Accessories Provided with the Woody Universal Tonearm:

Provided accessories include: Detailed owners’ manual specific to the parameters of each String Theory Woody tonearm, mounting distance gage, alignment gage, overhang gage, high viscosity oil for damping cup, syringe for transferring high viscosity oil, and additional headshells, headshell adjuster plates, and counterweights to allow the user to set up to optimally play any cartridge with standard mounting centers.

At this point we have extensive experience with Woody tonearms ranging in length from 9 to 16 inches. These tonearms are all very musical. We have provided users with a number of Woody tonearms in various lengths and for various cartridges.  We are getting glowing reports.

VTA on the Fly (VTAF):  These tonearms use the proven VTAF (Vertical Tracking angle on the Fly) system, allowing the VTA to be dialed in to the sweetest angle while the record is in play as the user listens to the effect of VTA. The VTAF also isolates the tonearm system from the armboard. Many VTAF users have attested to the remarkable sonic benefits of isolation provided by the VTAF. With the VTAF, a thin adjuster wheel running on fine threads moves the tonearm pedestal up or down to change VTA. The VTAF Teflon Upgrade, which lines the bearing surfaces of the VTAF with Teflon, and improves sonics and smoothness of operation, is standard with the Woody tonearms.

Azimuth On the Fly (AZOF):  Also incorporated into the Woody tonearms is a system which allows the azimuth to be to be dialed in to the sweetest condition while the record is in play, as the user listens to the effect of azimuth. AZOF is achieved by a manually adjusted lever on the lower platform which controls the position of a vertical axis snubber pin directly under the tonearm pivot. The vertical axis snubber pin loosely engages a small aluminum channel secured under the tonearm wand, with the channel axis parallel to the tonearm axis. Once the preferred azimuth has been dialed in, it is desirable in theory, but actually unnecessary in practice, to adjust the lateral balance of the arm to achieve a balance such that the snubber pin is not in continuous contact with the channel.

Anti-Skate On the Fly (ASOF):  Anti-skate is set using a  blank record or blank space in a lead-out groove. With the record turning the user rotates the anti-skate knob at the center of the top plate. This puts a twist into the bearing string, creating an outward skating tendency to balance the inward skating tendency caused by stylus drag. Anti-skate is properly set when the stylus tends to stay put or move slowly outward when placed on a blank space on the surface of the record. For purchasers who wish, we can provide the Pete Riggle Anti-skate Measurement System (PRAMS) free of charge. 

The design philosophy is to use wood wherever possible, and brass and Delrin ™ where wood is not as practical as desired. Where necessary for reduced tonearm effective mass, aluminum or wood can be used for headshell components. This philosophy has resulted a remarkably balanced tonal character which makes real music.  The question might arise "My Rega arm with the VTAF and the CCM sounds wonderful. Can the Woody tonearms actually sound better?" The answer is that while the Rega arms with the VTAF and CCM are truly excellent, the Woody arms are more musical.

The Woody design uses a uniquely configured string unipivot suspension with snubbing to make tonearm handling the same as with conventional bearings. Tonearm handling is made more convenient with the use of a long, light, wood, ergonomically shaped finger lift. A precision lift/lower device is standard. The tonearm rest/lock uses a strong magnet to attract a steel target under the tonearm wand. The tonearm is held down securely against vertical forces, but lifts nicely off the magnet when put into play by the user.

The uniquely configured string unipivot is stiff in the horizontal plane, resulting in excellent bass response. The string unipivot bearing is suspended from a knurled brass knob at the center of the upper platform. Anti-skate tendency can be adjusted by rotating this knob. The knob is locked with a thumbscrew when in the correct position.

All Woody tonearm adjustments are easy to make without reliance on hex keys. We object to the common use of hex keys and special tools for tonearm adjustment. Hex keys are so easy to misplace, and once misplaced, it is a nuisance to find the right size. VTA is adjusted with the VTAF. AZimuth On the Fly is adjusted with the AZOF lever. Tonearm lateral balance is adjusted with knurled brass balance weights. The Counterweight for the Common Man provides tracking force adjustment with a knurled thumbscrew to lock the counterweight in place. The headshell provides easy alignment using only one knurled nut.  Anti-skate tendency is dialed in by rotating a knurled brass knob on the upper platform, allowing Anti-Skate On the Fly (ASOF). Even the lift/lower device is easily adjusted upward and downward, using a knurled thumb-screw to lock the device in place.  For arms with adjustable VTA this is an important feature.  The Woody is probably the most easily adjusted tonearm ever developed.

A tiny circular bubble level is made integral with the headshell adjuster plate. This tiny bubble level provides the user with a quick visual determination of azimuth and VTA. A lateral balancer is provided to get perfect lateral balance at the desired azimuth once azimuth has been dialed in by the AZOF system.

The standard wiring configuration provides a continuous run of 36 gage Teflon insulated, silver plated, stranded copper wire between the cartridge and the phono stage. We've tried a number of wire products. So far this is the best we've found. The wire harness is shielded by a small diameter thin walled brass tube along the length of the tonearm, unshielded at the compliance loop (similar to VPI tonearms), and shielded with foil and a drain wire from the compliance loop to the RCA plugs. The shield is not connected at the RCA plugs or at the cartridge. A long ground wire connects the wiring harness shield system to the chassis ground at the phono amplifier. A short ground wire is provided in the event the user needs to connect the turntable to the grounding system (this is important for tables with metal motor boards, such as the Thorens TD124, The Garrard 301, or the Lenco tables). Configurations allowing user selected RCA patch cables are optional. The Woody is designed for ease of wiring and rewiring (not that rewiring will ever be required). The extreme flexibility of the wire used minimizes changes in anti-skate force as the arm sweeps across the record.

In our listening room we are using a 12 inch Woody with a Denon DL103 cartridge, and are getting very musical results. The 12 inch nominal Woody has a length of 310 mm (12.2 inches) from stylus to pivot, with an overhang of 13.1 mm (.516 inches) for the Baerwald alignment. This particular arm was set up with an effective mass of about 30 grams, to which one must add the cartridge mass to get the total mass. Cartridge mounting is standard with screws spaced 0.5 inches on centers. This arm sounds wonderfully musical with the DL103, and may sound even better with some of the more sophisticated cartridge products.

For higher compliance cartridges the arm effective mass can be lowered, still keeping the resonant frequency around 8 Hz, by using aluminum or Spanish Cedar for the headshell, the headshell adjuster plate, or both.

Woody tonearms are available in lengths to allow easy replacement of older arm designs. Typical arms in the 9 to 10 inch range vary from a length of 229 mm to 254 mm. Woody arms are available to replace arms of any length. We have had great success with 12, 14, and 16 inch arms.

The wood tonearm wand is finished in French polish, rubbed on in many sessions. French polish is legendary for bringing out the beauty of wood. There is nothing like it. Lacquered Brass finish is used for brass parts, with an optional Smokey Silver finish ($120 U.S. extra). At present the wood being used for most Woody tonearms is aged Spanish cedar, which looks and finishes like various species of mahogany, but is lower in density.

Interest in this family of tonearms is running quite high. The list price is $1900 USD. We suggest comparing the Woody arms to Schroeder and Reed arms in the $4000 U.S. to $4500 U.S. range, and to Durand arms in the $7900 U.S. to $16500 range.  Because these tonearms are labor intensive, and I am a one man shop, I will never be able to produce more than one of these tonearms every two weeks.The purchaser is free to return the arm within 90 days, for a full refund of the purchase price. Actual shipping and insurance will be charged, running about $35 U.S. to U.S. destinations, and about $120 to Europe.

At the original $1600 price the Woody tonearm came with one headshell and one headshell adjuster plate in a material weight density (brass, aluminum, or wood) required to accommodate one cartridge compliance range (low, medium, or high). At the current $1900 price, headshells and headshell adjuster plates are provided in brass, aluminum, and wood, along with counterweights as required, to accommodate widely varying cartridge parameters.

I will be happy to accept an order with a $200 down payment. The current waiting period for delivery is one month. I prefer payment by PayPal, but can accept a credit card on a U.S. bank, a personal check on a U.S. bank, a money order, or an international money order.

Please advise if you find yourself with unanswered questions or concerns. I can be contacted by email at peteriggle@msn.com, or by phone at 509 582 4548. I am often in the shop, but away from the office phone. If you call and get the answering machine, please leave a brief message with your telephone number and/or email address.