Hmm-- yes it could be a very early ,rare or homogenised version(sorry) -has apparent differences from mine below.
Ah well if it works to spec and pleases--thats all the matters I suppose--good luck
BruceD View attachment 72327
SME Tonearms Early Series I 3012 (1958) [Early Series I 3012 (1958)] - Here is a stunning example of an Early Series I SME 3012 produced close to the very beginning of 1958 You will notice some incredible differences in this arm compared to any other SME 3009 or 3012. 1st these extremely early...
SME Tonearms Early Series I 3012 (1958) [Early Series I 3012 (1958)] - Here is a stunning example of an Early Series I SME 3012 produced close to the very beginning of 1958 You will notice some incredible differences in this arm compared to any other SME 3009 or 3012. 1st these extremely early...
Very grateful to a member in our group who has extended an "extended" loan of the SME 3012R to me. I will trial this in my system over the course of the next few months and let you know if I agree to all the fuss on this arm.
Making a debut as well will be a brand new Kuzma 4 pt with Kondo wire and ruby bearings that just arrived from my analog crack dealer. My previous 4 pt had the steel bearings and I believe discovery wire. I have no idea what to expect other than it should be different. I have burned the wire in with the Audiodarhma and hopefully I will set it up in the Brinkmann Balance now that my arm boards have come back from anodizing. Anyone having an opinion on the ruby bearings vs, old or the Kondo wire option- I would love to hear from you- even though the horse has left the barn.
When I picked up the SME I dropped off my Fidelity Research FR64s as well and it will be rewired with one loom of his proprietary silver litz wire .. I will get rid of the DIN. Very excited about this as well to listen with my Koetsu. Lots of analog changes .
Looking at your pictures you have what I call a Frankenstein SME put together from orphaned and remanufactured parts. I don't know where you bought it from but they lied if they sold it as a 3012-R. Unfortunately you don't have a functioning Series 1 nor an early prototype of any SME tonearm. Looking at your pictures it seems like your rider weight is remanufactured new, the sled base unless mounted backwards is wrong and your arm is definitely rewired and connectors replaced by RCA jacks of unknown origin and quality. You might like something about it but this tonearm will not sound like anything SME designed or intended. From headshell to the phono cable SME designed a complete and in someways closed system, IMO substituting tweaks and other parts results in inferior sound. The only comparison here is between a "parts" tonearm vs your Kuzma.
Looking at your pictures you have what I call a Frankenstein SME put together from orphaned and remanufactured parts. I don't know where you bought it from but they lied if they sold it as a 3012-R. Unfortunately you don't have a functioning Series 1 nor an early prototype of any SME tonearm. Looking at your pictures it seems like your rider weight is remanufactured new, the sled base unless mounted backwards is wrong and your arm is definitely rewired and connectors replaced by RCA jacks of unknown origin and quality. You might like something about it but this tonearm will not sound like anything SME designed or intended. From headshell to the phono cable SME designed a complete and in someways closed system, IMO substituting tweaks and other parts results in inferior sound. The only comparison here is between a "parts" tonearm vs your Kuzma.
I personally don't have any trouble with rewire, the bed plate can be reversed and is as good as gold.....I do have the proper rider weight (I mentioned that way up in the thread) no cash outlay on this and it is a full Mk1 with a rewire... good fun all the way around for me!
Anyone having an opinion on the ruby bearings vs, old or the Kondo wire option- I would love to hear from you- even though the horse has left the barn.
Fwiw, the latest Feickert bubble level works quite well on a 4Point headshell. Feickert uses the 4Point as the example tonearm for instructions in his Adjust+ manual.
You can buy the level alone on ebay - at an appropriate audiophile price.