Does anyone know of a setup protractor to set the geometry of the cartridge in a Dual 1219 (and Dual 1249)?

Also, does anyone know of any tweaks for these?

Anyone with advise or experience setting VTA?

Thanks.

Dual made a cart alignment gauge for the 1219, IIRC.

Dual made a cart alignment gauge for the 1219, IIRC.

I think I remember that. It is a little plastic box that fits over the end of the arm and has a little cut-out to show where the stylus should go. Any idea how to get one?

Thanks,

Before Joel Thorner passed on, He could get them, now, I have no Idea. Try eBay.

The Baerwald protractor, downloadable at vinylengine.com should work. (under "Stupid Protractors" in the Articles section).

The thing that slips over the spindle is the overhang gauge. Its useful for getting the cart in the right position front to rear in the headshell.

You don't need it, but it simplifies things!

Evan

Howard's right. That plastic box thing assumes that everything involving the tonearm is already pre-aligned and correct. I used it and wondered why my TT sounded like crap. When I used a downloaded and printed Baerwald stupid protractor, it showed that my cart was nowhere near properly aligned.

Use a downloadable and printable protractor. Save time, work, and money, and your ears will thank you!

Tom

Howard's right. That plastic box thing assumes that everything involving the tonearm is already pre-aligned and correct. I used it and wondered why my TT sounded like crap. When I used a downloaded and printed Baerwald stupid protractor, it showed that my cart was nowhere near properly aligned.

Use a downloadable and printable protractor. Save time, work, and money, and your ears will thank you!

Tom

Well I did just that today and it seems to sound a bit better. I used some shims to adjust VTA by ear. This is hard to do and I'm not sure I got it right. But it is sounding pretty good right now. Not sure if I can get it any better.

Thanks to all for the advice.

Terry:
A good ballpark place to start is to make sure that the cart rides level when it's on a record. Tilting forward increases treble, tilting rearward (=dragging cartridge rump) decreases it. There is a magical spot where it all comes together and your jaw drops in amazement.
Tom

Beyond the protractor, you can download the manual for both those tables at http://www.vinylengine.com/library/dual.shtml

VTA is correct for 1200-series Dual's when the tonearm is level when tracking an album.