Hi Brf, Thanks for the response. Correct that is not the standard arm board. The standard arm board is 5/8" thich. The one in the picture I made and is 1/4" thick. I had to lower the tone arm mount to get the headshell parallel with the platter. In the picture the bottom of the headshell is parallel to the platter at the height I would need for the Voice cartridge. With the 5/8" thick arm board I could not get the headshell parallel even with the VTA tower at its lowest setting. The P2S is 300mm. You replied to my prior post and suggested I may have the shorter HW40 arm. I am waiting for VPI to confirm and provide the proper p2s distance. Thanks again for the help.

Hi John Thanks for the reply. Funny I wrote this post a few weeks ago but it never appeared on the forum. I did not think it had been approved by the admin so I posted another post just about my problem with the offset. I do know the history of the table and it is in excellent condition. No delimination of any kind. Thats a reflection that makes the finish look flawed. The P2S distance is 300mm Brf replied on my other post, and as you mentioned I may have a HW40 fatboy arm that is shorter that the normal FB I reached out to VPI, they requested I send them some measurements of the arm. I am waiting for them to get back to me to let me know if I have the normal 12 "FB or the shorter HW40 FB arm. Do you happen to know the P2S distance for the HW40 arm? It appears that the head shell is sloping or warped down from the plane of the tonearm which is affecting the VTA. I assume the headshell should be straight in line with the tonearm. Like I mentioned the table and arm are phsically excellent condition with no signs of any abuse so not sure what could have caused the warping. Thats the hazard of buying used. Not ideal but I can get around that issue with the lower tonearm mount. Hopefully VPI will get back to me regarding what FB I have and the proper P2S distance. Thanks for all the feedback!!

Hi Rich Glad to hear a simple solution worked out for you and appears this would solve my problem also. Im hoping to hear from VPI to figure out exactly what version FB I have and the proper P2S distance. In the mean time I will try your solution. Thanks Jerry

Thanks for the response. Glad to know those cartidges including the Voice work with the FB. I would be dispointed if I could not use the Voice. I agree it appears I have the shorter HW40 arm as Brf suggested. I sent some measurements to VPI so they can confirm and provide the correct P2S distance. Thanks

Hi Brf Thank you for the clarifiaction how to measure the effective lenght. I measured 309 mm from the pivot point to the centre line of the tip of the headshell. Base on this it would appear I have the HW40 FB tonearm and not the standard FB with 313mm effective lenght.. I will follow up with VPI to get confirmation and the corrrect pivot to spindle measurement. Thanks again for all the help.

Hi Brf No worries I appreciate the all your feedback. I get the same result when using the VIP jig. I double checked the Dr. Feikert Alignment tool using a ruler and it measured 300mm. This is not the 1st time setting up a table but have never run into this before. The only reason I was looking at the cartridge as the possible problem is because I have an Ortofon 2M cartridge that aligns fine with the FB. I noticed on the Ortofon the mounting holes are further back from the stylus than on the Voice which allows the stylus to extend further out from the arm than the Voice . Soundsmith is going to get back to me and confirm if the Voice cartridge has the same dimensions as the SS Sussurro MkII and a Paua MkI that Tony22 used with the FB. I think I understand what you are saying about measuring from the pivot point to the tip of the stylus but isnt that measurement variable depending where you mount the cartridge along the cartridge mounting slots? Thanks again for all your feedback

Hi Brf Actually its a Classic 4. I bought it used. I belive the originl owner upgraded to the fatboy tonearm so I guess its possible its not the traditional 12" FB. Is there a way to visually tell which arm I have? Thanks

This is with the cartridge out as far on the arm as it can go.

Yes I was using the gimbals vertical bearing to set the S2P distance.

I will. Thanks

Hi Tony22 Thanks for the information. I am also using the gimble 12" FB. Its hard to tell from just looking at pictures but the SS Sussurro MkII and a Paua MkII look similar to the Voice. Its strange. I have double checked everything. I have an Ortofon cartridge that aligns properly. I think I will reach out to Soundsmith to see if SS Sussurro MkII and a Paua MkI have the same dimensions the Voice. Thanks