Joe's "The Clamp"

Ricardo

I keep looking at this clamp thinking if I will ever get another TT....and the truth is that I don't think I will. So, maybe another polkie can put it to good use.

This is Joe's (Hearingimpared) clamp. Several threads talk about the benefits this simple to use clamp offers, from flattening warped records, to tighten the bass and give better definition to your vinyl.

I bought what I think was the last one Joe had, and paid $380 for it. Includes the three shims and instructions.

I will sell it for $300 shipped to CONUS, including Paypal.

Please post interest here first, then PM me.

Emlyn

Interested. PM sent.

Ricardo

Sorry....that was a typo; I meant to say $500.


j/k



PM replied.

Emlyn

I wonder if I hold the record for quickest sale. Payment sent.

Thanks Ricardo.

Ricardo

Sold to Emlyn. At least this was the quickest for me. Thanks!!

SolidSqual

You gotta be shittin me. Ugh. Nice sale. God, I've been surfing al day for a good clamp. Wish I saw this sooner.


Mike

inspiredsports

Nice score. You are going to love The Clamp.

Ricardo will be ticked at himself if he ever buys another turntable

Ricardo

inspiredsports wrote: »

Ricardo will be ticked at himself if he ever buys another turntable

I might. I really like vinyl, but right now I don't have the time for it, to do it well.

Maybe when I retire, if I ever retire.

hearingimpared

Congrats Emlyn. If you ever have any questions or problems with The Clamp, please don't hesitate to contact me.

lukewayne

i'm very... very ... very uneducated when it comes to this product... to me it looks a lot like a paperweight,

300$... does it have a solid gold center?

F1nut

There are much better ways to ask a question. You know, ones that don't come across as an insult.

hearingimpared

Thanks Jess, I was thinking the same thing.

danger boy

Congrats on the sale and to the buyer.. top notch product from a cool dude, Joe.

snow

lukewayne wrote: »

i'm very... very ... very uneducated when it comes to this product... to me it looks a lot like a paperweight,

300$... does it have a solid gold center?

Maybe try doing a search? then perhaps you wont be so uneducated.

I would have bought this if I had seen it in time and I neither own a TT or have any plans on ever owning one



REGARDS SNOW

inspiredsports

Is have a Mitchell. Basis and The Clamp, and careful listening tests put The Clamp solidly at the top of the list.

Emlyn

Got it! Thanks Ricardo, and thanks Joe for creating these.

Ricardo

Let us know what you think!

lukewayne

obviously the buyer is happy with his purchase, and it was already sold so my question was not going to affect any sale.

damn, you guys are way too defensive, i didn't say "that supid thing is just a paper weight and you are a moron or ANOTHER IDIOT NEWB! if you use those how can you be so stupid."

what i did say was that it LOOKS like a paperweight. and i even prefaced it with the fact that i am uneducated in the subject. a simple, explanation of why it is so pricey would have sufficed, my post wasn't an insult, it was simply a question of what makes this item cost so much. and a tongue in cheek suggestion.


this product is not electronic and has no moving parts. record clamps, or weights, are just that. nothing more. they do not have complicated construction processes, or special conducting materials, ic's, or any components that are pricey, they are a weight with a hole either drilled or threaded into the center. the factors that should change their price are source material type, and source material quantity.

which leads to my suggested answer for the high price of the unit. creating a weight which has has different materials for the core and shell could indeed increase the price, as could creating such core (or the entire weight for that matter) out of a pricey material, such as gold, or platinum, or aircraft grade aluminum.

just from the posted pictures it appears to be standard anodized aluminum.
$1.15/lb


either way i think you're defensiveness and insults proved my point better than any explanation of what could make the clamp so expensive.

treitz3

lukewayne wrote: »

......record clamps, or weights, are just that. nothing more. they do not have complicated construction processes, or special conducting materials, ic's, or any components that are pricey, they are a weight with a hole either drilled or threaded into the center. the factors that should change their price are source material type, and source material quantity.

First sentence - False. They are not created equal. The highlighted text? You couldn't be more incorrect. The last part of the second sentence - False yet again. As for the last sentence, it is quite obvious that you did not run a search to get your learn on.

This is not the kind of product that is snake oil, there is zero debate as to its effectiveness and you WILL NOT find a more exceptional clamp on the market today. "THE CLAMP" is worth more than the asking price IMO and if you ever have the chance to get one? Pounce on it like it was the best thing since the invention of the wheel. Your ears will definitely thank you.

FYI, I have one and I wouldn't sell it for $2,000.00. Yes, it really does perform that well.

shack

this product is not electronic and has no moving parts. record clamps, or weights, are just that. nothing more. they do not have complicated construction processes, or special conducting materials, ic's, or any components that are pricey, they are a weight with a hole either drilled or threaded into the center. the factors that should change their price are source material type, and source material quantity.

Again...someone talking out of their **** without a clue. The Clamp has several moving parts that have been machined to precise specifications. The clamping mechanism is a fairly complicated piece of equipment. Having talked to Joe on several occasions about the mfg. process...I know it to be quite complicated, expensive and labor intensive to produce. Trust me...if it were easy/simple to produce the the clamp...he would be producing and selling as many as possible. IT ISN'T easy, simple or cheap!

Read all about it here...

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47286

joeparaski

treitz3 wrote: »

First sentence - False. They are not created equal. The highlighted text? You couldn't be more incorrect. The last part of the second sentence - False yet again. As for the last sentence, it is quite obvious that you did not run a search to get your learn on.

This is not the kind of product that is snake oil, there is zero debate as to its effectiveness and you WILL NOT find a more exceptional clamp on the market today. "THE CLAMP" is worth more than the asking price IMO and if you ever have the chance to get one? Pounce on it like it was the best thing since the invention of the wheel. Your ears will definitely thank you.

FYI, I have one and I wouldn't sell it for $2,000.00. Yes, it really does perform that well.

I remembered reading this post when I looked at "THE CLAMP" that I own. I was thinking that I rarely use this clamp and I rarely play my records anymore. I'm putting some serious thought into selling my turntable, records, and clamp. I'll probably give away most of the albums to polkies as I gave away some a while ago.

Although Treitz wouldn't sell his clamp for $2,000 I would. I'm looking to sell some stuff to help pay for a projector.


I'd obviously like to get as much for it as possible and was thinking of putting it up on e-bay. But what do I call it, "Joe's Clamp"? How do I advertise this thing to get a rich guy to pay big bucks for the best clamp in the world?

Joe

inspiredsports

joeparaski wrote: »

. . . I'm putting some serious thought into selling The Clamp . . . on eBay . . . How do I advertise this thing to get a rich guy to pay big bucks for the best clamp in the world?

Joe

As an owner of "The Clamp", I have mixed feelings about seeing it posted on eBay.

I'm hopeful someone here in CP will give you a fair price and keep it in the family. Few in the "outside" world have a clue as to what The Clamp can do, and convincing them might be tough.

TroyD

lukewayne wrote: »

obviously the buyer is happy with his purchase, and it was already sold so my question was not going to affect any sale.

damn, you guys are way too defensive, i didn't say "that supid thing is just a paper weight and you are a moron or ANOTHER IDIOT NEWB! if you use those how can you be so stupid."

what i did say was that it LOOKS like a paperweight. and i even prefaced it with the fact that i am uneducated in the subject. a simple, explanation of why it is so pricey would have sufficed, my post wasn't an insult, it was simply a question of what makes this item cost so much. and a tongue in cheek suggestion.


this product is not electronic and has no moving parts. record clamps, or weights, are just that. nothing more. they do not have complicated construction processes, or special conducting materials, ic's, or any components that are pricey, they are a weight with a hole either drilled or threaded into the center. the factors that should change their price are source material type, and source material quantity.

which leads to my suggested answer for the high price of the unit. creating a weight which has has different materials for the core and shell could indeed increase the price, as could creating such core (or the entire weight for that matter) out of a pricey material, such as gold, or platinum, or aircraft grade aluminum.

just from the posted pictures it appears to be standard anodized aluminum.
$1.15/lb


either way i think you're defensiveness and insults proved my point better than any explanation of what could make the clamp so expensive.

How would you feel if something that you put a great deal of time, energy and money into was dismissed out of hand as worthless by someone who had no idea what they were talking about?

I've got one and the benefit derived is nothing short of dramatic. I wouldn't sell mine for anything....not only because it's a fantastic item, Joe is a friend and a hell of a guy.


Putz.

BDT

joeparaski

********As an owner of "The Clamp", I have mixed feelings about seeing it posted on eBay.

I'm hopeful someone here in CP will give you a fair price and keep it in the family. Few in the "outside" world have a clue as to what The Clamp can do, and convincing them might be tough.
Last edited by inspiredsports; Today at 08:10 PM..


*****************************************************************************

Yes I agree, the problem is, I'm embarrassed to ask for a high price from from a Polkie. I've given away stuff here, I like to "give back" to the forum. But in this particular case, I need to make some cash to buy a projector. I've got a ton of gear sitting and collecting dust and I need to move some of it rather than keep dipping into the savings account.

Joe

hearingimpared

Joe, I've sold the last couple I had in storage for $380 here and it was pounced on that is purchased immediately. However I do remember asking the folks that purchased the clamp to give me the first shot at buying it back if the time comes when it is not needed anymore. I've sold my spare to a fellow Polkie and I only have the one I am using left.

I would have no problem if you sold it here for the amount stated above as I've had/have several people asking me for it and if and when I am able to produce more to keep them in mind. Seeing that I can't produce more due to the prohibitive expense I think you would do very well quickly selling it here.

ben62670

Hey Joe ignorance is bliss. I wish I had the funds to acquire one of your clamps. I am using an aluminum puck and it has helped quite a bit. I know that a good clamp would bring me to a higher level.
Congrats on a great design.
Ben

inspiredsports

If I did not currently have one and knew what it did, I would pay $500 to get one. There may be a a couple eBay buyers out there that could bid it up over that, but I think they would need to be aware of all of the various threads here in CP extolling its virtues.

ohskigod

I remember this thing, Joe sent it to me for a demo when I still ran vinyl. I had what would be considered a relatively dinky vinyl set up, a BSR turntable and a Pro-ject phono pre.......and I was shocked as hell at the difference......like "why the eff do turtables not come with this from the factory" good. I just knew I wasn't going to be into vinyl down the road so I didn't grab it.

I'm not the most mechanically inclined dude in the planet, but it was not simple construction, I knew that much. it didn't just clamp, it clamped and pulled for lack of a better phrase.

the audible difference, even in my dinky vinyl set up was mindboggling

Hoofhearted

So I bought a project AUDIOMECA J1 and it came with this big black plastic clamp. I like it and I always wondered where it came from and have never seen another, UNTIL TONIGHT!
It’s a Joe’s clamp by golly!

I didn’t get any shims, as shown above, and don’t know what they would do or how to use them, I do think I could make them though and here comes the question:

Can anyone send me a screengrab or picture of Joe’s instruction sheet?

TIA

Tony M

Good for you. You have a rare gem.

Shims just make sure you record sits higher than your TT platter mat by just a little bit. The shims drop over the spindle and fill the recess that is in every mat at their center, I believe.

I have one just like yours but made by another member here on this forum.

They are clamping beasts.

I believe I hear an improvement too when clamping records down in the proper way using shims.

Emlyn

I still have the one I bought. The shims are a necessity and I think I remember they are also made of Delrin with three different thicknesses. Not sure if I have the instruction sheet still since the function and operation is simple. I'll post it if I can find it later.