Recommend a Record Weight or Clamp that Works With My Turntable...

My turntable is a Yamaha P-700, a direct drive model from the early 80s.

See here, some specs are listed:

http://www.audio-extasa.eu/yamaha-p700-record-player-p-979.html

When these were new, they came with a small Yamaha record weight. When I bought mine second hand, it did not include the weight and searching for an original Yamaha one has been tough. I'd like to buy a weight or clamp that will work well with the turntable and won't screw up the motor or any other mechanisms under the platter.

I've looked at the JA Michell clamp and some others but I'm not sure if any of these are a good idea. Also not sure if a heavy brass weight is a good idea since the original was a small thing that probably weighed half a pound at most.

Suggestions? I'd like to keep this under $100.

 

Maybe something like this?:
http://www.needledoctor.com/KAB-Record-Grip-MKII?sc=2&category=421

 

There's the Bren1: nice looking, .80 pounds, simple (no screw on, no pressure/locking).

 

The Bren 1 is beautiful!

 

Concur. Bren 1 I'd top notch.

 

The guy who makes them also seems really nice and appreciative of business.

 

Is top notch.

 

Okay, I have have seen some places selling something that looks similar to the Bren-1 but it is like .60 pounds or something. Would that be adequate? Or would it be too light? Above all I don't want to damage the motor or anything else on the TT...also this old Yamaha is automatic, so I need plenty of clearance near the deadwax/runout groove.

 

Anyone use the Bren1 with a Carbon Debut III? Any reason there would be a platter, belt, or drive problem with this pairing?

 

I have an Xperience and are using one on it. Works fine. Remember, the mass is centralized.

 

Actually, the original thing in the photo looks a whole lot more like a Yamaha 45 adapter than a record weight (which would have been a highly unusual item on a mass-market turntable).

 

I recommend the Souther Clever Clamp. Here is a link to it on The Needle Doctor's web site: http://www.needledoctor.com/Welcome?search=clever+clamp

It holds the record down based on the force rather than mass. You push it down on the spindle with as much (or little) force as desired. I use one on my Clearaudio Innovation Compact Wood TT. It works very well for me in conjunction with the Clearaudio "Outer Limit" ring.

 

I ended up getting a Bren1 record weight. Seems to be working well so far.

 

$75 dollars for a record weight is an absurd waste of money (although I own one that cost that and more; live and learn)

Go to a good sporting goods store (or "on line") and purchase a 10 ounce practice puck

If you are not able to drill a hole dead center yourself I am certain you could find someone close to you that could and would

Aside from the savings (that you could spend on some of Steve Hoffman's superlative mastering efforts for example), the extremely hard vulcanized rubber would probably, possibly impart as much if not more of the magic that any of the esoteric magical metals would, and actually add an additional element of dampening/defeating unwanted resonances

I still cannot figure out the advantage of a mega buck record weight made of "aircraft grade aluminum billet" or the "highest quality, pure brass" except that of separating folks from their money

And like I admitted, I was stupid enough to buy one from that class!
(stop reading Stereophool and other audio porno, i.e.: BS)

Buy records

Analogman

 

Love my Pro-Ject Puck. 1.7 pounds.

http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinf...uCKH_r8RGqEyhxEw97oopyvlU8v1H5-EPYaAlJI8P8HAQ

 

It is also worth mentioning that record weights and clamps fall into two categories

Those interned to provide additional mass (and theoretically some dampening effect)

And those who's primary purpose is to help better couple a disc to the platter or mat

Obviously a big ass heavy weight can do both (up to a point)

Both can be good things but I would proceed with some degree of caution before I started loading up my main bearing with pounds and pounds of audio jewelry

Be reasonable with the weight part of it; some are so heavy that with a soft mat the record is actually bowled a bit (not a good thing) Will definitely screw with your bias settings

Analogman

 

Good point. Not all tables can accommodate a heavy weight. My Pro-Ject Xtension 10 table was designed with the Puck in mind. They're both beasts.

 

Try the Purest Audio STB-9000 on Ebay for $59.95...this should fit your deck and budget.

 

I don't have access to tools or a drill press, and neither does anyone I know. The easiest thing to do was buy a commercial weight.

Now, I'm sure if some enterprising member of the forum was able to buy a box of pucks and drill them, then sell them at a small profit, people on here would buy them.

 

Aah. Maybe the photo is showing a 45 rpm adapter. Mine has a little slot for a 45 adapter and did come with a plastic Yamaha 45 adapter in the slot - not the tall thing like in that photo.

 

My expensive weight is heavy too; I'll have to weigh it and post back

Even if the the two were designed/packaged/marketed with one another in mind, the weight still accelerates bearing wear

Same as a factory installed trailer hitch on a Ford F-150 accelerates rod bearing wear

I've switched back to an old Benz Micro weight that's about an 1/8th of an inch thick with a knurled center post approximately and inch in diameter

Probably weighs 10 to 12 ounces and flattens all but the worst (as in really should not be played anyway) discs fairly well

 

How about this one: http://www.durand-tonearms.com/Accessories/accessories.html

 

only $3,500? Better a second for a backup.