The EMT lives ~ long and boring ~ w/pic

Vintage Asylum

Classic gear from yesteryear; vintage audio standing the test of time.

History: Probably 20 years ago fellow visited me to take a dentist chair I did not have room for. He noticed my hobby and said a friend of his had a turntable he would give me. He needed that out of the way.

A few days later, the two of them arrived to take the chair. As they shuffled things around on the bed of the truck, I went to get the turntable off the front seat. There was no turntable there. In the back, they're rolling around this large metal cabinet. It was the turntable.

Holy shit...an EMT.

Not too long after, I had a friend do some work on it. Got it home, spun one side of an LP and realized the stylus cantilever was bent. It was put away because I didn't want to spend the money on a new stylus and cartridge after spending too much on repairs.

Years later, I think I tried mounting an Empire. Nothing but problems trying to mount it. The problem appeared to be the uneven surfaces on the underside of the headshell. It looked like someone had messed with it. There was residue that looked like super-glue. Put it away again.

Years later, I bought a new headshell and belt from EMT. Cool. I can still get these things. I take a look underneath the headshell....it's the same!!!! Arrrrggggh @#*%!. Put it away again.

Last spring I rolled it out just to make sure it still spins okay. Thinking I'm going to look into getting a new stylus and cartridge. Contacted two places that sell nice stuff. Both said they'd send me information on choices. Never heard a thing back. New belt installed. Quiet as a dead mouse. Strobe says the speed is correct. Brake works. Let it spin for over two days. Put it away again.

A year later and a couple weeks ago...a friend decided this vintage piece had waited too long to be enjoyed and sent me a new Pickering cartridge and stylus for it.

Oh boy....here we go. Because of the uneven mounting surfaces, EMT provides a variety of washers, screw lengths, and spacers to accommodate a non-EMT stylus and cartridge. The problem is, after mounting one side it's next to impossible to have washers in place while mounting the other side...and there's zero room to work...all while the leads are connected.

It took me an hour and a half of failures before I decided to bring out the Gel-Tac. (A friend formulated this blubber-type material and patented it for his business and other uses). So, I tore off a piece the size of a grain of sand (maybe two) and stuck it to the washers. The slightly magnetic driver was being a pain in the ass so another grain held the screw to the screwdriver. It worked!! First try and I got everything held in place and the screws in. What a sheepdip I am. Should have tried that from the start.

Is it level? It looks it. Is it supposed to be? Is it centered? Is it supposed to be? Is the overhang correct? What's that? Oh...absolutely, yup. VTA? Dead on. I had Roma take a look. Arf!! She agreed. Set the weight and anti-skate by my own patented methods, and.....warm up the system. Here we go! Stand back, Roma.

Put on a brand new Living Stereo reissue of 1812 Overture.

Silence. Check the volume. Hmmm....glance quick at the amp, back to the preamp. Silence. Hmmmm...WTF?

Woooooo!!! Here it comes!!! 1812 just starts out very lightly. Holy shit. I got it!!! It sounds excellent. Played the entire side without any surprises. Perfect L/R balance, good highs, lows, mids, no ticks, pops or clicks. Wow!!

I wonder how long it will take for me to have a custom enclosure for it?

Your interest may vary but the results will be same. (Byrd 2020)

I can't compete with the dead. (Buck W. 2010)

Cowards can't be heroes. (Byrd 2017)

Why don't catfish have kittens? (Moe Howard 1937)

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VH Audio

Topic - The EMT lives ~ long and boring ~ w/pic - Byrd69 07:22:11 03/02/22 (7)

is EMT the same company as - Story 06:08:23 03/04/22 (0)

Great post... some things take time... some MORE time... - musetap 02:03:02 03/03/22 (0)

Fabulous! - viridian 10:34:17 03/02/22 (0)

RE: The EMT lives ~ long and boring ~ w/pic - 6bq5 09:01:41 03/02/22 (0)

RE: The EMT lives ~ long and boring ~ w/pic - Triode_Kingdom 08:26:47 03/02/22 (2)

Yup...a B&O - Byrd69 05:48:03 03/03/22 (1)

RE: Yup...a B&O - Triode_Kingdom 09:37:36 03/04/22 (0)

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