Thomas Schick tonearm

iaxel

Well-Known Member
Oct 25, 2016
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Just wondering if there’s any experience with the Thomas Schick's tonearm.
How does it compare to the more popular arms here?
Such as:
SME 3012/09
FR-64/66s
SAEC
Ortofon

Will be using it mostly for SPU type cartridges.

Thanks!
 

shakti

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May 9, 2015
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iaxel

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Oct 25, 2016
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Salectric

Well-Known Member
Jan 15, 2012
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I found the Schick to be a very average performer sonically. I do not understand all the favorable reviews of it. I replaced mine with an Analog Instruments Siggwan which is a 12” cocobolo arm on a very solid unipivot. The Siggwan is everything the
Schick was supposed to be but was not.
 

Solypsa

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Jun 7, 2017
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Just curious which cart(s) you used with the Schick?

I found the Schick to be a very average performer sonically. I do not understand all the favorable reviews of it. I replaced mine with an Analog Instruments Siggwan which is a 12” cocobolo arm on a very solid unipivot. The Siggwan is everything the
Schick was supposed to be but was not.
 

Salectric

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Jan 15, 2012
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I tried my Benz LP, Denon 103R and Miyajima mono on the Schick, but mostly the Denon.
 

bonzo75

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The Schroeder CB was so much better than the Schick in a direct compare at Anamighty sound
 

Solypsa

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Jun 7, 2017
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minimum 2,5 times the price.....
True the Schick (and the Groovemaster II) are really quite affordable compared to most else.

The Schick often gets paired with really low compliance carts (since it can be) but it also shows a lot of 'synergy' with medium weight/compliance carts like Lyra...
 
Jan 18, 2012
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Sold the Schick
Didn't like it....designwise and mechanically
Bought an Alfred Bokrand Ortofon banana 309 with EMT collar for my EMT TMD25 and TSD 15.
Soon ready to test all on my Garrardzilla approach
 
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bonzo75

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The Schick was quite poor compared to the Schroeder CB on the PTP lenco with the same carts. However when Schick himself uses it with vdh Stradivarius in the WE / Silbatone(he has been doing so since 2017), it is the best sounding analog In Munich though surely helped by downstream gear that you can't strip out
 

djsina2

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May 30, 2019
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Sold the Schick
Didn't like it....designwise and mechanically
Bought an Alfred Bokrand Ortofon banana 309 with EMT collar for my EMT TMD25 and TSD 15.
Soon ready to test all on my Garrardzilla approach

What about the Groovemaster II? Did you end up trying that one?
 
Jan 18, 2012
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Yes I like it a lot, both looks, finish, handling and sound
Soon you'll be able to mount it with easy vta as well, which will make it even handier to use
 
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djsina2

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May 30, 2019
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Yes I like it a lot, both looks, finish, handling and sound
Soon you'll be able to mount it with easy vta as well, which will make it even handier to use

Do the set screws for locking down the counterweight and VTA of the GMII dig right into the metal of the arm? I think I read this somewhere. That’s pretty disappointing if true.
 

Solypsa

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Jun 7, 2017
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I'm excited to see the vta adjuster upgrade!
 

kozzmo

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Nov 19, 2019
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I am a new member and joined to chime in on this thread......I have been lurking here for years...

Anyways....

I recently purchased a Schick 12" arm and have been very underwhelmed and disappointed with it. I find it's fit and finish to be less than ideal especially at the price point. The female SME connector on the arm wand is very short and slightly undersized diameter wise. This has led to more wiggle in the head shell than one would like to see. There was also pieces of dried glue in the threads of the female SME connector that made it difficult to use some of my head shells. The Vertical bearing nuts needed tightening to keep the arm from rocking in the vertical plane and there still is a small amount of slop in the horizontal bearings too. Sound wise I find it a bit dark. It does do bass well but not so much in the way of air and transparency. I have used it with a Denon 103r and a couple of Lyra's: The Delos and an old Dorian MONO. I do not believe this arm will be sticking around long.

One lesson learned from this experience is that people who sell $2000 arms should have some sort of dealer representation in countries other than their own. It would have been much easier to communicate with a dealer. Communicating with Thomas about some of these problems has taken longer that it should have and some of the responses have left me less than enthusiastic.

I am curious about the Groovemaster as it seems to be the direct comp in price and features to a Schick tonearm..

David
 

Salectric

Well-Known Member
Jan 15, 2012
374
489
968
I am a new member and joined to chime in on this thread......I have been lurking here for years...

Anyways....

I recently purchased a Schick 12" arm and have been very underwhelmed and disappointed with it. I find it's fit and finish to be less than ideal especially at the price point. The female SME connector on the arm wand is very short and slightly undersized diameter wise. This has led to more wiggle in the head shell than one would like to see. There was also pieces of dried glue in the threads of the female SME connector that made it difficult to use some of my head shells. The Vertical bearing nuts needed tightening to keep the arm from rocking in the vertical plane and there still is a small amount of slop in the horizontal bearings too. Sound wise I find it a bit dark. It does do bass well but not so much in the way of air and transparency. I have used it with a Denon 103r and a couple of Lyra's: The Delos and an old Dorian MONO. I do not believe this arm will be sticking around long.

One lesson learned from this experience is that people who sell $2000 arms should have some sort of dealer representation in countries other than their own. It would have been much easier to communicate with a dealer. Communicating with Thomas about some of these problems has taken longer that it should have and some of the responses have left me less than enthusiastic.

I am curious about the Groovemaster as it seems to be the direct comp in price and features to a Schick tonearm..

David

Seems like QC was lacking on your particular arm. I didn’t have any QC problems with mine but found the sound quality was sub-par.
 

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