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What model SME3009 is this?

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It is an SME 3009 II Improved. Many people prefer the the "Non-Improved" version. This one will have a composite or plastic material knife bearing and and a different counterweight arrangement that the plain old SME 3009 II. If you plan on using moving magnet cartridges these the "Improved" arms are good I think. You can replace the plastic bearing with a steel bearing available from several online sources if you really felt the need. I run this exact set up with a Goldring 1042 cartridge and it makes beautiful music.

Given the table has no dustcover and it has the slightly less desireable "Improved" SME3009 II, I would say this set up would be safely worth $350 US for a good deal. $500 would be tops I'd want to pay for this set up.

One more thing, the cartridge is a Shure V15 Type III. Those are pretty good. You might have to splurge for a new stylus from JICO though.
 
IMHO only later versions of the II-improved had plastic bearings - possibly mid to late 70's. I've had three II-improved arms and they all had metal knife edge bearings, and they all came on TD-125s.
 
packrat said:
IMHO only later versions of the II-improved had plastic bearings - possibly mid to late 70's. I've had three II-improved arms and they all had metal knife edge bearings, and they all came on TD-125s.
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The nomenclature adds to the confusion.

The earliest 3009's, being the first, where simply called SME 3009. They are the rarest of the 3009's and very sought after. You can tell these by the different housing surrounding the knife bearing and usually a heavier slide plate.

Next came the "SME 3009 Series II" which all had steel bearings. They were not all that much different than the first version, biggest change was to change the arm tube material to aluminum.

Then came the "SME 3009 Series II Improved" and "SME 3009/S2 Improved". They all had nylon kinfe edge bearings, a completely different counterweight system and a lighter effective mass, supposedly better for the newer cartridges of the day. One had a removeable headshell and the S2 had a fixed headshell.

People have been changing the nylon bearing to steel bearings(and sometimes bronze) for years.

http://www.vinylengine.com/library_model.php?make=SME&selected_model=3009
 
scott0527 said:
......Then came the "SME 3009 Series II Improved" and "SME 3009/S2 Improved". They all had nylon kinfe edge bearings, a completely different counterweight system and a lighter effective mass, supposedly better for the newer cartridges of the day. One had a removeable headshell and the S2 had a fixed headshell.

People have been changing the nylon bearing to steel bearings(and sometimes bronze) for years.

http://www.vinylengine.com/library_model.php?make=SME&selected_model=3009
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I've had 2 bone stock td-125 mkIIs with 3009 SII arms, bought from original owners - both had steel knife edge bearings and the older SME bottom connector. A friend had a 125II with a 3009 with a fixed hedshell, also with metal knife edge bearings. My suspicion is SME used whatever stock of knife edge bearings they had until they began using plastic ones.
 
packrat said:
I've had 2 bone stock td-125 mkIIs with 3009 SII arms, bought from original owners - both had steel knife edge bearings and the older SME bottom connector. A friend had a 125II with a 3009 with a fixed hedshell, also with metal knife edge bearings. My suspicion is SME used whatever stock of knife edge bearings they had until they began using plastic ones.
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If by 3009 SII you mean 3009 Series II, then those would certainly have steel bearings.

There are no doubt excpetions however the "3009 Series II" came with a steel bearing and the "3009 Series II Improved" came with a nylon bearing by design. SME engineering thought the Nylon bearing to be an "Improvement" although many customers didn't think so.

By the way, for those who haven't seen a lot of these arms, it's no so easy to tell whether the bearing is nylon or steel. When the arm is assembled, they all look like steel to me.
 
They were all SII-imp. They all looked like steel to me after I took the top cap off to lift the arm out and clean the v-groove. I also have a S-II non imp arm to compare with, and the bearings looked the same. Maybe they got swapped out at dealers, or when nearly new? Is there some documentation from the factory that says this? I've never seen it stated in any SME ads, but I can't say I've seen all the ads they ever made.
 
Below is a picture of an Non-Improved and Improved tonearm and bearing. They really don't look much alike at all now that I know which ones are which.

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I've not seen anything from SME documentation to clarify what was used. Every Improved arm I've run accross had nylon bearings. I still have 4 Improved arms and have had another 4 at other times.

There is a very interesting explanation of the 3009/3012 family with pictures at the link here: http://www.analogue-classics.com/html/sme_3009___3012.html I don't know the source, but it's still a nice read with great pictures.
 

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