Needle jumping - Please help!

[scipio]

I recently invest in some Vestax PDX-A1 MK2s. I bought some brand new Stanton Trackmaster V3 cartridges to go on them. I've adjusted the tone arm correctly etc, turned off anti-skate, everything I can think of. My problem is that sometimes when I pull back or scratch the needle jumps one.

Now, this only really happens when I apply force to the board, and I've noticed that if I tap the turntable (the base or the platter), even slightly while the record is playing it tends to jump out of place. One of my turntables is missing a foot (i've replaced it with something else), so that can't help -- but I have the same problem on the one with a foot. The platter somewhat moves up and down when I push, but that shouldn't make my needle jump! I've done all i can to get them to be level, but the problem persists when i try and do hard scratches. I'm on the heighest recommended weight for my cartridge.

The slipmats are ****, so i ordered some new ones, maybe that will help a bit? It may have something to do with the tone arm height (i dont know what to put it to, i'm a complete noob).

Thanks alot guys

 

[paradigm s]

does this happen with all records? maybe the hole isnt tight enough.

are your decks on a sturdy table?

 

[LevLover]

The platter somewhat moves up and down when I push, but that shouldn't make my needle jump!

thats exactly what makes a needle jump! did you balance the tonearm before mounting the cartridge and adjusting the weight? i don't know anything about that turntable, is it beltdrive or directdrive? i know some beltdrive turntables have signifigantly more platter travel (up and down movement) then directdrive turntables, and if you don't have a light touch, you will cause the needle to skip. i remember my friend had some beltdrive gemini's and they used to skip like crazy when i got on them, til i developed a light touch, which went a long way when i got my 1210s. how long have you been dj'n, how long have you had the turntables, have you used any other turntables? it could just be a matter of you getting more experiance and practice with them, thats all. slipsmats should not be an issue, cut some record sleeve plastic and paper to go under then. a peice of felt by itself isn't going to cut it. slipmats are like lightsabers, every jedi/dj has to make thier own.
LevLove

 

[scipio]

Thanks for the replies. Yeah it's a directdrive, it's similar to the PDX2000. It happens with nearly all records.. I've been DJing for two days, haha, so maybe I'm just making a deal over nothing, but i swear it's jumping just a bit too much. The table is kinda sturdy, but has my computer, mixer, etc etc, on it.

Actually i didnt balance it without the cartridge or weight.. hmmm

Lets just say from what I've seen with RJD2 etc, when they'd try that on this table it looks like it would just skip. Fast scratchs skip it, or when i put pressure on the record it skips a bit.

 

[Hosey]

The platter moves up and down when you touch it? The large heavy metal disc underneath the record and the slipmats? That's really strange. Can you lift the platter off the Turntable and check out how it's held in place? Different Turntables have different methods by which the platters spin. Technics use a large magnet. Gemini's have a plate with two pegs, that fit into two holes on a smaller disc that is then jolted by a magnet. So, maybe you're Turntable just needs to be fitted into place. The platter could easily have jumped around in shipment or something.

Either way, the platter shouldn't wobble. Ever. Even really crappy Sears-built home stereos with built-in turntables have steady platters that only move if you put a lot of pressure on them.

 

[scipio]

It moves a few mm if I apply about a few lbs of pressure on the side. I cannot lift the platter up much - it seems restrained after i lift about 1 cm. it has 4 holes in it. It's magnet driven.. i mean this is a decent table, it retails for 650 a piece.

I secured the height screw on the arm and it helped the problem alot, i can do big scratchs and spins, but it's just when i tap the vinyl it jumps. It sometimes looks like the needle is moving back and forth when reading the record (towards to center then back to the edge).

Yeah actually one of the tables is working perfectly now, the other one is only really jumping if I put my palm on the record, or do a really fast back and forth scratch with my finger. Maybe i'm just trippin and it's totally normal now

 

[ninjadog]

Were the tables used? If so did you know the guy you bought it from?
I agree with the guy who said the platter might be not seated properly, you should be able to pull it right off. If you cant pull it off at all that might be the problem...then again I am not familar with that table, but all the decks I have used the platter can come straight up and off.

Now assuming the decks are fine and the error is from you:
Did you balance the tome arm properly? Ignore the comment about balancing it with no weight or cart (WTF)...Put your cartridge on and adjust the weight untill the tone arm floats level. That is zero grams, zero the weight ring thing, then turn the weight till the ring shows however many grams you need. Sorry if you did it that way, but just making sure you know how it's done.

Your also sure the record holes are not too lose, can you hear a little tap if you slightly push the record toward the spindle (as opposed to pushing it around in a circle)

Brand new needles also need a break in period, just let them sit on the record for a few hours or overnight, should help a bit.

Other then that I am 99% sure it is because you have a heavy hand, and dont tap the vinyl that will make it skip like every time. And keep practicing, sooner or later you will get it and have so much fun.

 

[scipio]

Yeah thanks a lot for the advice! I am getting a lot better.

Okay with the platters, one just lifted off.. the other one still stuck. Then i put the first one back on and now it's the same as the one that wouldnt lift off.. err

no i got them second hand off a misposted ebay auction.. One was 20, other was 50.

 

[Hosey]

It sometimes looks like the needle is moving back and forth when reading the record (towards to center then back to the edge).

Yeah, that's perfectly normal. But, it might have a little to do with what Ninjadog is talking about when he mentions the hole in the record being too big. Test out the record like Ninjadog said, grab two opposite edges of the records and wiggle it horizontally. You shouldn't be able to "feel" any movement or knocking against the spindle.

If the record is knocking, as in the hole is too big, it's an easy solution to fix. You just insert a thin strip of paper into the hole, and tape the two ends to to the record. One strip will be taped down on side A, and the other on side B. You'll have succesfully "shrunk" the hole, and you won't have anymore knocking against the spindle. And if you need another strip of paper, go for it. There is a point where you can make it too tight, so be sort of careful. I hope that makes sense.

EDIT: You have to pull pretty hard on the platters to raise them. If you've done it once, then it's safe, just pull harder. Those magnets are very strong.

 

[LevLover]

Actually i didnt balance it without the cartridge or weight.. hmmm

actually, i meant to say balance the tonearm AFTER you mount the headshell and cartridge (we'll call it needle). you mount the 'needle' and and then balance the tonearm, once you get the needle to float, set the weight dail to 0, then dial in the weight that the manufactuer suggests.
also, it's gonna take a lot longer than 2 days to get good on them tables buddy, even to do basic baby scratches. keep at it, you'll get it.
LevLove

 

[scipio]

Okay awesome. thanks for all the help! If nothing else i've gained much valuable advice in this thread

 

[ViBez]

For troubleshooting and good tips and tutorials, try DJ Q bert Do it yourself, he touches basis on all kinds of little things like this. I recommend using a butterug, just take a dust cover from one of your lp's or 12 inches and cut a hole in the center and throw it under your slipmat, this will give you a nice slidy grip on the record, you will lose a bit of friction and baby scratches will come a lot quicker and easier for you. And like a few people said, it's your first few days handling a record, don't expect the record not to jump n skip like crazy, you don't have any hand control experience and have no feel for the record, don't be so hard on yourself, scratching is a very slow process, which requires a lot of diligence and dedication, you won't become a sick dj overnight lol. I have been djing on and off since 2002, and still not even close to where I feel I should be.

 

[dj rreal]

My Vestax PDX A2's and PDX 2000's both have the same problem with the platter wobble. I think it's a fault in production. I also think it's hit and miss. The PDX 2000's I had back in 2003 didn't have this problem. Too bad I sold them. I remember a thread concerning this issue right here on FP back then too. The ones I have now I bought on EBAY within the last year or so. My A2's are more stable but not as powerful. The table I had my 2000's on was shaky too. So I put them on a more solid table and the stability has increased. They still tend to skip because of the platter wobble but definitely not as bad. They also seem to skip more at the beginning of the record and seem to hold solid towards the middle and end of the record.
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