RP1 on a Micro Seiki DQX 1000

 A lovely photo of an RP1-xg2 on a Micro-Seiki. And the LP is the Verve label. What's not to like? Thanks to Gonzalo.

 

A sliding SME base

 Here are photos, kindly sent by Chris, of his RP1 on his Thorens.
It is using an SME adapter, ostensibly for Ortofon arms, which comes from Hong Kong.
The ebay link is here. I have also seen them advertised in clear anodising (silver finish). Another black option is here

It looks good and isn't too expensive. As a finishing touch, an option is to paint the silver knob black, or get a gold plated one.

RP1 on a Lenco

Here's a pic of Nick's arm on his re-plinthed Lenco with double platter.

Chrome arm with sapphire

 In 2016 I made a custom  RP1, which I called the RP1-CR9 using chromed brass parts with bright and satin polished alloy parts.

It is a nominal 9" (213mm) effective length, with adjustable offset angle at the headshell and adjustable pivot to spindle distance  at the base as per the standard arm.

It has a sapphire mounted on the headshell.

RP1 XG (diamond limited edition)

I've been sent some photos of an interesting arm. It is a black and gold Odyssey RP1 from the 80's, one of five of the very first with black anodising. The diamonds on the front of the headshell were added in Hong Kong by the distributor.  By that stage, final assembly, packing and distribution were done there, with the parts and main sub-assemblies made in Scotland.

I, personally, only used gemstones in the Gold Signature, which were all made in Scotland.

RP1 CR9

In 2014 I visited a show in Brighton to see what was happening, as I'd lost touch a bit with the hifi scene. While there, Jason Kennedy of The Ear  magazine took a really nice photo of a recent chrome and satin anodised arm I'd made which I'd taken along and has used it in the mag.

It's a version of what I am going to call from now on (not that there's going to be many of them made), the RP1 Cr 9 or Cr-12 (or Cr-whatever, depending on effective length).


The Ear mag contains news, reviews and show reports, and is definitely well worth a look.

Odyssey Gold Signature Photo

Here is a photo of a Gold Signature on a Melco deck, courtesy of Tommy Cheuk of Top Class Audio Art in Hong Kong:

There are more pics from Top Class Audio Art of 12" Odyssey arms here.  His web site has lots of exotic and special items for sale, and photos of rare products in the gallery.

Odyssey on a Gyro

I received a couple of pics from Luigi Raymund Lira of his Orbe upgraded Gyro:

He had some kind words to say, which I appreciate, and which echo what others have also said:

"I've been using my Odyssey RP1 XG MK2 tonearm since 1987 w/ a Gyrodec we purchased from your dealer in Hongkong... I was a second year medical student it was given to me by my father as an incentive to keep up the good work/grade...

The beauty of the arm & the turntable was  one of the reason why we acquired this tonearm/ turntable combo... visitors who were not audiophiles who came to our home always complemented that it's the most beautiful turntable / tonearm combo they ever seen ! 

I'm very happy w/ the performance of the Odyssey, sometime I get tempted to replace it  w/ an SME V but when I look at the Odyssey it brings back old memories and the SME looks industrial while the Odyssey looks like a work of art. Most probably this tonearm/table combo will be handed down to my kids..."

Photo Gallery

Some more photos not included on the main pages:

 An early RP1-XG on its presentation case:

A 12" chrome arm on a Garrard 301:












And a photo of the optional damper assembly for the early arms:

An early custom lacquered RP1 from around 1981, one of the first Odyssey arms:

 

An early RP1-XG mounted on an AR ETL1 with Dynavector cartridge:

RP1-xg2 on a Garrard 401:

Gold Signature arm

I have a Gold Signature to repair. Here is a pic (courtesy of Radlett Audio). It  is mounted on  a mahogany  Source turntable.

This arm is number 06, and has a couple of diamonds fitted. It appears to have had some trouble at some point and has had wiring replaced. The bearings have been damaged - perhaps in storage,  in transit, who knows.

Odyssey Arm on a custom Lenco

 Beautifully finished and elegant...


Odyssey RP1-xg2 with straight 29.5cm arm tube on a Custom Lenco built by Rodney Eugenio.

RP1-xg2 on a MRM Source

Former S-O  publicity rep,  John Nicholson, of Walker-Nicholson sent me a nice close-up photo of his RP1-xg2 on his MRM Source.

Custom Chrome Special

A little photo of a Custom Special I've been doing. Finish is chromium plate and clear satin anodising. 12" J- shape arm tube. Van den Hul wire.