Skipping issues, need some help!

[Kamakiri]

Need some help with this one.

I've got my tonearm on my Pioneer TT balanced at 2 grams at the moment, but I have an occasional skipping problem, and I don't think it's the record's fault. Seems that I get an occasional skip, and wanted to know if it's better to alter the arm weight positive or negative to try and eliminate the problem. Now, I always remember the "taped penny" trick to the 1950s record players to keep it from happening, but in this case, I'm worried about premature needle wear, not to mention the fact that there's not a heck of a lot of clearance between the bottom of the cartridge and the record. There's more clearance on my Garrard AT60 it seems, but it as well had an occasional skipping problem. The cartridges are Audio-Technica bought at Circuit City for about $35 each, and have maybe 20-30 hours play on them.

So, what's a good solution, other than throwing the vinyl in the garbage and going to CD? :eek:

[grumpy]

Kam

I think you need another Cart. Have you tried another one? Maybe you can adjust it for another 1/4 gram of weight. But that only gonna wear the Stylus and the Vinyl out faster. If you stylus is saggin that much I would recomend another cause your sounds wore out. There are lotsa good ones under 50 bucks but they cant be bought at Best Buy.

Dave

[Kamakiri]

The only reason I went that way is that I was desperate to get it up and playing, and, as they say, any port in the storm.

What's a good one to get that doesn't cost $100?

[grumpy]

For the money I think these are hard to beat.


http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?DID=7&PartNumber=232-510

Or try here Both the M97 or 94 are great ecomical carts

http://www.garage-a-records.com/cart.html

I know alot of the guys here also use the Grado Black or Green but I have not gotten around to them. I love my Shure V15's

Dave

[WildWest]

Hmmm occasional skipping you say? And on two tables also? On top of that, two separate Audio Technica cartridges? That's really wierd. Hmmm what kind of surface do you have these tables on when they are in operation? Are you real careful to bubble level your TT. Interesting situation you have there that's for sure. Would bug me to death I tell ya.

Well for one thing, always follow the manufactures reccomended stylus tracking force. Sure you can adjust a bit .5 grams either way to please your ear, but I wouldn't stray much farther than that. Don't you DARE put that big ole penny on there LOL Considering also that a cartridge for 35.00 dollars at CC is even mucho less at their cost. Once you get to that point why, you have a super budget cartridge and stylus on your hands and they may just be prone to skipping.

I would as Dave mentioned, try to step up some to a better cartridge. He listed some excellent examples. Frankly if you can afford the 100.00 dollar (range) cartridge, you will be AMAZED at the sonic improvement. That one I promise!

Might I ask, you say you have it balanced at two grams? Are you saying that you use a stylus force gauge then? I only ask because if you are using the tonearms built in calibration then you are gonna be in for a shock when you do get a gauge. More often than not most on board calibrations are waaaaaay off. While it's true your 25.00 dollar SFT gauges not 100% accurate, they beat the HELL out of what's on your tonearm.

Throw away the vinyl and resort back to CD? I always thought the audiophile moved forward in his quest for ultimate sound reproduction? Surely you speak in mere frustration eh? OK WHEW, had me worried for a second there!

[car67]

Hey Kama,

It sounds like it's not tracking force - especially not at 2gms. AT carts are usually more than happy with 1.5g. Now is that the same record and same track which is skipping on both tt's? Would that happen to be the Telarc 1812? :D Just kidding.
But seriously, reduce the tracking force to 1.5g and see if it's the same record/track causing the problem.

If it's more random in nature, then my first thoughts would be set-up. AT's are decent trackers so I don't think you need to be replacing them yet, not after 20 hours.

On set-up agree with WW, use a separate gauge if you can. Otherwise rebalance the counterweight and start from 1.5g. Another thing - when you mounted the cartridges, did you align for correct overhang? That too, can be a problem.

Some pics of the carts and stylus in action might help. Like to see what sort of clearance you are getting...

Jack

[Kamakiri]

I'll post some pics later. The thing that bugs me is it's Crosby Stills and Nash, right in the middle of "Southern Cross" :gigglemad and always when it seems I'm in the middle of a favorite song :rant:

Like I said, it was more of a thing where it was all I could get at the time. I've had it on top of everything, inlcuding a level marble table, so I know it's not that. Think I'm gonna have to just try a different cartridge. Gotta bring the Sansui G-901 in for repair of the left channel today, which seems to have cut out for good, so maybe I'll see if the shop has any for sale as long as I'm there. If not, hey....I'll order online!

[Kamakiri]

Thanks to VH, I found the problem! Turns out the anti-skate control was cranked full on. Tuned it back, and have had NO problems since! :yippy:

I never realized that anti-skate actually had a function! For those of you who like me didn't know exactly what it was, it is a control by which the centrifugal force of the tonearm coming in towards the center of the record is dampened, and I'm assuming in my case it was dampened so much that it actually held the tonearm back from its normal course of travel just enough for it to skip when playing towards the middle of the record.

Fixed now!!!! :D :D :D