Sme tonearm rewire

[stevieboy]

Hi Guys,

Anyone here rewired their own tonearm sme or other make? Am tempted to order the wire and do it myself and have some fun rather than send it out to the usual suspects. Will need to find an elusive allen wrench also a tiny size for the counterweight. The garrard is awakening...


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[jls001]

This set may have the required allen key.

Which SME arm is this? One challenge with tonearm wires is their teeny-weeny size.

 

[stevieboy]

Thanks joshua,

I was going to get it from a local electronics road here but you saved me some legwork. I hope it contains the elusive key. This is the 3012 series II. Am considering disposing of my other sme the 3009 also series II since I already have the sme sound want to try another tonearm. The funds should help the cause. Let's see how that thinking goes...

Regards


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[anilva]

I have rewired my SME 3009 II, but couple of years back. IIRC it is not an easy thing to do. The problem is with the earthing lug. Very tricky to mount.

Cheers.

 

[stevieboy]

Hi Anilva,

Yes, the grounding wire is the big problem. There's a nice article by Brian Kearns that I've downloaded that's a nice step by step guide to rewiring SME arms. Seems a bit fiddly but achievable. Somehow the SME just calls out for a bit of lovin' and hands on care Finyl Vinyl just today gave me the contact of a guy in Kormangala who did his tonearm so if I can't manage it, then he can finish it up

Regards

 

[Finyl Vinyl]

Johnson / Anil
277, 5th cross,
6th block, Behind Bethani School,,
Bengaluru,
Karnataka 560095
080 41105050

 

[Finyl Vinyl]

Johnson / Anil
277, 5th cross,
6th block, Behind Bethani School,,
Bengaluru,
Karnataka 560095
080 41105050

 

[stevieboy]

Thanks Finyl!

Anilva,
What wire did you use for your rewire? I am looking at a single run of Cardas wire from socket to phono plug, bypassing the traditional SME connector or the replacement phono plugs at the end of the arm.

 

[anilva]

Thanks Finyl!

Anilva,
What wire did you use for your rewire? I am looking at a single run of Cardas wire from socket to phono plug, bypassing the traditional SME connector or the replacement phono plugs at the end of the arm.

Stevieboy,

I used cardas wire. I did a single run from my fixed headshell to the connector on the pillar, but used them only as terminating lugs for the solders directly to the RCA cable. I have eliminated the male/female connector business.

I might have done a little more complicated job than a rewire, as i had changed the tonearm rod/tube, with a spare, due to an accident, which bent the tube very slightly. That was one of the most tiring mechanical work I had done. At one point, I wanted to give up, particularly at the earth lug.

Now I know that it can be done

Regards
Anil

 

[GeorgeO]

Hats off, Anil! It's people like you who keep up our spirits when they tend to drop a bit, now and then.

 

[anilva]

George,

Thanks for your kind comments. Even now I believe that, this particular tonearm series was very poorly designed from serviceability point of view. YMMV.

Cheers.

 

[G401fan]

Serviceability was not supposed to be an issue with tonearms in those days. Fit it, forget it, was the prevailing wisdom. The 3009/3012 series were designed in an age when cable differences were not even a fleck on the horizon. Rewiring was a concept that they'd probably have laughed at. That notwithstanding, they remain classic tonearms, which is why they remain so sought after to this day. Every 3009/3012 sells out on Audiogon almost immediately, while costlier, more recent, more trumpeted brands languish unsold.

 

[anilva]

Personally, I believe how these tonearms are picked up on audiogon and eBay are not great indicators of their build quality. People, including me have bought these because they are supposed to be legendary. But when you own them and rip them apart, you know that they are not built great. Some of the SME tonearms of later years are much much better. I also understand great engineering quality does not mean great sound always or vice-versa. My intention is not to flame here, but just to give another point of view and hope it is seen in that light.

 

[stevieboy]

Anilva,

What did you use to polish the armtube and weights? Silvo? My weights need a bit of shining up...

Regards


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[anilva]

Stevieboy,

I only use isopropyl alcohol to clean these things and wipe them clean with microfibre cloth. I do not use mini cream, silvo etc., since they take out a small layer of the material.

Cheers.

 

[stevieboy]

Ah ok will see how that takes out the spots. One more thing. How did you take out the collar at the beginning of the tube. I've got everything dismantled and the collar seems like a plier grip and pull off job...? Nothing else seems to make sense for it so far as I can see

Putting that earth screw back is gonna be some fun

Thanks!


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[stevieboy]

Got the head socket off. Gonna need a new one. The spring action on two clips is gone plus the plugs look ugly old. Boy this diy stuff sure makes you feel like the king of the world with each small achievement!


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[stevieboy]

But when you own them and rip them apart, you know that they are not built great.

hi Anilva,

A little curious as to why you say they're not built great. When I dismantled mine it looked quite well built with each part doing it's job. The exercise certainly gave me a respect for the way they were built. Are you talking about tolerances in parts or materials used?

Regards


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[anilva]

Great to know that you are progressing well. What happens to the head socket? Are you going to get a new one? On the build quality my concern is around some of the plastics they have used in the arm tube.

 

[stevieboy]

Hi Anilva,

Its going surprisingly well and easy for my first diy attempt. Yes I'm getting a new socket. Along with a bunch of other parts like the extra riderweight, some base screws, coupling rubbers, new earth pin etc.. There's a guy on ebay selling the sockets NOS. Already sourced a guy who'll do the single run cardas and do the phono plugs too so all I have to do is attach the lead to the socket.

Is your arm the improved one? Cos mine's all metal. Ah you must be referring to the triangular part at the stub end? If so did you replace the knife edge bearing or still using the nylon one?

Regards


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