Clamps - Audio Technica AT-618 and the others 💫

 

 

This precisely manufactured, made in Japan clamp, sure not hideously priced like others, has a cool characteristic: its underside is flat, not recessed like most of other designs… this feature easily and brilliantly solved an issue on my Garrardzilla as I’m currently using an isostatic-graphite mat 10 mm thick, which leaves the spindle protruding only 6 mm… the nice Audio Technica’s clamp brilliantly works while others wobble a bit due to spindle dome-shaped tip.

Last but not least, it’s cool using an AT-618 clamp while simultaneously using a WE-618B MC SUT… but I’m just kidding.

😉

Then , the others:

Comparing different bottoms: all the below showed clamps are made like the red one!

AT-618

A self-made anodized aluminum 

A cheap, China-made aluminum 

A self-made ebony/bronze: don’t try to use on a Garrard 301 with its stock-bearing 😱

A self made lignum-vitae wood/bronze: again, don’t try to use on a Garrard 301 with stock-bearing 🫣

A self made leather pouch with lead shots

A Japanese isostatic-graphite 

Nipper 

🤣