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Digital Stylus Force Gauge Scale
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Digital Stylus Force Gauge Scale

Our ID#:SFG-3
Brand:BLISS™
review
Reviews (12)
4
0
5
Ultimate Tracking Pressure Accuracy

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Capacity
up to 5 grams
Today$47.00
retail$60.00
Save$13.00(22%)
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Phono Stylus Digital Scale


With our "GrooveForce Tracker" electronic digital stylus force/pressure gauge you will never doubt your actual stylus tracking pressure again! The range is up to 5 grams.

While adjusting your counter-weight is good and necessary, there are several variables that cast doubt about the actual amount of pressure the diamond tip is exerting on the vinyl. Not the least of which is operator unfamiliarity. Additional factors such as a new cartridge of a different weight, & how far the cartridge sticks out beyond the headshell can also make you wonder what is really happening at that tip.

FEATURE UPGRADE: As of March 2015 all GrooveForce Trackers will also be 100% compatible with all moving coil cartridges as well as moving magnet. We discovered an issue where some moving coil cartridges affected the scale reading. Moving magnet cartridges are not affected. Competitors' models will likely exhibit this issue for some time. We paid extra for a special feature to allow full compatibility with all magnetic cartridges. Our competition will have to sell through existing inventory and reorder and pay extra if they want to specifically request this feature. If they don't mention their scale is compatible with moving coil cartridges, it isn't.
As of Sept. 2017, these are no longer shipping with the included grey foam piece between the scale and the metal guard. We do include a piece of blue foam in place of this grey one.

Armed with precise information, one can keep notes as the stylus tip goes thru it's life cycle, you can confidently know when it is time to replace the tip without having to try to learn what it should look like under a microscope. A jeweler's loop is not enough, you must have experience under a special microscope with side lighting to really properly see tip wear.
But, by taking a 'baseline' reading when you 1st setup your stylus and then checking the tracking pressure with your digital gauge as soon as you notice a problem that is not fixed by cleaning the tip, you can then gauge if a big jump up in tracking pressure is necessary to continue 'proper' playback. When this happens, your finely polished diamond tip is on it's way to becoming, well basically a chisel dragging through your grooves. By replacing the needle not too soon & not too late you will confidently know when to invest in a new needle and also not be chiseling out your records for a while until it becomes completely obvious to all that it's time to replace the needle.

Capacity: the 5 Grams version is plenty sufficient for all players starting in about the 1960s and newer. the 15 gram version may be needed for very old record players generally older than the 1960s (this 15 gram scale is no longer in stock).

Originally sold elsewhere for upwards of $149.99 (as of March 27, 2010) We have always offered this scale at well under $100. It comes from the same factory in China as the 'other guys' no matter what "brand name" logo they put on the case.

Compared with the entry level stylus force gauge shown below, this scale has these extra features:

1. Aluminum panel instead of plastic panel to reduce the disturbance of electromagnet fields and provide higher quality.

2. Touch screen buttons.

3. 2*AAA Batteries = less battery maintenance.

3 Stars
Digital Stylus Force Gauge (flaky)
Impressed with the build quality and the overall packaging. The force gauge seems to work well but is a little flaky during use. I find myself having to power the unit off and on as the measurement doesn't always reset back to zero and leaves say a 0.18g reading having removed the stylus from the unit. I have experienced this with two units as I had one exchanged (which cost me an additional $11 to ship the faulty one back!) so can only assume that they are somewhat faulty by design.
Helpful?  4 of 4 Found Helpful
Reviewed by: (Verified Buyer)  from NJ. on 5/20/2014
3
4 Stars
Force Gauge
scale works great. but lid will not stay on. it is so lose that it just falls to the ground. if u keep the foam inside it puts pressure on the lid at it will hold it, but it should not be that way. otherwise it works well and accuracy is spot on.
Helpful?  2 of 2 Found Helpful
Reviewed by:  from Indiana. on 7/29/2013
4
3 Stars
Digital Stylus Force Gauge
Essentially the same as all the other Chinese made scales that look the same but have different names on them. However, at this price, it’s a good buy! Can be finicky and accuracy is often not repeatable. Gives a different reading with each measurement and may need to be calibrated with each use. If you want a Digital scale for less than $100.00, go for it! If you can swing a little more, get the Ortofon scale at $160...It's a much better tool for the job.
Helpful?  2 of 3 Found Helpful
Reviewed by:  from Sacramento, CA. on 8/24/2011
3
5 Stars
Stylus gauge
Excellent product...if you want to know the exact pressure of your stylus...on your vinyl...Great customer service and timely delivery of the product...Will be a repeat customer for future needs...
Helpful? 
Reviewed by:  from HALETHORPE. on 6/27/2018
5
5 Stars
Digital Force Gauge
Excellent. Works very well. Gauge was very sensitive to changes in turntable arm balance weight position. I was amazed how far off the manufacturers setting procedure was. Getting the tracking force right made a nice improvement in sound quality.
Helpful? 
Reviewed by:  from The Great White North. on 9/29/2015
5
5 Stars
VTF Gauge
Easy to use once you have read the instructions. Brings peace of mind knowing that optimum VTF settings are set correctly using vintage and expensive cartridges.
Helpful? 
Reviewed by:  from Illinois. on 9/10/2014
5
5 Stars
Digital Stylus Force Gauge
If you want to do vinyl right you need the right tools. This gauge is built for the purpose of setting your stylus force and is worth the cost over cheap scales made to measure jewelry. Goes right on top of the platter, no fudging to get the correct height.
Helpful? 
Reviewed by:  from Texas. on 2/22/2014
5
5 Stars
Digital Stylus Force Guage
Great little gauge at a reasonable price. Easy to use and accurate to tenths of a gram.
Helpful? 
Reviewed by: (Verified Buyer)  from Dallas TX. on 9/8/2013
5
5 Stars
Why didn't I buy one a long time ago?
For a long time I have used an old Shure balance scale to set the tracking weight on my turntables. I wish I had bought one of these years ago -- not only is it much easier to see the weight on the digital screen than it is to see the little numbers on the Shure scale, it is much faster and easier to use AND this is the best price I could find online.
Helpful? 
Reviewed by:  from Arlington, VA. on 6/19/2012
5
3 Stars
n/a
Easy to use, accurate. Cover is finicky when closing unit up
Helpful? 
Reviewed by:  from U.S.A. on 5/30/2012
3
5 Stars
Analog Always
Works great and easy to use.
Helpful? 
Reviewed by:  from New Hampshire. on 12/7/2011
5
5 Stars
Audiofool
Works well. Showed the difference between "Balance and Set" and the actual force at the stylus. On one of my tables, a Denon DP62L,the force was within .2 grams. On another table, a AT120USB, the tracking force was .65 grams high... NOT GOOD! The cartridge (An AT440MLa) was set at 1.5 grams according to the turntable, so actually, the cartridge was tracking outside it's recommended range. Good product, best price I could find, and excellent service from Turntable Needles.
Helpful? 
Reviewed by:  from U.S.A.. on 5/23/2011
5

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