Record Clamps?

The Music Hall clamp shouldn't continue spinning (and causing label wear) as you clamp it onto the record label. It's a two-piece design and the actual clamp disc shouldn't spin as you turn the locking knob down. Try bending the spring clip slightly to reduce the friction force between the clamp disc and locking knob.

I continue to use the lightweight clamp provided because I'm not sure what the long-term wear on the bearing might be using a heavy clamp or weight.

The disc doesn't need to have much surface area. The idea is to apply just enough circular pressure on the LP to couple the LP to the platter or mat. And not too much pressure. I found that too much pressure creates a dead sounding LP using a foam mat.

Tom

The Basis clamp I had worked very well. Not cheap.

I just bought the TTweight clamp off ebay. For the price it is great... The bottom is dished though...

I guess it was possible that my clamp was tightened too much. It doesnt seem to have marked any of the other records I've played. And to be honest, the one it did mark is probably able to be wiped away with my finger.

I will look into at thread-less though. The threaded version just seems like non-sense to me. I haven't experienced any sonic improvement or drawback with or without it.

One advantage of clamps not mentioned, is that all of us do not possess a Record collection with all absolutely flat examples. Thinking back 20-30 years ago to my "clampless days", and watching a tonearm "bob' up, and down like a roller coaster surely didn't do much for visual impact, and certainly didn't benefit the sound sonically.

The clamp will lessen dishing, or minor warpage. The problem I see with threadless clamps, is not allowing adjustability in clamping force, making it then a "one clamp works for all", but this usually doesn't work out optimally, and for sure, heavier won't necessarily be better in this regard.

I would asume from a mechanical standpoint, and no soubt a sonic one as well, the lessening of Tonearm-Stylus deviation in the vertical plane (if is this the correct term?), and the flatter the record face is (lessening dishing-cupping of surface) has to be an advantage, for both Stylus-Cantilever, and the LP Groove as well. Mark