adjusting the weight on a turntables tone-arm

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  • Опубликовано: 25 авг 2024
  • This is a video showing you how to adjust the weight on the tone arm of a turntable, this is a very important process as it will determine the life of your vinyl.
    Please note that in the video I do this adjustment to a Technics turntable but this can be done on any vinyl turntable.
    Also something to bear in mind is that it doesn't matter what cartridges you're using, although it would be ideal to know the exact make and model of cartridge you have in order to easily obtain information about the weight specifications.
    The name of the record that i play in the video is "Dreadlock" by Future Prophecies.
    nice one!!!

Комментарии • 264

  • @flowerbedmusic2674
    @flowerbedmusic2674 6 лет назад +8

    In all my years of looking at RUclips clips for information on everything under the sun, this guy is the best teacher. No gimmicks, no split screens, no lame jokes. He isn't called Brad and saying 'hey don't you just hate it when this happens?' with a goofy wide-eyed, wake up dude attitude. He isn't breathing heavily into a headset mic, it isn't over-edited, nor under-edited....he's nicely paced, he's CLEAR and HE GETS ON WITH IT!! The ego is left out of the programme. He's here to help. And...sorry but it's nice to have someone with a straightforward South East accent (and this is coming from a Geordie!) without all the 'yo's' and 'dude' and 'check this out' nonsense. Well done this man!

    • @martianspeed
      @martianspeed Год назад

      100% agree. He's just saved my vinyl collection from further damage. My counter-weight was the wrong way round, after I sent it for servicing; and I didn't notice.. records damaged !

  • @marklee2910
    @marklee2910 2 года назад +2

    I still check back to your 3 videos when resetting my tone arm and anti skate, must be at least 10 yrs now, fair play to you mate, 👏

    • @neilmac6360
      @neilmac6360 Год назад +1

      Haha, same here, been watching this video on & off for about 10 years as well. Always wondered what happened to the lad that did it. Superb, easy to follow practical advice, it was top work.

  • @christwagon1980
    @christwagon1980 13 лет назад

    You have to know you're doing a good job if all of your comments are positive on RUclips, of all places. So, I'll add another one, gold mine of knowledge, thanks again!

  • @ezrajohn5233
    @ezrajohn5233 7 лет назад +3

    Totally had my weights on backward. Adjusted per your instruction and cartridge specs. Wow! Improved sound and now my records don't skip. Thank you for your help. Totally useful contribution.

    • @viperfrank
      @viperfrank  7 лет назад +1

      no worries, I'm glad the video was of some help, it's always nice to know my videos are helping others.
      thank you for your comment.

    • @martianspeed
      @martianspeed Год назад

      After watching this video and crying for some of my rare jazz vinyls that have been jumping; then reading your useful comment, I have some hope that maybe some of my tunes are not completely wrecked. .

  • @alphajuliette92
    @alphajuliette92 8 лет назад +12

    Legit technical / tutorial videos Bro. I have been watching your videos back to back, learning about turntables and my Technics 1200 I bought. You have been a great help, thank you very much Mate. Big thumbs up from Down under in Oz haha.

  • @sfdoomed
    @sfdoomed 11 лет назад

    I've been spinning vinyl for decades but admittedly I've been a total amateur regarding proper tone-are functions. Your video was very useful and well made. Thank you!

  • @viperfrank
    @viperfrank  14 лет назад +1

    thank you!! im glad it was helpful, thanks for all your positive feed back and thank you for your kind words.
    nice one!!!

  • @DavidAStyles
    @DavidAStyles 6 лет назад +1

    Fair play mate - this and the other three tone arm videos are exactly what I needed to refresh myself on how to set up my old Technics. Thanks for this!

  • @stevenchampion8137
    @stevenchampion8137 6 лет назад +7

    ... I’ve been bunglefucking and guessing at this on SLs for around 25 years until now. Nothing but total gratitude for your tutorials boss

  • @mubarakal-mansouri5979
    @mubarakal-mansouri5979 8 лет назад +5

    thank you for the help. I just got my first record player ever the lp120 and needed more guidance trying to figure it out. I will keep watching more and learn. I got stuck on how to make correct every time and make I get it the right way.

  • @deanoallen5096
    @deanoallen5096 4 года назад +1

    Very helpful information my friend. Even though I grew up with vinyl the turntables I used to were not able to be dialed in like this, probably why that old vinyl is now ruined. Again, very informative video's.

  • @thepioneerclub
    @thepioneerclub 7 лет назад

    Many thanks for you videos on height, anti-skate, weight-arm and cleaning the cartridge connections.. I've had by 1210's for 20 years and this is the first time I've got them properly setup and have resolved issue with poor sound quality after watching your vids!

  • @stofopdenaald132
    @stofopdenaald132 4 года назад +1

    Thanks for all the tips 👍 really helped me out on my 1210 mk2. The seller said it was set professionaly to all the stats of my catredige. But the tonearm, weight and anti skate were way off as I found out about two weeks later.

  • @Titoroski187
    @Titoroski187 4 года назад

    11 years later and was still A BIG HELP!

  • @Jimmywillmott
    @Jimmywillmott 14 лет назад

    Wish I watched this one before the other dribble out there. Cheers , answered a lot of questions.

  • @whitelionmuzikproductionz9725
    @whitelionmuzikproductionz9725 Год назад

    instant classic!...needed this to get my sl1200mk2 going..used your other video to replace the RCAs and the Tone arm height adjuster which was seized up! thanks from cross the pond!

  • @Greenjah81
    @Greenjah81 14 лет назад

    Awesome tutorial, I knew the first 3 steps, but then I didn't knew that there is a huge difference between normal Tech's Cartridges and Bananas... Thanks a lot.
    Great job.

  • @steveamies4997
    @steveamies4997 11 лет назад

    thank dude you save me according to sherwoods instructions and a lot of other utube vids they were saying just to move the gram dial to set you weight after balancing, to which I would just get my arm skateing across, until I saw your vid on turning the whole weight great stuff thanks

  • @paulstiffle8443
    @paulstiffle8443 5 лет назад

    I watched 10 videos on this and only yours was simple to understand - my turntable sounds awesome now! Thankyou!! 😀🙌

  • @djfredmk2
    @djfredmk2 11 лет назад

    old video but still the best adjustment video. keep up the good work.

  • @allan77clash
    @allan77clash 11 лет назад

    Yes, finally sorted out a problem I've had for a while: my counterweight was set up completely wrong. Great tutorial, thanks.

  • @MarkPMus
    @MarkPMus 7 лет назад +3

    Setting the weight up correctly on the tonearm IS definitely the most important part of tonearm set up. I'm a vinyl hi-fi enthusiast, not a DJ, using Rega decks, with cartridges that track at between 1.75 and 2g. Getting the arm to float is probably the hardest bit, and Shure make a reasonably cheap tracking force gauge so that you can check it properly. I'd advocate this above and beyond digital versions, because the really cheap digital versions fail very quickly, and the good ones, such as the one made by Rega, cost an arm and a leg. Incidentally, you can help save your turntable when transporting it, by removing the platter and the counterweight during transit. So, as you say, you are then forced to re-calibrate the arm every time the deck is moved. It's a faff, but the job of calibrating takes 5 mins, and it's worth it to preserve the deck and the records.

  • @JOE1986D
    @JOE1986D 11 лет назад

    This is the forth video on your channel that I've found really helpful for my new 1210 Technics mk2. Really appreciate what you are doing. All the best!

  • @Tommymang
    @Tommymang 10 лет назад +4

    Thanks for the tutorial! I had no idea the adjustment was so important.

  • @steveidxp
    @steveidxp 7 лет назад

    Excellent tips mate....thanks a ton. It's always a great idea to check and re-calibrate several things after the decks have been moved. As always....good job...!!!

  • @bencheshire
    @bencheshire 14 лет назад

    Wow, thanks so much. Not a DJ, just getting into vinyl for listening, but this improved my sound quality by at least 50%. Wow, cheers!

  • @tomjack5304
    @tomjack5304 6 лет назад

    Thank you, really helpful. Didn’t have a problem till a bought a brand new vinyl and randomly started to skip really aggressively but everything’s fine now

  • @baggoz1000
    @baggoz1000 10 лет назад +1

    hello mate.
    first you forgot to mention that before adjusting the tonearm weight you have to adjust the anti-skating to 0.
    also based on the "ortofon" specification about the cartridge you use the correct amounts are:
    Tracking force range : 2,0-4,0 g
    Tracking force recommended : 3,0 g
    so the correct weight you should put isn't between 2,0-2,8 g but between 2,0-4,0 g , with 3,0g recommended.
    also there are concorde (banana) cartridges,e.g. ortofon scratch,elektro,etc. that the recommended tracking force is 4,0 g.
    always friendly,Vaggelis.

  • @marcosa.catena6414
    @marcosa.catena6414 4 года назад

    yeah... read in another video that you were good .... and you are!, thank you for sharing this!

  • @MeisterEck
    @MeisterEck 11 лет назад

    Thank you very very much!! I am so stupid and thought a bit of distortion has to be.... now it sounds better than any cd! :)

  • @viperfrank
    @viperfrank  12 лет назад

    No problem, just glad the video was useful, thank you for your comment and your feed back, hopefully more videos on the way soon.
    thank again.
    Nice One ; )

  • @beetleboyguitars
    @beetleboyguitars 7 лет назад +2

    I had a similar problem, I got a Stanton T.62 It was apart new in box. I had to assemble the tone arm, they said to balance the tone arm without the stylus cartridge attached, I couldn't get it right till I seen this video. Thanks for your help!

    • @viperfrank
      @viperfrank  7 лет назад +1

      no worries, glad I can help.
      thank you for your comment.

  • @MansuDC2
    @MansuDC2 15 лет назад

    I got SHURE M447-H preloaded cartridge with Technics headshell and says to use 1.5-3 grams, I use from 2.5-3 grams on mine, this vid helped me a lot thanks viperfrank...

  • @bamsalvani
    @bamsalvani 4 года назад +1

    Such a big help. How come I just found your tutorial just now? And wait, had somebody told you you're cute? Thank you so much.🙂

  • @thevibrationbaby
    @thevibrationbaby 8 лет назад

    Great tutorial and excellent explanation, very helpful and completely solved the audio issues I was having with my turntables.

  • @daft9097
    @daft9097 4 года назад

    Bro so many years and your videos still help! Btw I had that Stanton mixer and it sucks balls you probably know this too lol

  • @ThePrinspascal
    @ThePrinspascal 5 лет назад

    great tip about listening to the needle, thanks

  • @HirogenCD
    @HirogenCD 15 лет назад

    thanks, now i know how much weight i have to put on my tone arm, stupid technics manuel didn't say anything, thank you very much :)

  • @kragskov54
    @kragskov54 12 лет назад

    Thanks for the refresher course. Concise and to the point. Well done.

  • @Ryansrangereport
    @Ryansrangereport 8 лет назад

    Perfect video, I bought a new platter and cart and this made it very easy to understand.

  • @EzeeLinux
    @EzeeLinux 14 лет назад

    Back when I was playing records on the radio, we called the hissy nasty sound 'cue burn' Great video. :) JC

  • @pdude1911
    @pdude1911 10 лет назад

    Nice one, James! I turned my 1210 upside down yesterday to take it partially apart to install dust cover hinge sockets. When I flipped it back up again the weight must have been changed slightly (when upside down I put it on a pillow). I forgot how to set the counterweight, this video helped me a lot, thanks!

  • @christianbell2191
    @christianbell2191 9 лет назад

    Very useful video James. Easily explained and handy. Thank you

  • @markdeangelis2433
    @markdeangelis2433 8 лет назад

    Great thank you James! Trying to set up an old Garard TT to play my dad's old 78 collection...the volume dawn...ear trick... Should help me a lot! Thanks again Cheers!

  • @MrRBALLZ13
    @MrRBALLZ13 9 лет назад

    This is the SECOND time this same vid has helped me out. Thank a million my friend! PEACE

  • @willpower7885
    @willpower7885 11 лет назад

    Thanks alot. Great tutorials. I'd never been sure about setting up the the anti-skating before.

  • @russellhope4732
    @russellhope4732 10 лет назад

    Great vids - I've just bought a couple of decks and one of them is distorting and jumping so now I know what to do - thanks James

  • @Djbastine
    @Djbastine 7 лет назад

    Love your explanations and musical taste!

  • @H_Oscarsson
    @H_Oscarsson 6 лет назад +2

    Thanks for great video! Best explained on youtube by far!

  • @edgarcasey
    @edgarcasey 14 лет назад

    Yes, very informative. Much appreciated. Only thing I'm not so sure about is when you emphatically state that all turntables have an adjustable tonearm (unless I misunderstood). In fact, one of my turntables is a Technics SD-22. The weight is factory set, and it is not adjustable. But it's good to know that the optimal weight is generally around 2.5 grams. So a penny is good - a nickel is bad, because it weighs twice as much, and will wreak havoc on my vinyl.

  • @DJbuero
    @DJbuero 14 лет назад

    Great video, James. Thanks a lot with all your helping, it's been of very great use! Greetings from Germany.

  • @classic287
    @classic287 11 лет назад

    Yes, I agree with the other Gentleman, you are a Gentleman. I've been guessing at it until I watched your video. Good job, thanks.

  • @xxxpurpose13xxx
    @xxxpurpose13xxx 11 лет назад

    Much thanks for taking the time to make these videos. They are easy to watch and extremely helpful. Great job!

  • @Dreez76
    @Dreez76 9 лет назад

    Thanks. This helped giving me a more "secure" setting for my recordplayer.
    AT125LC Cartridge could take 1-1.8grams pressure, so i put mine at 1.4grams.

  • @MrIzo56
    @MrIzo56 15 лет назад

    Dude, 5/5 no joke, your vids are indeed helpful!
    Cheers.

  • @garybennett3256
    @garybennett3256 4 года назад +1

    Says the man with a guitar in the background ffs! Thanks nutts your a great help!

  • @HarveyLeeSummers
    @HarveyLeeSummers 13 лет назад

    Top post! Cheers! To the point & great advice, not enough like this on youtube!

  • @garym8463
    @garym8463 9 лет назад

    Helped a lot with my Denon turntable. Thanks, James!

  • @mifune141
    @mifune141 8 лет назад

    Can't thank you enough, this is a huge
    help in setting up my new turntable.

  • @sudsp9328
    @sudsp9328 7 лет назад

    Thanks dude. Very straightforward and helpful. I'm trying to sort out my Sharp Optonica RP1400. I've got Star Wars to play on it.

  • @jeffehrenberg8916
    @jeffehrenberg8916 10 лет назад

    Interesting - ready to watch your other videos

  • @TheRealSmiTTTen
    @TheRealSmiTTTen 13 лет назад

    You just totally solved a problem for me! I picked up a pair of 2nd hand Numark TTX1s a few months back. Went through all the balancing and height adjustment and they were still jumping. I just assumed the guy that sold them to me had some kind of clue - he didn't. He had the counter weight on backwards. Kicking myself for not seeing such a school boy error! Cheers mate.

  • @msptkp
    @msptkp 13 лет назад

    Thanks! I believe my tone arm is putting too much weight on the needle. I get distortion, especially during the higher pitch portions of music. I've also done the test recommended and it sounds fuzzy. At any rate, when trying to do the initial balance, the weight must be turned all the way back to get close to balancing, so it looks needle heavy. Just as it's about to get balanced, the weight disengages a bit and feels lose on the arm and then it looks weight heavy.

  • @snowb44
    @snowb44 9 лет назад

    Your videos are extremely helpful and thank you for providing so much information!

  • @deepreach7821
    @deepreach7821 9 лет назад

    Best video covering this subject. Much appreciated guy.

  • @viperfrank
    @viperfrank  14 лет назад

    @DJbuero thank you very much for your kind comment i appreciate it very much.
    i'm glad you like the videos.
    thank you.
    nice one!!!

  • @viperfrank
    @viperfrank  13 лет назад

    @kazywaz I am just getting back into doing videos again, I'm going to be changing the format of my RUclips channel a bit, I will hopefully be doing some computer related and electrical hobbyist videos as well as some more Technics videos. I was thinking of doing some videos on equipment respires as well maybe, so fixing receiver channels will come under that..
    I really need to get to it and make some more videos.
    thanks for your comment and all your positive feed back.
    nice one!!!

  • @ntintini
    @ntintini 10 лет назад

    James please keep up the good work.You're great mate.This is John from Greece!

  • @FANKANable
    @FANKANable 12 лет назад

    Thanks again. Always very helpful.

  • @aec1118
    @aec1118 3 года назад

    Great video! You explained things really well. Thank you!

  • @viperfrank
    @viperfrank  14 лет назад

    @undatone hi there, thanks for your comment, its doesn't normally matter too much what order you do it in but it's quite a good idea to do the weight first and than the anti skate, you may find it easer to adjust the anti skate when the weight is set properly. but generally as long as you do them its don't really matter what order you do them in, im glad the video was helpful and thanks again for your comment.
    nice one!!!

  • @jamiemccort8388
    @jamiemccort8388 5 лет назад +1

    Thanks a lot mate, this was very helpful 👌🏻

  • @MeanManu
    @MeanManu 9 лет назад

    Thanks for the advice! Very well explained!

  • @conflict1960
    @conflict1960 9 лет назад

    Very helpful, nice one

  • @eliaslugo4223
    @eliaslugo4223 7 лет назад +3

    thank you for the info

  • @bareknuckles2u
    @bareknuckles2u 8 лет назад +2

    Awesome video! Thanks, bro!

  • @frankystylezdjfrost
    @frankystylezdjfrost 15 лет назад

    tanx for sharing all your videos really help me two thumbs up !

  • @pharmd718
    @pharmd718 7 лет назад

    Very helpful. Thank you.

  • @Viviennom
    @Viviennom 4 года назад

    You just saved my day! Thanks mate!

  • @theromanceofwax
    @theromanceofwax 7 лет назад

    nice one mate
    will be adjusting tomorrow

  • @yamaforever
    @yamaforever 9 лет назад

    Good video you got here, really helped me. It was pretty much the same info as in my installation manual that came with my new turntable. Seems like i've done the adjustments right.
    Thanks:)

  • @elliotfairhurst1
    @elliotfairhurst1 8 лет назад

    sorted us right out! Nice one lad!

  • @ChaseGuindon
    @ChaseGuindon 13 лет назад

    that was soo cool when he did a close up of the grooves

  • @viperfrank
    @viperfrank  12 лет назад

    @nverwijk If you don't have enough weight on the needle than the needle will not sit right into the groove, this will effect sound quality and cause the needle to jump when queuing up/scratching. another thing that tends to happen is when the record reaches the end that the needle gets to the end groove and it jumps out on goes across the label.
    Hope this was a help and thank you for your comment.
    Nice One ; )

  • @mbrifkin
    @mbrifkin 11 лет назад

    definitely the best video i've watched on youtube about this... One question though, on one of my tables, the tonearm weight is pushed way further up on the arm in order to achieve weightlessness than in some of the videos I've seen. Does that mean there's something I need to fix? It seems like I'm putting too much weight on it with the weight so far forward.
    Thanks again, your videos are super helpful!

  • @squirrelguy2195
    @squirrelguy2195 6 лет назад

    Thank you so much! This fixed my issues, thought my needle was going bad, turns out I didn't have enough tracking force

  • @33rbp
    @33rbp 8 лет назад

    Thanks mate, well done

  • @danchaplin134
    @danchaplin134 5 лет назад

    Great video mate as wheats very to the point

  • @gramoukdoom
    @gramoukdoom 15 лет назад

    Slick as fuck man. Seriously, soooo many people out there should see your vid. I've seen so many DJs putting like 86kg on their vynils... some guys just don't get it. Im gonna forward this - really good tutorial.

  • @toomuchtoofast4533
    @toomuchtoofast4533 6 лет назад

    Great tips man, keep up the great work.

  • @viperfrank
    @viperfrank  12 лет назад

    Thank you, I'm glad you like the video.
    Thank you for your comment.
    Nice One ; )

  • @penguinshoes6256
    @penguinshoes6256 8 лет назад

    Thanks for the video you have shared a lot of great tips! thanks again man!

  • @MaxSwineberg
    @MaxSwineberg 14 лет назад

    Extremely helpful video. Thank you!

  • @acawroom79
    @acawroom79 5 лет назад

    Awesome mate! Very clearly explained! Thanks! Cheers!

  • @faktumstream1beatz335
    @faktumstream1beatz335 7 лет назад +6

    walkman..... now thats a term i havent heard in like 15 years

  • @L0rdn1kon
    @L0rdn1kon 14 лет назад

    safe, nice comprehensive guide :)

  • @djonpoint1
    @djonpoint1 14 лет назад

    Thank you very very much. super helpful

  • @djquantize1
    @djquantize1 11 лет назад

    Very good video

  • @planey2k
    @planey2k 13 лет назад

    another cracking video.. great tune to demonstrate with too ;)

  • @nefelor1393
    @nefelor1393 8 лет назад

    Thank you so much.
    Very helpful.