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Your Tone Arm History @ an arm which aesthetically you would love or have

Integrated turntables and arms aside, in rough order of acquisition:

Hadcock GH228 (x 2.75- no bearing on one of them!)
Mission 774 (John Bicht version- another one sold years ago)
Syrinx PU2 (sold way back)
Rega RB300
Kuzma Stogi (sold)
SME V
SME 3009 S2
Signet XK50
SME 309
Trans-Fi T2
Air Prodigy
Jelco SA750D
Jelco (Isokinetic silver wired, fancy counterweight) SA750E
Modified Lenco L75 'FAT' arm (sold)
Brinkmann 10.5 (on the La Grange)
Chris Green titanium armtube unipivot
Supatrac Blackbird 10.5", Jelco base
Supatrac Blackbird 9", Linn base

Yes, I still have all the arms unless stated otherwise. Yes, I clearly have a problem. Yes, I will be attempting to sell most of them over the next year or so...

No particular desire for any others!
 
Old S shape Rega R200 on ny first 1970s Rega 3 - I liked it very much at the time with a VMS20E MkII

Then RB300 which sounded great for many years until I started hearing more systems, bought a P25 with RB600 that sounded a little finer especially when I bought a Dynavector 10X5

Various SME 3009s on a Thorens TD160 and later on a Garrard 401, things of great beauty but sonically underwhelming for me, maybe poor cart match

Thorens Krugel, once bearings adjusted it was fine

Roksan Nima - once set up correctly on a TD150 it was quite mellifuous

Ittok - beautifully made, came with an LP12 but preferred the Nima so it made way

Mission 774 John Bicht version, I'd always wanted to try one of these since reading about it when launched. It came on a Thorens TD160 but I transfered it to a Garrard 401. I replaced the soggy counterweight filling and it has sounded great to my ears, first with an AT33PTG and now a, AT33PTGII.

I have no desire to change this arm.
 
Rega RB250 (Planar 2)
Rega RB300 (Planar 3)
Pro-ject (from orig. suspended 6.1 TT)
Thorens TP13a "kugelarm" (TD150MkII)
SME 3009 S/2 Improved (detach. HS)
Audio Technica AT-1005 II
Michell TecnoArm(a)
Rega RB700 (P7)
Technics EPA-100 (SL-1000 MkII)
Mission Mechanic
Technics (SL-1500C) Current
 
Only ever experienced the following arms:

Lenco (on my GL-75, first ever table)
A SME 3009 II and then Infinity Black Widow
Linn Akito
SME V (now on a second one)

Fantasy arms:

Primary Control FCL
SME VA
Durand Tosca
Breuer
Bluelectric Micro Magic Altair
Thales Statement
Quallum UTA-200A - not sure this one ever went into production, although statically exhibited.
Kuzma Safir
SAEC
Acoustical Systems Axiom
Dereneville
S.A.T.
Basis Vector 4
Helius Systems Phaedra
Ikeda
Triplanar
Bergmann Odin
Glanz
Audio Tekne
Dynavector
OL Agile

Passed me by:

Mission Mechanic
Zeta
Syrinx
Odyssey
Linn Ekos
Moerch
 
Too many to recall, but the one I would like is:
gs-017-2.jpg
 
I have only bought two arms that didn't come with the TT.
The first was a Syrinx PU2 which was replaced by the second my current Ittok and I see no reason to change it but if I was to I suspect it would be for an Ekos SE.
 
I've had:

RB250
RB300
Jelco SA750D
Moërch UP4
Audiomods Series 6

Currently have:

SME 309
Audiomods Series 5
RB250 (in a box)
 
I could be accused of being unfair, as being in the trade for over 30 years has allowed me to have a huge amount of experience with many tonearms. I own a vast array of tonearms as part of my personal collection, If I listed every arm I have owned it would take pages I continue to learn more about turntable arm cartridge tonearm that work. Some tonearms I have out of boxes and can be played easily are as follows.

Primary Control Fcl x2
Durand Tosca
Durand Telos Shaphire
Debaer Onyx 9
SAT
Rockport system 111 tonearm
Air tangent Reference
Air tangent 10b
Fidelity FR66
Ikeda 407 Stainless latest version
Schroeder LT/Reference SQ
Vyger Vision
Vyger inertial
Acoustical Systems Axiom
Acoustical Systems Anniversary fixed head shell
Acoustical Systems Anniversary SME Head shell
Spj Lyla MK2
Seac 4700
Kuzma Safir
CS PORT Tonearm
Glanz 124 premium
Reed 5T
Thales Statement
Every Sme ever made

Plently of others cant think further
 
Last edited:
krenzler said:
And if you were to live with only one? :)
Click to expand...

Lol not easy to answer as it all comes down turntable cartridge and music choice if I were to choose one combination that I can always sit back and enjoy no matter it has to be one of the modified Rockport System 111 turntable tonearm combinations it does a lot in terms sound nuance detail body with a with musical stage it is just so so solid and stable. This cannot be purchased so of no use too many.

The Vyger Indian signature with inertial arm is also superb and is still available today to purchase it has great dynamics it has superb drive and body it is a musical performer.
I also love the delicate nature of the CS Port turntable tonearm it is very engaging and offers a plush enveloping sound.

Of Pivoted arms the Primary Control FCL is quite something it has a great sense of life with very natural imaging. I could go on but I wont and would really hate to have to choose.
 
Flipping eck! Some sa..err dedicated arm swappers here!

Whatever knife edge thing was on a Lenco B55 in a Bush unit.
RB250 on original Planar 2.
Akito Mk1, on Ariston then LP12.
Ittok LVIII Mk2. LP12. I agree the Ittok is beautifully made and finished and a joy to use, but like the LP12 it sat on, it didn't inspire sonically.
Audiomods Classic on Gyro SE.
Audiomods Series V on Orbe.

I've always loved the look of the Zeta but never heard one.
I have heard the Alphason HR100S and wish it was still in production.

PS., I have a slightly rough SME 3009 S2 on the B55 for playing 78s.
 
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