i wasnt sure where to post this, im still rather new here.

i have a technics 1200, although im not sure that makes a difference.
i have this issue where the first song on several records skips right away and then if you move the needle a bit forward, it just skips a few minutes further. its really driving me nuts. anyone know what this problem could be coming from? catridge? needle? alignment?

im still new to all of this.

Sounds like a serious alignment issue. This is happening on records that appear to have no visible damage?

sounds like your tracking adjustment is way off ?? I am not sure i am understanding your problem the way you describe it , but it sounds like you have it set with too much "force" sending the needle across the record , do you have the manual for the table & the paperwork for the catridge ? it should have all the weights (which may be another problem as in how many grams of weight you have on the needle) & the tracking force written in it .

Also, is your tonearm straight or S-shaped? If it's straight, you can try taking a picture and posting and I can give you an eyeball on whether your cartridge is badly cockeyed.

um... i believe its s shaped. i just had the cartridge aligned though...

and i guess i left out the most important part...
it only happens on a very minor warp. i guess its just overly sensative? most of these records are completely new with minor warps on the edge.
for instance, at the beginning of smashing pumpkins' adore lp. my friend has the same record and it does it in the exact same place. (has a small warp in the exact same place)

Try this...

Make sure your TT is level

With the cart on the arm, balance it so it floats level just above the rest with your anti skate to zero. Now move the arm to the center of the album and it should stay there.

Now set your antiskate to 1.5 and it should return to the rest area. If so, it's fine. If it doesn't you might have an issue with the tonearm.

Try this...

Make sure your TT is level

With the cart on the arm, balance it so it floats level just above the rest with your anti skate to zero. Now move the arm to the center of the album and it should stay there.

Now set your antiskate to 1.5 and it should return to the rest area. If so, it's fine. If it doesn't you might have an issue with the tonearm.

seems to pass this test.

could be bad bearings

Edge warps can be annoying, but a good tonearm should be able to track them. Turntable leveling, antiskate setting, and cueing speed can all be a factor.

Sometimes a descending stylus doesn't 'catch' the groove right away and skids forward. A slower cueing rate can sometimes help this.

a couple of important questions to be answered:

what tracking force are you using?

where have you set your antiskate?

what cartridge are you using?

even with a minor edge warp, it should play.

a couple of important questions to be answered:

what tracking force are you using?
in the middle, about 2.25

where have you set your antiskate?
about 2

what cartridge are you using?
shure sc35c

even with a minor edge warp, it should play.
these records play fine on my basic crosley travel player that has no real adjustments.

a couple of important questions to be answered:

what tracking force are you using?

where have you set your antiskate?

what cartridge are you using?

even with a minor edge warp, it should play.

I have to agree , I have some albums with Major warps that still play fine , it's gotta be something with the settings , if you add weight on the needle will it stay put ?

Quote:
Originally Posted by iLUVanalog
a couple of important questions to be answered:

what tracking force are you using?
in the middle, about 2.25

where have you set your antiskate?
about 2

what cartridge are you using?
shure sc35c

even with a minor edge warp, it should play.

these records play fine on my basic crosley travel player that has no real adjustments.



= = = = = = = = = =

i would suggest that you increase both the tracking force and antiskate. since you say you're tracking at 2.25 (mid-point), it is quite safe to increase the tracking force....as long as you remain within the tracking force range. also, is 2.25 the recommended tracking force?....and even it is, it is just a recommendation. however, you don't want to go lower than the recommended. it is also important to increase the antiskate once you have increased the tracking force. you originally had the tracking force at 2.25 with the antiskating set a 2.0.....you probably needed to go higher with your antiskating setting.

anyway, try it and let us know if it works.

ive tried increasing both. its as if the warp makes the needle jump forward

I'm not familiar with the tracking force adjustment on that TT. If it's on the weight, are you sure you've balanced it, reset the indicator to 0, then turned it to the desired setting?

As a rule of thumb, the anti-skate setting should be the same as the tracking force, unless the TT or the cart has a special chart for that setting.

Also, make sure that the cue mechanism is retracting all the way. I've seen some that will go down until the stylus contacts the record, then hang there, still slightly contacting the arm, with no clearance, thus interfering with the arm's vertical movement.

i actually took it into the audio shop down the street from me here in chicago, and the turntable repair guy calibrated the cartridge and the turntable. it had already improved the sound a ton.

Yep, check the cueing, also, do you have the turntable mounted in such a way that vibrations from your speakers feed back into it?

And while you've given us the tracking weight you are using, have you properly balanced the tonearm before setting the tracking force?

Another thread recently brought that situation to light...

i wasnt sure where to post this, im still rather new here.

i have a technics 1200, although im not sure that makes a difference.
i have this issue where the first song on several records skips right away and then if you move the needle a bit forward, it just skips a few minutes further. its really driving me nuts. anyone know what this problem could be coming from? catridge? needle? alignment?

im still new to all of this.

Here is a link to some instruction videos. Look at them closely it should provide you with the information as to how to do most of what your asking about.
http://repairny.com/do-it-yourself-repair/49-djprolab-videos.html

i actually took it into the audio shop down the street from me here in chicago, and the turntable repair guy calibrated the cartridge and the turntable. it had already improved the sound a ton.


That's fine. However, the the tracking force needs to be calibrated anytime the turntable is moved. You should seriously consider obtaining a weight scale to verify correct tracking force.

it totally agree with ke4jhj. you should have a tracking force gauge of some sort just to make sure your tracking force is correct and accurate. i currently have a Shure tracking force gauge, but i'm planning to go online and ordering a digital gauge this week.

i will try to use those videos and reconfigure. i think i need to try a different cartridge anyway. right now, im using a shure sc35c which tracks much too heavy. i heard the m97xe or whatever is really good. anyone know of anything easier to install but comparable in sound? i just hate when something's wrong and it can be anything. i just had to take apart the whole cart because nothing was coming out of the right channel. there was a short in the green wire and i had to switch it out with a new one. but that took an hour to figure out.

For get the Shure get yourself an AT110E great match for that arm. Let it burn in and you'll like it.

The specs for that cart call for 4-5 grams tracking force.... not 2.25.