Need help setting overhang on the Technics SL-1200

The 1200 is absolutely worth fussing over.

I have used the Technics jig, Turntable Basics protractor, Vinyl Engine Baerwald protractor, and MintLP Best Tractor protractor, and the MintLP is by far the best of the bunch.

The difference in the cartridge's sound is audible in clearer, distortion-free playback from the first track through the last track.

Tvad - I have just today set the overhang of the Shure M97 using the Mint Best Tractor and have to agree that the SL-1200 Mk2 now sounds absolutely incredible; I am amazed that I am getting this good kind of sound out of a cartridge that can be purchased brand new for under $100. If you mount the headshell on the Technics SL-1200 white plastic overhang gauge you will see that the tip of the stylus is now 3mm further out. As far as other settings go I have the tracking force set at 1.3 grams and the tonearm height set at 3mm. Thank you Tvad; I appreciate your recommendation to use the Mint Best tractor.

Well I spent the weekend continuing to "push the envelop" with this Shure M97 on the Technics SL-1200. I still wasn't completely satisfied with the VTA and decided to see if the top of cartridge was exactly parallel with the record. I placed the cartridge down on a stationary record and measured the front of the cartridge and the back of the cartridge. The back of the cartridge was lower than the front so I ended up raising the tonearm from 3mm all the way to the 6mm maximum to get the top of the cartridge perfectly level with the playing surface. After listening I have to say this is a definate improvement. Curious if anyone else has tryed this.

On the SL1200, you can carefully adjust VTA while the record is playing. I've done this, and I can hear the sound change slightly while the arm is raised or lowered. I usually dial in VTA by ear, but I start with the headshell level using a small plastic bubble level on top of the headshell.

I have always used a caliper to check for the perfect arm parallelism over the LP .. this is the best way to have the real paralelism and not a "supposed one"

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/29/Suwmiarka_foto.jpg