Advice For Using A Mint Tractor

XV-1

Well-Known Member
May 24, 2010
3,591
2,573
1,860
Sydney
Follow the instructions - They are simple and well written

If you find you are not quite getting the stylus in the absolutely correct position, take a break, have a cup of tea and the go back with a clear head.

After you have done it a few times it gets easier
 

Sunnyboy1956

Member Sponsor
Feb 22, 2014
240
1
123
67
New Delhi, India
I ordered a mint yesterday any tips for using it???
Patience, patience and more patience. Its painful, boring, laborious but once you hear your cart "properly" aligned it will be more than worth it. Once you get used to the Mint all you need to do is ensure that the cantilever is parallel to the fine black lines at the 2 null points after checking that the stylus is accurately tracing the arc etc
Best
 

DonH50

Member Sponsor & WBF Technical Expert
Jun 22, 2010
3,947
306
1,670
Monument, CO
Whoops, wrong thread, I was prepared to discuss previous experience with John Deere, MF, Ford, etc. tractors... Using them to align your phono cartridge would probably provide very low output noise but low signal as well so I do not recommend them. :)

I agree it is a bit of a shock to hear what a difference a good alignment can make (either type tractor).
 

Peter Breuninger

[Industry Expert] Member Sponsor
Jul 20, 2010
1,231
4
0
My advise is not to use unleaded gas.

Image 6.jpg
 

mep

Member Sponsor & WBF Founding Member
Apr 20, 2010
9,481
17
0
According to the other thread I started, it really doesn't matter anyway.
 

number95

Well-Known Member
May 14, 2014
384
7
250
Here is a photo showing the relative curves traced by my 9" SME V and 12" SME V-12 arms on the Mint protractors. Note how much flatter the 12" curve is and the overhang distance from the spindle hole.

View attachment 16048

Very informative pictures, thanks Peter.

I also ordered mine just recently which has not yet been delivered. I will compare Mint to Dr Feickert Universal protractor that I already have. Tonearm is Graham Elite.
 
  • Like
Reactions: WntrMute2

PeterA

Well-Known Member
Dec 6, 2011
12,522
10,688
3,515
USA
Very informative pictures, thanks Peter.

I also ordered mine just recently which has not yet been delivered. I will compare Mint to Dr Feickert Universal protractor that I already have. Tonearm is Graham Elite.

Here are a couple more interesting ones showing a new cartridge which I just aligned using the MINT. Note the zenith/cantilever alignment. This is one of the real advantages of the MINT in my opinion. It just requires patience, steady fingers, good lighting, and a bit of time. The precision is remarkable. Please post your finding about the comparison to the Feickert.

IMG_0573.jpg

IMG_0574.jpg
 

number95

Well-Known Member
May 14, 2014
384
7
250
Zenith is also painful with Dr Feickert. The base is all black which requires even more light, also parallel lines are two far apart unlike Mint, making paralel cantilever adjustment harder. I will report my findings after comparing those two.
 

dmnc02

Member Sponsor
Jul 10, 2012
326
1
0
PA, USA
Zenith is also painful with Dr Feickert. The base is all black which requires even more light, also parallel lines are two far apart unlike Mint, making paralel cantilever adjustment harder. I will report my findings after comparing those two.

The key problem when setting zenith with the Feickert is that it is difficult to compensate for the parallax effect. With the Mint, you know when you are looking to the alignment lines directly from the front and above because the lines overlap their reflections in the mirror below (as shown in PeterA's picture above). I now use the Feickert to set the pivot-spindle distance and the Mint for overhang and zenith.
 

puroagave

Member Sponsor
Sep 29, 2011
1,345
45
970
Very informative pictures, thanks Peter.

I also ordered mine just recently which has not yet been delivered. I will compare Mint to Dr Feickert Universal protractor that I already have. Tonearm is Graham Elite.

why don't you use Bob's jig? the mint LP is an exercise in frustration I had better success with the graham jig.
 

number95

Well-Known Member
May 14, 2014
384
7
250
why don't you use Bob's jig? the mint LP is an exercise in frustration I had better success with the graham jig.

Somehow I used to get better results with Dr Feickert. Do not know why.
 

number95

Well-Known Member
May 14, 2014
384
7
250
The key problem when setting zenith with the Feickert is that it is difficult to compensate for the parallax effect. With the Mint, you know when you are looking to the alignment lines directly from the front and above because the lines overlap their reflections in the mirror below (as shown in PeterA's picture above). I now use the Feickert to set the pivot-spindle distance and the Mint for overhang and zenith.

That is also my intention, plan to use Dr Feickert for PTS, Mint for overhang/zenith. I have a second tonearm Ikeda 407 so still need Dr Feickert as mint that I got is for Elite tonearm. If mint shows better improvement, may order a second mint for Ikeda.
 

dmnc02

Member Sponsor
Jul 10, 2012
326
1
0
PA, USA
That is also my intention, plan to use Dr Feickert for PTS, Mint for overhang/zenith. I have a second tonearm Ikeda 407 so still need Dr Feickert as mint that I got is for Elite tonearm. If mint shows better improvement, may order a second mint for Ikeda.
In that case, be aware of the following. The manual for the Graham Phantom that still comes with Elite (until Bob updates it) states that the pivot-spindle distance for the 10" arm is 230.3mm (247mm effective length and 16.7mm overhang). However, Yip draws the Mint protractor for the 10" arm based on a pivot-spindle distance of exactly 231mm, as this is easier to measure without error.
 

rockitman

Member Sponsor
Sep 20, 2011
7,097
412
1,210
Northern NY
why don't you use Bob's jig? the mint LP is an exercise in frustration I had better success with the graham jig.

I used the mint for the first 6 mos with my Graham Supreme a couple years back. The alignment was superior sounding with the Graham jig. It is hit and miss getting the correct pivot to spindle distance using a fiekert and then aligning with the Mint. bob's alignment is different than yip's method.
 

dmnc02

Member Sponsor
Jul 10, 2012
326
1
0
PA, USA

About us

  • What’s Best Forum is THE forum for high end audio, product reviews, advice and sharing experiences on the best of everything else. This is THE place where audiophiles and audio companies discuss vintage, contemporary and new audio products, music servers, music streamers, computer audio, digital-to-analog converters, turntables, phono stages, cartridges, reel-to-reel tape machines, speakers, headphones and tube and solid-state amplification. Founded in 2010 What’s Best Forum invites intelligent and courteous people of all interests and backgrounds to describe and discuss the best of everything. From beginners to life-long hobbyists to industry professionals, we enjoy learning about new things and meeting new people, and participating in spirited debates.

Quick Navigation

User Menu

Steve Williams
Site Founder | Site Owner | Administrator
Ron Resnick
Site Co-Owner | Administrator
Julian (The Fixer)
Website Build | Marketing Managersing