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

 

set the lateral balance as follows:

First adjust the tracking weight. Then, without anti-skating!, adjust the lateral balance as follows:
The tonearm rests in the arm holder. Then slowly lift the arm with a string behind the bearing.
If the headshell rotates from the horizontal position in one direction, the boom with the support weight must be moved either towards the tonearm tube or away from the tonearm. Don't forget to fix the screw after that.
Take your time if you don't do it correctly the bearing will wear out or your azimuth of the cartridge will be crooked also high wear.best to use dental floss for that, good luck and have fun.

View attachment 144228

This is different from the way its described in the manual. How come you recommend doing it this way and not as SME intended it to be done?

Also, not sure what you mean with the arrow pointing towards the main counter weight and the wording «screw»?

 

This is different from the way its described in the manual. How come you recommend doing it this way and not as SME intended it to be done?

Also, not sure what you mean with the arrow pointing towards the main counter weight and the wording «screw»?

I have had a tonearm like this for 30 years, and it is the quickest way for me. The screw to fix the boom is here.
make sure that the VTF weight is on the horizontal plane of the bearing.
Image

 

Thank you for clarifying. So, will this set screw you marked make the whole rider weight assembly move in and out of the balance weight? And this is how you set lateral balance as you described it? Can’t find anything about this in the manual.

 

Thank you for clarifying. So, will this set screw you marked make the whole rider weight assembly move in and out of the balance weight? And this is how you set lateral balance as you described it? Can’t find anything about this in the manual.

The tonearm is bent at the front towards the platter, this is where you mount your cartride + headshell. To compensate for the weight, the rider is moved. The heavier the cartridge, the further the rider must be moved out. This way the load on both knive bearings is the same.
Believe me, I have tried almost every tweak there is in 30 years.

 

The tonearm is bent at the front towards the platter, this is where you mount your cartride + headshell. To compensate for the weight, the rider is moved. The heavier the cartridge, the further the rider must be moved out. This way the load on both knive bearings is the same.
Believe me, I have tried almost every tweak there is in 30 years.

He he, I have to try not sounding impolite in any way here, but I kind of know what is front and back of a tonearm, where the cartridge goes and what happens in the other end when a certain mass is induced over a pivot point

However, I still don’t understand why you do it this way instead of just follow the described procedure in the manual when it comes to lateral balance. And you didn’t answer my question. So I’m still confused.

What about the rest of the 3012-R owners and users here, are you doing DasguteOhrs procedure when it comes to lateral balance or the one from the manual? @PeterA @Lagonda and the rest of you? Any inputs on the topic?

 

He he, I have to try not sounding impolite in any way here, but I kind of know what is front and back of a tonearm, where the cartridge goes and what happens in the other end when a certain mass is induced over a pivot point

apparently not, otherwise you would have heard about the method. do it as it says in your manual.
Just have a look at the German analog forum, there you will find at least twenty people who do it in the same way. Good bye

 

He he, I have to try not sounding impolite in any way here, but I kind of know what is front and back of a tonearm, where the cartridge goes and what happens in the other end when a certain mass is induced over a pivot point

However, I still don’t understand why you do it this way instead of just follow the described procedure in the manual when it comes to lateral balance. And you didn’t answer my question. So I’m still confused.

What about the rest of the 3012-R owners and users here, are you doing DasguteOhrs procedure when it comes to lateral balance or the one from the manual? @PeterA @Lagonda and the rest of you? Any inputs on the topic?

I do it as described in the manual. I set the vertical tracking force to zero and balance the arm vertically then without any anti-skate as the arm is floating over the record I see if it drifts towards the spindle or towards the outside of the record. I then use the Alan wrench to turn the screw behind the bearing that moves the back of the arm tube behind the bearing laterally.

I never noticed the set screw and was not aware that the outrigger can move in and out as it is described by DasguteOhr. I will investigate and try his method to see how it works. I’m always willing to learn from someone who knows more about these arms than I do.

 

The tonearm is bent at the front towards the platter, this is where you mount your cartride + headshell. To compensate for the weight, the rider is moved. The heavier the cartridge, the further the rider must be moved out. This way the load on both knive bearings is the same.
Believe me, I have tried almost every tweak there is in 30 years.

Stephan where do you lift with dental floss ? Like Peter i adjust for lateral balance with the Allen wrench behind the bearing assembly, after having zeroed out the tracking weight and the arm is floating over the record, no anti skating weight of coarse..

 

So I just tried what Stephan suggests. It’s the same Allen wrench size. There is a flat section on the outrigger tube that is very short. In my case, I could not get the arm to balance by putting the outrigger close enough to the counterweight. It still tilted to the outside of the arm using a thread loop around the back of the arm tube. The secondary outrigger weight is just too heavy, even when brought close to the axis of the arm tube.

Perhaps I am not doing it correctly.

 

apparently not, otherwise you would have heard about the method. do it as it says in your manual.
Just have a look at the German analog forum, there you will find at least twenty people who do it in the same way. Good bye

Good morning Stephan,

I was not trying to offend you yesterday, I do appreciate advice on the matter, but I got a little offended myself when you assumed I do not know whats back and forth of a tonearm. Maybe it’s a language thing. (I’m from Sweden living in Norway) My apologies.

Anyway, I’ve been reading this thread a couple of times and I can’t recall a single time anyone has written anything about the way you are doing it, so maybe it’s not that common? At least not here? If it was, surely someone would have told the rest about it? Why haven’t you said anything before?

My arm is not yet mounted, but I will try your method once it is, even if I still find it a little confusing. As @PeterA I am also interested in learning more.

Kind regards, Per

 

The steps. Unhook the anti-skating weight, then unscrew the damper and move it back 3mm. Adjust the VTF for your cartridge. Lock the tonearm in the tonearm rest. Remove the bridge above the bearing with the two side screws. Take 50cm of dental floss and make a loop between the tonearm bearing and the damper. Carefully lift the dental floss and look at the front of the cartridge head to see which way it is turning. Move the rider of the VTF weight until it stops turning. This is the side balance adjustment.

@crosswind
All fine today

 

I just see please clean the v where the knife bearing sit in. a lot of distortion when it's not clean.best polish it

I concur Stephan , I would also recommend polishing the knife edge itself should one own a MKI steel bearing or aftermarket Steel / Bronze bearing , the latter can also benefit from polishing off a few microns off the shoulders of the bearing edge however care must be taken should one consider performing such a hard core modification .

 

I concur Stephan , I would also recommend polishing the knife edge itself should one own a MKI steel bearing or aftermarket Steel / Bronze bearing , the latter can also benefit from polishing off a few microns off the shoulders of the bearing edge however care must be taken should one consider performing such a hard core modification .

I would even go one step further, the knife edge has to be completely flawless. I worked on the V back then, filed it so that it was a more pointed triangle. The knife bearing then sits perfectly in it without any play. It produces a cleaner sound (voices and bass). Oh, by the way, I always listened without a damper, it only helps with softly suspended cartridges.
the sme is good arm, but with some tweaks he is better as you think.

 

I would even go one step further, the knife edge has to be completely flawless. I worked on the V back then, filed it so that it was a more pointed triangle. The knife bearing then sits perfectly in it without any play. It produces a cleaner sound (voices and bass).

Just so , I performed the same minor surgery on a SME 309 MKI and a few 3012 MKII and 3012R ‘s with aftermarket bronze bearings so more V/V profile than stock U/V .

 

Just so , I performed the same minor surgery on a SME 309 MKI and a few 3012 MKII and 3012R ‘s with aftermarket bronze bearings so more V/V profile than stock U/V .

You have to do it carefully so that it doesn't become too sharp triangle. The tone arm has to move up and down easy otherwise you'll destroy the knife edge

 

You have to do it carefully so that it doesn't become too sharp triangle. The tone arm has to move up and down easy otherwise you'll destroy the knife edge

Exactly , hence my caviat , for folks wishing to go this way but nervous of the procedure might consider a tonearm tech such as Richard Mak who should be able to help out .

 

Exactly , hence my caviat , for folks wishing to go this way but nervous of the procedure might consider a tonearm tech such as Richard Mak who should be able to help out .

Robert Graetke, Germany makes over 20 jears restauration for me the first adress for that

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Dear @crosswind,

Lateral balancing of the 3012R can be done by adjusting the socket (the black parts between the tonearm tube and the rear weight tube), as explained in the manual. So, what @PeterA and @Lagonda are doing is correct in my opinion. However, what @DasguteOhr said is not incorrect. It can also be done as he described, to some extent, on the 3012R.

The method explained by @DasguteOhr is appropriate for the 3009 and 3012 arms—those without the R designation. These arms are designed for light cartridges, and lateral balance can be achieved by moving the rider weight assembly either toward the rear weight or in the opposite direction. Arms with the R designation are heavier and can accommodate heavy cartridges. Because of this, the black sockets were added to the design, allowing the rear and rider weight assemblies to shift, thereby increasing the lateral balancing capability required for heavier cartridges.

 

Thank you for the detailed explanation @DasguteOhr. I was curious as to why you do it this way and not as per the manual. Do you find it easier? Better result? I just find it peculiar that you don’t do it the way SME intends it to be done and that this way of doing it pops up now and not before, after all it is a long thread, hence my questions.

And thank you @mtemur for that information. Much appreciated.

 

Thank you for the detailed explanation @DasguteOhr. I was curious as to why you do it this way and not as per the manual. Do you find it easier? Better result? I just find it peculiar that you don’t do it the way SME intends it to be done and that this way of doing it pops up now and not before, after all it is a long thread, hence my questions.

And thank you @mtemur for that information. Much appreciated.

Imagine a scale with two pans, with one pan full (screws, the cartridge, another headshell (weight) and the counterweight at the back right). Is there a better solution than balancing. For me, that is the only right solution. I always swim against the current, that is the quickest way to get to the source.