the transport screws usually fixes the problem.

I've a 1300 that suffers the same problem - yet with the transport
screws in it - it'll track at 1.5 gram perfectly - even if I walk right
by it.

best regards...
--
randy guttery

A Tender Tale - a page dedicated to those Ships and Crews
so vital to the United States Silent Service:
http://tendertale.com

dt king

"Randy and/or Sherry" <comcents@mississippi.net> wrote in message
news:3F312A02.7090708@mississippi.net...
>
>
> EvanInJH wrote:
> ...
> > But if I walk on the floor, even tip-toe, I can send it into paroxysms
> > of skipping. I have the weight all the way up and the anti-skating to
> > match. Even with a quarter on top of the head shell I can have
> > Any ideas?
>
> Yeah - put the transit screws back in it (usually big green-headed).
> (Some) Panasonic suspensions are particularly susceptible to "wood floor
> resonance bounce"... particularly bad in many old houses. Locking down
> the floating carriage with the transport screws usually fixes the
problem.

Oh, that is so much easier than my idea of a vibration free concrete slab
supported by an innertube.

dtk

dt king

"Randy and/or Sherry" <comcents@mississippi.net> wrote in message
news:3F312A02.7090708@mississippi.net...
>
>
> EvanInJH wrote:
> ...
> > But if I walk on the floor, even tip-toe, I can send it into paroxysms
> > of skipping. I have the weight all the way up and the anti-skating to
> > match. Even with a quarter on top of the head shell I can have
> > Any ideas?
>
> Yeah - put the transit screws back in it (usually big green-headed).
> (Some) Panasonic suspensions are particularly susceptible to "wood floor
> resonance bounce"... particularly bad in many old houses. Locking down
> the floating carriage with the transport screws usually fixes the
problem.

Oh, that is so much easier than my idea of a vibration free concrete slab
supported by an innertube.

dtk

Randy and/or Sherry

Sven Franklyn Weil wrote:

> Transit screws?
>
> I also have a 1200 and it doesn't do that skipping. And I don't remember
> it having any transit screws when I unpacked it.

They are (supposed to be) under the platter - i.e. you remove them
before you install the platter - as noted they are usually big green
headed screws - (3 of them) and hold the entire upper deck down to the
lower section. In the 1300s - they are (approximately) at 12:30; 4:00
and 8:00 as you normally look at the unit - IIRC - they are about the
same in the 1200s. When the 12/1300 series are "floating" they have a
rather strange amount of suspended mass - that - well it reminds me of a
lot of late 50's cars on L.A. freeways - they were "tuned" just "wrong"
so that at 60MPH the whole car would get into this bouncing rhythm on
certain sections of freeways (The Santa Ana was particularly bad- as was
the Harbor) that would about launch you out of your seat... Some of
these Panasonics sorta react to older "spongy" floors the same way ---
way more exaggerated reaction than you'd ever suspect...

As noted - just putting the transit screws back in solves it a lot of
the time (unless the floor is REALLY bad - but then I'd wonder about
walking on such a floor at all anyway).

best regards...
--
randy guttery

A Tender Tale - a page dedicated to those Ships and Crews
so vital to the United States Silent Service:
http://tendertale.com

Randy and/or Sherry

Sven Franklyn Weil wrote:

> Transit screws?
>
> I also have a 1200 and it doesn't do that skipping. And I don't remember
> it having any transit screws when I unpacked it.

They are (supposed to be) under the platter - i.e. you remove them
before you install the platter - as noted they are usually big green
headed screws - (3 of them) and hold the entire upper deck down to the
lower section. In the 1300s - they are (approximately) at 12:30; 4:00
and 8:00 as you normally look at the unit - IIRC - they are about the
same in the 1200s. When the 12/1300 series are "floating" they have a
rather strange amount of suspended mass - that - well it reminds me of a
lot of late 50's cars on L.A. freeways - they were "tuned" just "wrong"
so that at 60MPH the whole car would get into this bouncing rhythm on
certain sections of freeways (The Santa Ana was particularly bad- as was
the Harbor) that would about launch you out of your seat... Some of
these Panasonics sorta react to older "spongy" floors the same way ---
way more exaggerated reaction than you'd ever suspect...

As noted - just putting the transit screws back in solves it a lot of
the time (unless the floor is REALLY bad - but then I'd wonder about
walking on such a floor at all anyway).

best regards...
--
randy guttery

A Tender Tale - a page dedicated to those Ships and Crews
so vital to the United States Silent Service:
http://tendertale.com

jakdedert

I believe he said he had it cranked all the way up and put a quarter on top
of the head shell as well. Definitely something wrong...both with the
turntable, and now with the cartridge/stylus...not to any records he played
like that.

I'm guessing the stylus is bottoming out and the cartridge itself is
cotacting the records.

jak
"Sofie" <sofie@olypen.com> wrote in message
news:vj2af1iv7bqaa1@corp.supernews.com...
> EvanInJH:
> You did not mention how much stylus tracking force you have set......
> depending on the replacement stylus you purchased for the Stanton 500 you
> should have no less than 2 or 3 grams or so..... some of the replacement
> stylus for the 500 series cartridge specify 3 to 5 grams. The Stanton 500
> series is a rugged and reliable model and it is not a cartridge/stylus
> combination that can be operated at the super-light forces of less than 2
> grams. You should check the package your replacement stylus came in to
> verify the correct, factory recommended stylus force and set the
anti-skate
> to match.
> --
> Best Regards,
> Daniel Sofie
> Electronics Supply & Repair
> ---------------------------------------
>
> snipped:
> "EvanInJH" <cubotic13@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> >
> > I have a Technics SL-3200 direct drive automatic turntable. I have
> > been wrestling with a skipping problem for a long time now and am
> > looking for suggestions.
>
> > new needle for it (Stanton 500 AL II) and the tone arm is calibrated.
> > If I'm completely still, records track wonderfully and sound great.
> > But if I walk on the floor, even tip-toe, I can send it into paroxysms
> > of skipping. I have the weight all the way up and the anti-skating to
> > match. Even with a quarter on top of the head shell I can have
> > problems! Any ideas? Are there any other adjustments I can make? Do I
>
>
>

jakdedert

I believe he said he had it cranked all the way up and put a quarter on top
of the head shell as well. Definitely something wrong...both with the
turntable, and now with the cartridge/stylus...not to any records he played
like that.

I'm guessing the stylus is bottoming out and the cartridge itself is
cotacting the records.

jak
"Sofie" <sofie@olypen.com> wrote in message
news:vj2af1iv7bqaa1@corp.supernews.com...
> EvanInJH:
> You did not mention how much stylus tracking force you have set......
> depending on the replacement stylus you purchased for the Stanton 500 you
> should have no less than 2 or 3 grams or so..... some of the replacement
> stylus for the 500 series cartridge specify 3 to 5 grams. The Stanton 500
> series is a rugged and reliable model and it is not a cartridge/stylus
> combination that can be operated at the super-light forces of less than 2
> grams. You should check the package your replacement stylus came in to
> verify the correct, factory recommended stylus force and set the
anti-skate
> to match.
> --
> Best Regards,
> Daniel Sofie
> Electronics Supply & Repair
> ---------------------------------------
>
> snipped:
> "EvanInJH" <cubotic13@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> >
> > I have a Technics SL-3200 direct drive automatic turntable. I have
> > been wrestling with a skipping problem for a long time now and am
> > looking for suggestions.
>
> > new needle for it (Stanton 500 AL II) and the tone arm is calibrated.
> > If I'm completely still, records track wonderfully and sound great.
> > But if I walk on the floor, even tip-toe, I can send it into paroxysms
> > of skipping. I have the weight all the way up and the anti-skating to
> > match. Even with a quarter on top of the head shell I can have
> > problems! Any ideas? Are there any other adjustments I can make? Do I
>
>
>

Sofie

EvanInJH:
I was at home when I first replied to your post, but I am at my shop
now..... I just checked my "book" and checked the factory recommended
tracking force the Stanton 500AL stylus (#D5107AL .7 mil conical).....
this particular stylus is NOT a good match for your very good turntable.....
Stanton recommends 3 to 7 grams of tracking force. A much better stylus for
your series Stanton 500 cartridge would be the (D5100EE .3 x .7 mil
elliptical) which tracks at 1 to 2 grams..( I would set it for the higher
part of that range. Your Techniques turntable will accommodate this lower
tracking force much better..... I doubt the tracking force calibration ring
on the back of the Techniques tone arm and the anti-skate adjustment goes
past 2.5 or 3 grams.
If you have difficulty finding a proper Stanton replacement stylus you may
want to replace the entire cartridge and stylus with a new low tracking
force model...... in the range of 1.5 to 2.0 grams. Stay away from
anything much under 1.25 grams...... any lighter than that you may have
problems unless everything is PERFECT..... and never set the tracking force
for less than what the manufacturer says..... stay in the MIDDLE or high end
of their range.
--
Best Regards,
Daniel Sofie
Electronics Supply & Repair
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

>

Sofie

EvanInJH:
I was at home when I first replied to your post, but I am at my shop
now..... I just checked my "book" and checked the factory recommended
tracking force the Stanton 500AL stylus (#D5107AL .7 mil conical).....
this particular stylus is NOT a good match for your very good turntable.....
Stanton recommends 3 to 7 grams of tracking force. A much better stylus for
your series Stanton 500 cartridge would be the (D5100EE .3 x .7 mil
elliptical) which tracks at 1 to 2 grams..( I would set it for the higher
part of that range. Your Techniques turntable will accommodate this lower
tracking force much better..... I doubt the tracking force calibration ring
on the back of the Techniques tone arm and the anti-skate adjustment goes
past 2.5 or 3 grams.
If you have difficulty finding a proper Stanton replacement stylus you may
want to replace the entire cartridge and stylus with a new low tracking
force model...... in the range of 1.5 to 2.0 grams. Stay away from
anything much under 1.25 grams...... any lighter than that you may have
problems unless everything is PERFECT..... and never set the tracking force
for less than what the manufacturer says..... stay in the MIDDLE or high end
of their range.
--
Best Regards,
Daniel Sofie
Electronics Supply & Repair
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

>

Sven Franklyn Weil

In article <vj2qo2mmo58rc0@corp.supernews.com>, Sofie wrote:
> tracking force much better..... I doubt the tracking force calibration ring
> on the back of the Techniques tone arm and the anti-skate adjustment goes

A quick note: The Technics 1200 arm has an additional counter weight you
can screw into the back of your tone arm. Then there are also thin
headshell weights that you add to your headshell to balance it all out.
Of course if you don't need these things when you're installing your first
cartridge, they invariably get lost.

Thanks Daniel, the info you provided was very useful.

By the way, what is your opinion regarding the Shure M44G cart.?

--
Sven Weil
New York City, U.S.A.

Sven Franklyn Weil

In article <vj2qo2mmo58rc0@corp.supernews.com>, Sofie wrote:
> tracking force much better..... I doubt the tracking force calibration ring
> on the back of the Techniques tone arm and the anti-skate adjustment goes

A quick note: The Technics 1200 arm has an additional counter weight you
can screw into the back of your tone arm. Then there are also thin
headshell weights that you add to your headshell to balance it all out.
Of course if you don't need these things when you're installing your first
cartridge, they invariably get lost.

Thanks Daniel, the info you provided was very useful.

By the way, what is your opinion regarding the Shure M44G cart.?

--
Sven Weil
New York City, U.S.A.

Clifton T. Sharp Jr.

EvanInJH wrote:
> The turntable is level, sitting on a nice, heavy table. I have a brand
> new needle for it (Stanton 500 AL II) and the tone arm is calibrated.
> If I'm completely still, records track wonderfully and sound great.
> But if I walk on the floor, even tip-toe, I can send it into paroxysms
> of skipping. I have the weight all the way up and the anti-skating to
> match. Even with a quarter on top of the head shell I can have
> problems! Any ideas? Are there any other adjustments I can make? Do I
> need to take it in for repair? If so, I live in Queens, NY -- if
> anyone has any suggestions for repair people or shops.

Set it to zero grams and see if the tonearm is parallel to the turntable.
If not, the arm is NOT calibrated.

--
All relevant people are pertinent.
All rude people are impertinent.
Therefore, no rude people are relevant.
-- Solomon W. Golomb

Clifton T. Sharp Jr.

EvanInJH wrote:
> The turntable is level, sitting on a nice, heavy table. I have a brand
> new needle for it (Stanton 500 AL II) and the tone arm is calibrated.
> If I'm completely still, records track wonderfully and sound great.
> But if I walk on the floor, even tip-toe, I can send it into paroxysms
> of skipping. I have the weight all the way up and the anti-skating to
> match. Even with a quarter on top of the head shell I can have
> problems! Any ideas? Are there any other adjustments I can make? Do I
> need to take it in for repair? If so, I live in Queens, NY -- if
> anyone has any suggestions for repair people or shops.

Set it to zero grams and see if the tonearm is parallel to the turntable.
If not, the arm is NOT calibrated.

--
All relevant people are pertinent.
All rude people are impertinent.
Therefore, no rude people are relevant.
-- Solomon W. Golomb