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Hadcock tonearms on a Technics SL1210

For those following my trek in turntable, tonearm and cartridge land (and those who might be interested)- I have bought a Technics direct drive SL1210 turntable.
I am still exploring my tonearm options, but I will be going with the Ortofon 2M Black as my cartridge of choice.
The Hadcock was a tonearm I was originally considering for my Nottingham TT. In what is perhaps a first (hehe), I'm looking the possibility of fitting either a Hadcock 224 (the long one) or a 242 (the shorter one) to the Technics SL1210. A UK company selling through E-Bay makes a high quality plate that can be cut for a Hadcock tonearm. A friend of mine gave me one of their plates that was designed to fit a Rega arm- they are very nicely machined.
Anyway, I was also thinking of going all-out and getting the longer of the two Hadcock arms (the 242 as opposed to the shorter 228).
Anyone know if a Hadcock of either length would 'fit' onto the Technics- especially when considering getting the right distance from pivot point to spindle, clearance for the TT lid and other geometry issues? Here are the Specs for both of the arms:

HADCOCK 242
Mounting Hole Diameter 3/8" (15.87mm)
Overall Length 12.10" (307.34mm)
Height 1.70" - 3.5" (43mm - 90mm)
Pivot Stem Length to Top of Arm 3.4" (86.4mm)
Pivot to Stylus Point 9.0" (228.6mm)
Pivot To Centre of Turntable 8.36" (212.85mm)
Offset Angle 23°
Rear Overhang 2.40" (60.9mm) maximum
Headshell Mounting 0.50" (12.7mm) centres
Cartridge Mass 3 - 12g

HADCOCK 228
Mounting Hole Diameter 3/8" (15.87mm)
Overall Length 12.0" (304.8mm)
Height 1.70" - 3.5" (43mm - 90mm)
Pivot Stem Length to Top of Arm 3.4" (86.4mm)
Pivot to Stylus Point 9.0" (228.6mm)
Pivot To Centre of Turntable 8.36" (212.85mm)
Offset Angle 23°
Rear Overhang 2.40" (60.9mm) maximum
Headshell Mounting 0.50" (12.7mm) centres
Cartridge Mass 3 - 12g.
dsa
dsa OP
63 posts
 
The specs for the 242 Hadcock I posted originally are wrong, the correct specs for the longer arm are listed below:

Mounting Hole Diameter 3/8" (15.87mm)
Overall Length 12.0" (304.8mm)
Height 1.70" - 3.5" (43mm - 90mm)
Pivot Stem Length to Top of Arm 3.4" (86.4mm)
Pivot to Stylus Point 9.6" (243.8mm)
Pivot To Centre of Turntable 8.9" (226.0mm)
Offset Angle 23°
Rear Overhang 2.40" (62mm) maximum
Headshell Mounting 0.50" (12.7mm) centres
Cartridge Mass 3 - 12g
tvad
9,467 posts
 
I was considering doing this exact thing.

The Technics tonearm has a mounting distance of 215mm and an effective length of 230mm. I believe - but I'm not certain - that the effective length measurement is what you need to compare to the Hadcock's Pivot to Stylus Point measurement.

According to the specs in the tonearm database of cartridgedatabase.com for the Hadcock arms, the 228 Export has a mounting distance of 212.85, and an effective length of 228.6. The 242 arm has a mounting distance of 226mm and an effective length of 243.8mm.

Between the two Hadcock arms, the 228 Export is closest to the Technics arm. Will it work? I don't have the answer.

Also, I learned that an adapter ring is available for the Hadcock arms so they will be a "drop-in" fit for a Rega mount. Therefore, you could use the Origin Live Rega mounting plate made for the Technics SL12xx tables along with the adapter for the Hadcock arms. What mounting plate were you researching on E-Bay?
dsa OP
63 posts
 
Hello Tvad, I'll respond to your last comments first.

I was looking at the Origin Live mounting plates but a friend gave me an example of another brand (enabling one to fit a Rega to the Technics). I haven't owned the Origin Live example. But the one that UK firm Sound Supports sell on E-bay (and the one I own- ebay item number #190222646644) is very well made.

Yes, I have been told that there is a colette that can be bought that turns a Rega hole into a Hadcock hole. However, Sound Supports said that they can make a plate for the Technics so I can mount the Hadcock 228- no need for an adapter. That way, the geometry for the 228 would be right from the start.

The million dollar questions are
(1) If fitted to the Technics, would the 228 (and for that matter the 242) have enough clearance for the lid and the other bits of the TT. and,
(2) Would, even with the correct Sound Supports plate, the longer 242 arm be able to fitted far enough back on the turntable for its geometry to be correct.

I've got a feeling there simply isn't enough available real-estate on the Technics plinth to mount the 242 correctly. I have some pics of the UK plate (the one I own) that mounts a Rega on the Technics, but I don't know how to attach them to this thread. Cheers, Dean.
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