Sme 3012 R

I know this old arm is good but I don’t know why David,Rockitman,Tang,Ron,Mike
Use or will use having top tonearm like Sat,EliteAxiom,Black Beauty,Durand

Why 3012 is so special?
I never had and I don’t understand
Only to know for my curiosity
Regards
Gian

 

There was a different version of the 3012R that was quite rare and short lived, it was meant to be produced for the Japanese market called the 31012R Pro the arm still said 3012r on it, it had different internal and external wire and a silver arm lift together with a few tolerance differences this also was meant to come supplied with a fluid damper. Some normal 3012R tonearms also were shipped with the silver arm lift just to use the parts up.
There were also differences in thickness of the 3012R arm tube over its production time, this did change the overall character. I actually liked the sound of the thicker walled tube it had a far more human sound to it, but one would need both arms side by side to know without measuring the tube its impossible to tell visually. The designation Series 11 3012r is just a label thing the earlier arms had that designation, as it was after the otoriganal series 11 production. There were times in later production that some of these old labels were used same for the boxes I have collectors all around wanting the series 11 3012r more so just for the label. Nearly all of the 3012r tonearms were built by one man Laurence a unassuming character who was eager to learn and develop his skills he now works part time building tonearms we would quite often discuss how it was almost impossible to make to arms identical, at the time of the 3012r the head of production was Graham Whitley who was with the company for around 40 years, his position was taken over by Brian Laker who was involved with the production of the 3012r till the last day.

 

There was a different version of the 3012R that was quite rare and short lived, it was meant to be produced for the Japanese market called the 31012R Pro the arm still said 3012r on it, it had different internal and external wire and a silver arm lift together with a few tolerance differences this also was meant to come supplied with a fluid damper. Some normal 3012R tonearms also were shipped with the silver arm lift just to use the parts up.
<snip>

Thanks for the history lesson. This stuff should be documented for historical purposes.

 

I think the silver arm lift models are the early ones that also have the better sounding rca cable. Mine is also a late model with black arm lift. You are not using a lot of anti-skating that is for sure View attachment 71407

Hi Lagonda, Well, the vdh Colibri cartridges recommend very low anti skating values. Mine are 0.2-0.4 grams. I set mine at the lowest level (0.5g) and have recently found that 0.75 is better. That is the second notch on the scale in the photo.

What turntable is that in your photo? Very interesting looking. And that is one solid looking arm board.

 

Hi Lagonda, Well, the vdh Colibri cartridges recommend very low anti skating values. Mine are 0.2-0.4 grams. I set mine at the lowest level (0.5g) and have recently found that 0.75 is better. That is the second notch on the scale in the photo.

What turntable is that in your photo? Very interesting looking. And that is one solid looking arm board.

That is a Maplenoll Ariadne Signature, and i stole the arm board idea and the leather mat from David ! The LT arm has a silicone trough in front of the cartridge, like on a Townshend TT, and sounds excellent too.

 

That is a Maplenoll Ariadne Signature, and i stole the arm board idea and the leather mat from David ! The LT arm has a silicone trough in front of the cartridge, like on a Townshend TT, and sounds excellent too.View attachment 71413

I love the mappenoll turntables I still have a Appolo in storage and owned a Ariadne and the Athena prior around 30 years back, I used to use different grades of silicone and also used oil instead funny I also made a mount all those years ago for a sme 3012.

 

I love the mappenoll turntables I still have a Appolo in storage and owned a Ariadne and the Athena prior around 30 years back, I used to use different grades of silicone and also used oil instead funny I also made a mount all those years ago for a sme 3012.

The finish was not exactly perfect on all of them, but the engineering was excellent, i recently disconnected the belt and gave the platter a free spin. I was expecting 5 minutes til complete stand still, but it took 45 min until the 100 lb platter had stopped completely

 

The finish was not exactly perfect on all of them, but the engineering was excellent, i recently disconnected the belt and gave the platter a free spin. I was expecting 5 minutes til complete stand still, but it took 45 min until the 100 lb platter had stopped completely

I agree a bit agricultural but had a certain charm, very nice turntables I enjoyed my time with them.

 

I agree a bit agricultural but had a certain charm, very nice turntables I enjoyed my time with them.

"Agricultural" ? LOL, yes the early ones looked like a TT stuffed into a wooden bird feeder, with the pump housing ( the "silent super pump" was a nosy/smelly refrigerator pump) of the same beautiful design

 

I have another question about the 3012-R. I am thinking about adding this arm, but my armboard will probably not accommodate the tonearm cable connectors (the connectors go to the side). If the phono connectors could go straight down though (or backwards), it would fit perfectly. Does anyone have experience with a RCA conversion set, like this: https://www.analogtubeaudio.de/en/r...3009-3010-3012-and-m2-9-m2-10-m2-12-tonearms/ ? The best alternative for me would be to have a 5-pin connector, as all my tonearm cables are DIN.

 

Finally got the SME 3012R mounted on my Accoustic Signature Ascona. Tonearm bought from Japan and looks like new. Just starting to spin. Thank you @hogen for your kind help!

 

Congratulations on the new arm. It's also interesting that you what looks like the SME V. I owned both for a while on an SME table. Please share your impressions as they develop. Nice photos.

 

Congratulations on the new arm. It's also interesting that you what looks like the SME V. I owned both for a while on an SME table. Please share your impressions as they develop. Nice photos.

Thank you so much, Peter. It's a SME V on the other side. I'm starting out with the Bluelectric Magic Diamond SV in an Ikeda headshell for a start. First impression of 3012R is really good. Dexter Gordon on Blue Note right now...

 

They are both excellent arms, but they do sound different. And the ergonomics and adjustments are quite different. The removable headshell and as a mess adjustment are quite useful on the 3012R. Is your manual in Japanese? I have two NOS 3012Rs from Japan with Japanese manuals. I found no reason to change from the stock SME phono cables. They are quite good.

 

They are both excellent arms, but they do sound different. And the ergonomics and adjustments are quite different. The removable headshell and as a mess adjustment are quite useful on the 3012R. Is your manual in Japanese? I have two NOS 3012Rs from Japan with Japanese manuals. I found no reason to change from the stock SME phono cables. They are quite good.

The heavier Bluelectric seems to give a more precise bass in the 3012R than in SME V. Soundstage also seems wider. Still early, but that is first impression. The manual on the picture is Japanese, but seller provided me with a copy of the English one as well. Haven't tried the original cable yet but will do.

 

Finally got the SME 3012R mounted on my Accoustic Signature Ascona. Tonearm bought from Japan and looks like new. Just starting to spin. Thank you @hogen for your kind help!
View attachment 76966
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Congratulations. How did you manage to connect the side facing rca connectors on the3012 to your phono leads inside that tower? When I had an Ascona it only worked with the bendy SME cables otherwise there was not enough room inside to turn 90 degrees..

 

Congratulations. How did you manage to connect the side facing rca connectors on the3012 to your phono leads inside that tower? When I had an Ascona it only worked with the bendy SME cables otherwise there was not enough room inside to turn 90 degrees..

Thank you! I had to rebuild it to make rca connectors face downwards. Tried also with original cables or angeled rca plugs, but space is too narrow for the arm to slide back and forward.

 

Thank you! I had to rebuild it to make rca connectors face downwards. Tried also with original cables or angeled rca plugs, but space is too narrow for the arm to slide back and forward.

Ah ok. Acoustic Signature actually makes an armboard with side holes that match the sidewards rca plugs for the Ascona.

 

Ah ok. Acoustic Signature actually makes an armboard with side holes that match the sidewards rca plugs for the Ascona.

That I didn't know. I just ordered armboard for SME, didn't tell them which arm I had bought...

 

Woodrand

Congrats to your New Toy

I’m very happy with my two 3012Rs, mounted “historically correct” on a Thorens TD 127, and 520 respectively.

Question: On your Manual Cover it shows 3012R “Special”.
What’s “special “with your model ?


Regards

Urs

 

That I didn't know. I just ordered armboard for SME, didn't tell them which arm I had bought...