you didnt say which TT you used
i am suggesting that the better the arm used, the less likely you have to exceed the 1.5gr vtf setting. i have owned grados including the f1+ (equiv to the silver) and the fte+1 (equiv to the black) and not needed to exceed the 1.5 level using a grace 707 arm or the rabvco st4 tt/arm.
i found the f1+ to be a fantastic tracker and very musical. i sold the st4 and f1+ on the basis of the buyer's (a musician) delight in the sound of the wood on guitar.
i havent had a grado in years but would enjoy an oportunity except i have numerous others (grace f9e, stanton 881s, atOC9II, all waiting to be mounted) already mounted and ready to swap out at will.
with the grace arm, i experienced the spectacular "grado dance" which i quickly remedied by adding a 1 gram weight to the headshell. i wish i had taken a video of that.