I'm trying to get 1.5 grams on my grado sonata cartridge, and can't seem to get more than 1-1.25 grams of weight out of the jmw-9 arm mounted on a scoutmaster. Is their anything i'm missing or do I need a different counterweight?
Sounds like the cartridge (wood body?) is too light for the arm/counterweight. Not the end of the world. Contact your dealer or VPI directly to get a weight that you can put on the headshell which will get you the necessary downforce for your cartridge. If you try to contact VPI directly, you need some patience. They are a small business that have irregular office hours (I believe 3 days a week), but very friendly to deal with. Also, VPI recommends setting the tracking force at the maximum recommended by the cart manufacturer. Good luck.