Anti-Skate dial-How to set it? + a bonus question

Thanks, Al,
That's just what I needed to know!

There are those that say that there is no need for side thrust compensation at all. VPI says that all arms should remove the device because it can be heard as it works, providing noise to the original signal. Never the less, as posted above, the anti-skate should match the vertical tracking force, which should be toward the high side (never the low side) of the published range for the cartridge.

Mechans,
My partner and I do tweak VTF at least daily and in certain listening conditions I've been known to tweak it more often, including sometimes to the individual LP level.

No matter what the specs may say, some cartridges do perform best very near the threshold of mistracking, (ie, near the light end). My guidance for users of the original ZYX UNIverse (for example) was always to play it so and many found that to be best. With that cartridge, the optimal VTF range is less than .01g, below the useable resolution of most scales. I fine tune by listening.

With a cartridge that sensitive, an LP that's easy to track does have a different mistracking point than one that's difficult to track. Thus the opportunity (need?) to tweak from one LP to the next.

Of course this all assumes that you adjust with your ears. With highly sensitive cartridges one can't rely on specs or mechanical measurements for anything more than getting in the ballpark.

Stringreen,
We disagree, obviously. I don't doubt your experience but it isn't consistent with mine. We use almost entirely different equipment so that's hardly surprising. I don't think either of us has a claim on the best way to set up every possible vinyl rig.

The Grace info came from tests done in the 80s on the 707 by Martin Colloms and Paul Messenger; following the dial gave twice the force indicated. I just bought a cheap electronic gauge from Hong Kong, showed a tracking force 1.5 grams more than the Shure. I previously had a $150 name brand one [which appears identical] that I am a dealer for. It quit working shortly after I sold it; after I took it back the importer did not respond to emails about it. If you have an electronic one you better have a weight to check the reading. I am with Harry W. and Martin Colloms on the value of anti skate. I always track at the top of the range also; in this case too much is better than too little.