I'm planning to fit a Rabco SL-8E on a Luxman PD350 table. Does any of you have experience with this combination? I don't have the installation instructions of the Rabco, so any help or advice would me much appreciated.

Thomas

I used to own the Rabco, the difference being that it was mounted on a Thorens table. Be very careful that you mount the arm absolutely perpindicular. The rest is easy. Watch the arm length for the cartridge used. The stylus must match the center of the spindle. My Rabco was a cantankerous beast. First the good news; the battery lasts for several months. The bad news; the tonearm rings. You need to find a lightweight dampening compound. I solved the problem by building a balsa wood arm that I laminated out of thin strips of wood, then built the arm into a rectangular cross section that I filled with foam rubber. Nowdays I'd try a spray on dampening compound on the underside of the arm. The other major weakness is that the contacts to activate the motor tend to collect dust or oxidize, and the arm stops tracking properly. Your milage may vary.
By the way, the late Mr. Papier of Triplaner arm fame got his start modifying Rabco arms. Good luck. Please let us know how the project turns out.

Steve

Regards,
Thomas

It sounds like you're off to a good start. I was thinking about an automotive panel dampening spray. The car stereo guys on the forum probably have favorite brands. I'm sure 3-M makes adhesive backed membranes too. Your tone arm "shock absorber" has been done before using a dust brush at one end, and attached to the tonearm on the other. A setup like that might cause the Rabco to mistrack. The option of a trough attached to the base seems much easier. I'm not a believer in fancy cables, so no opinions there. I wonder if there's a way to eliminate the wire to wire motor contact switch. That is a problem area. Gold plated contacts, or an optical sensor?
Please post some pics as you progress.

Take care,

Steve