Need help from any DJs or audio-equipment saavy people...

[b_girl]

Background info: I've been a DJ for about 6 or 7 years now, my first set of decks were Stanton Str8-60's, although they weren't the best, I loved them...

The story:
When I was living in England I bought a pair of used Techniqui 1210 MK2's, due to problems beyond my control, I actually wasn't able to use them much while I was there, but moved home 7 months later so figured I'd bring them with me...

The problem:
Now, one of them works fine but the other one seems to be messed. I've balanced the arms on both the decks the exact same way, multiple times, so I've ruled out an issue with balancing. I've got the anti-skate set to 0 and the height is adjusted correctly as well.

The problem occurs while trying to cue up a record. If you put the needle down, then pull the record back to try to get it at the exact right location, the needle jumps off the record and hits the spinning turntable underneath - therefore ruining my nice new needles

In an attempt to resolve this issue I've made the arm a little heavier in hopes that it'll keep the needle put, but it doesn't seem to work all that well...

I'm kinda broke right now (saving for a condo) and so I'd like to find a way to fix it myself if possible, but I don't want to go pulling the whole thing apart without knowing what I'm looking for...

If anyone has any advice, I'd greatly appreciate it!!!

[McGoose]

Did you adjust the weight on the end of the arm? It sounds like you have it set too light, and I know all Stantons and most Techniqes' have adjustable counterweights. It really sounds like that counterweight on your arm - and I would start there.

It also sounds like you are too worried about going through needles. The type of dj'ing I am involved with is extremely rough on needles so I always have 3-4 on hand. Needles aren't meant to last *that* long. Thats part of the reason why I am so hesitant to get rid of my Stantons. It is so easy and cheap to replace the heads on those things. Plus I BEAT them and they take it.

Last, I have a few records that have spots that skip every time and I have rigged a piece of velcro on one side of the head, and a penny with the reverse side of the velcro on it. When it comes time to play those records I put the penny on the arm, just to add that little bit of extra downweight. Sometimes thats all it takes. One other little trick - sometimes you can remove a skip by slightly pushing down on the head at the spot that the skip occurs and slowly rolling the record back and forth and deepening that channel, or removing the piece of material that is in there and causing the skip.

Hope that helps.

[b_girl]

I'm definitely sure it's not the counterweight on the end. I've never had a problem balancing arms before on either Stantons or Tech's. I have tried adding the additional weight onto head as well, to try to weigh it down a bit (similar to your penny thing) but that doesn't seem to help either. I guess I could try weighing it down even more.

I'm not worried about going through needles if it's for general use. But it bothers me that I'm going through them just because the needle bounces off and hits the spinning deck underneath the record - if that makes sense.

I did think before that it was just the record, but it does it on every record I own. If I play the same record on the other deck I don't have any problems. So because of that, I don't want to do your other little trick, to deepen that channel/remove any material because I'm fairly confident that it's not the records.

I wish I never sold my Stantons... I miss them