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I have two of these four-spring "long-bar" soundboxes---one badged "Connoisseur" courtesy of Mr Wild. The latter presumably made modifications in some way, although I have never been able to fathom what he did---maybe just tuning ? The HMV deck-board lifting button is completely irrelevant and nothing to do with EMG and the projecting rod is merely a helpful lifting aid which comes to hand easily and works well. They produce an excellent sound.

emgcr wrote: Mon Jun 24, 2024 10:05 am I have two of these four-spring "long-bar" soundboxes---one badged "Connoisseur" courtesy of Mr Wild. The latter presumably made modifications in some way, although I have never been able to fathom what he did---maybe just tuning ? The HMV deck-board lifting button is completely irrelevant and nothing to do with EMG and the projecting rod is merely a helpful lifting aid which comes to hand easily and works well. They produce an excellent sound.

Thank you, Graham, for confirming my thoughts on this and as you say, they do indeed produce excellent sound.

Absolutely stunning to see your Wild Connoisseur longbar EMG again Graham, how impossibly rare and precious that is!

I have one too, on my EMG Mk VII - I can also attest that these rank with the very best EMG and Expert soundboxes.

I'm firmly of a similiar mind that that the side bar is simply a lifting handle and has no other function.

Good to see it untouched and with so many pics.
This soundbox looks like it is crudely put together but it sounds really good.

motorboard lifting knob from a HMV

. Of course it is but it did fool me so thanks for point that out.
I love the idea of a counterweight lift and it may actually work but I can't see one fitted to the soundbox would work very well. Attached to the tonearm, yes.
Mine weighs 197.4g and it has several huge chunks of brass to give it mass so sure could do with a counterbalance

Here's an interesting analysis concocted a few years ago which may now have disappeared from the forum ?

Looking at this closely in the final minutes before the auction closes, did anyone spot the damage around the needle socket? It seems to have been crushed (maybe put in a vice at some point and clamped too hard) and partially split/cracked.

Well spotted, wonder why anyone would need to do that.

I thought it may have gone for more than £540.

It seems that others also spotted this, because there was no last minute bidding. The winning bid of £540 was placed several days ago. Whilst this was less than some people expected, the seller must be happy, having listed it with a £10 starting price.

I thought it would go for more - even though it has (what I would consider to be) a slight defect perhaps caused in this case by a fault / flaw in the original manufacturing process.

If I had known I might have bid.

I hope some-one got it on here.

A bargain I think.

The purchaser must have been keen. The last few bids were against themselves.

I’m going to be controversial here. Although I don’t own an EMG, I do collect soundboxes. I have some Experts and EMGs and have to say, I prefer the Meltrope II. Don’t know why, but the sounds range seems greater, and that’s fiddling a lot with the setup of all types.