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Old 28th Nov 2013, 1:57 pm   #21
Beobloke
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Default Re: Value of SME 3009 Tonearms??

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Originally Posted by Heatercathodeshort View Post
I dug this out of the loft this morning. Can anyone tell me the maker of the arm? I think there should be a headshell for it knocking about somewhere. Thanks, John.
It's an Ortofon SMG-212. More here:

http://www.vinylengine.com/library/o.../smg-212.shtml
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Old 28th Nov 2013, 2:23 pm   #22
sp10mk11
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Default Re: Value of SME 3009 Tonearms??

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Yes thanks for that, I am using a heavyweight Audio Technica headshell as I was using and audio Technica OC-5 moving coil cart., but the SME Headshell fitting goes for any arm that uses it so different headshells can be used, jot perfect but dam useful.
Arghhh the joys of swapping carts ;-)
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Old 28th Nov 2013, 2:47 pm   #23
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Default Re: Value of SME 3009 Tonearms??

Too nice by far for the loft, John! Those Garrards are worth a small fortune these days so don't let it deteriorate! It wasn't one of your famous tip finds, was it?
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Old 28th Nov 2013, 2:59 pm   #24
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Default Re: Value of SME 3009 Tonearms??

Thanks for the information BB. Yes Nick it was together with two more over a period. I gave a 401 to a worthy audio guy. This one had the arm with the twiddly weights etc. Cheers, John.
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Old 28th Nov 2013, 6:44 pm   #25
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Default Re: Value of SME 3009 Tonearms??

I agree Nick, the TD-150s are a good sounding deck, funny you mention tips, coz for 8 years I worked at 3 over a period of time down here in Devon, in those years I collected all sorts of equipment, and in fact one was TD-150 chassis so I had a plinth made by a local furniture maker and fitted an Audio Technica arm, I could then use a very old Sony Moving coil cart I had sitting around for years.

So definitely pull it out of storage drive belts are readily available plus there is load of help out there for running these decks.

Good luck
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Old 29th Nov 2013, 9:13 pm   #26
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Default Re: Value of SME 3009 Tonearms??

The pre 'Improved' SME 3009 won't fit on a TD160 if the lid is to be used as the rear overhang is too great, so an Improved model it should be

The snobbishness in specialist audio is something (not) to behold, and SME's of old are mostly collectors itens these days. In fairness, the very-low-mass 'Improved' tonearm will work well with the likes of todays AT120E/AT440MLa, Nagaoka and Ortofon 2M and 500 derived VM cartridges, as well as the trusty Shure Me97XE.

Couple of points if you aren't used to springy belt drive decks like the TD150 and 160 (the TD125 is also a nightmare to the unwary ). The belt should be replaced every 1000 running hours or so with a new one, which Thorens still make. The basic TD160 mat is a bit of a sonic disaster and I actually prefer the broken ridged TD124/150/125mk1 mat. Alternatively, a heavy rubber type (with suspension adjusted accordingly) suits these decks better than felt or wool mats as Linn and Rega use. I also think a cork mat should be excellent as well. The mat fitted to the 160 Super and 147 models (at least) were excellent here.

When fitting an SME tonearm, make absolutely sure the stiff exit cable is dressed properly underneath the deck and clamped at the exit point next to the mains lead. I always 'earhed' the tonearm to the deck, preferring to trim the cables, file a solderable portion on the sub-chassis earthing tag and solder the tonearm earthing cable there (varies from period as to which cable SME used). This 'grounds' the deck separately from the signal returns/screens and helps to eliminate hum.

Mk2 versions of the TD160 offered a hole in both top plate and sub-chassis (left hand side at 9 o'clock position), down which one could peer if one of the platter keyholes was aligned with them. There are black cam-washers on the bottom of the springs and if the levelling nuts are held stationary, these cam washers can be used to aid centring of the suspension. Takes some skill this, so if all is well, NEVER tamper with them. These washers shouldn't move if the levelling nuts have to be adjusted and the correct height is with the bottom of the sub-platter roughly level with the top plate as viewed from the front. Four tall tins can hold the deck high enough to get at the bits underneath.

Turn the main outer platter upside down and replace on the inner hub, swich on and make sure the belt runs without rubbing the speed-change guide. Old belts will not change to 45 too but before adjusting the motor tilt screw, fit a new belt and make sure the suspension is free in all directions and with a piston-like vertical bounce.

Fitting the cartridge to an SME headshell isn't difficult, but watch the shell wires, as earlier ones are very frail. SME acknowledged the rather resonant nature of their 'holey' shell and supplied some black-tac goo to put a little between the cartridge top and shell proper, scraping off the surplus with a coctail stick or similar. late production 'Improved' arms made the headshell thicker and with a totally flat surface, the finger lift being rivetted to the shell rather than sandwiched between the cartridge and mounting 'bumps.'

Hope the above helps a bit. I set very many new examples of this combination up in my times in the audio retail industry and once wrote a page for 'Audiophile' magazine (I think it was after HiFi Answers changed its name) on setting up one of these decks - got paid for it too



Makes you want to buy a vintage Rega Planar 3 instead, which needs all but none of the above messing around :lol:

P.S. A mastering-engineer friend uses a TD147 with Shure V15MR still on the rare occasions he plays records. the sound of this combination on orchestral music at least, is all but identical on good records to the CD's he mastered of the same recordings. Only works if the vinyl and CD were mastered 'flat' and with no messing around to 'improve' the sound...........
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Last edited by D_S_J_R; 29th Nov 2013 at 9:27 pm.
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Old 29th Nov 2013, 10:12 pm   #27
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Default Re: Value of SME 3009 Tonearms??

I have a TD150 + 3009S2 improved that has been in my attic for around 20 years. There are 2 problems with this set up.

The TD150 main bearing has to be kept well oiled or it starts to cause a rumble in the speakers.

There is very little lateral damping in the suspension so touching the cueing lever with anything other than a delicate touch causes jumping. This was not a problem on the original cueing device which was controlled by a knob on the solid part of the chassis. I believe that on later version of the '150 Thorens fitted foam tubes inside the suspension springs.

Al
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Old 1st Dec 2013, 9:06 pm   #28
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Default Re: Value of SME 3009 Tonearms??

Yes, that's my one gripe about SMEs on my two Thorens decks, Al.
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Old 2nd Dec 2013, 11:00 pm   #29
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Default Re: Value of SME 3009 Tonearms??

I used to remove the foam in the springs 'cos I thought it 'sounded better' without... Older and hopefully wiser, I'd probably keep the foam if it's there, since it's the last 2mm or so of 'bounce' that matters. It is possible to cue an SME on a TD150 and 160, just needs a steady hand.....
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Old 2nd Dec 2013, 11:24 pm   #30
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Default Re: Value of SME 3009 Tonearms??

Thanks for that Dave. I have never actually seen a 150 with the added foam. Can you describe in more detail what type of foam was used and how it was fitted. I am giving serious thought to selling my turntable and it could be a mod worth doing.

Al
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