Re: [ARSCLIST] Acoustic playback, 78 cartridge and stylus question

["Dr. Cheryl Thurber" <cthurb@xxxxxxxxx>]

Steve,
  Where do you get a or a variety of 78 stylii for the M44? I see the other Shure (M78S) available, but not a variety for the M44. I have an old M44 that I use, and about 3 old stylii that are bent and old and require careful attention to use. That is why I need an immediate replacement and I was wondering if I should switch to the newer specific Shure 78 cartridge. My other related question is should I switch to a different brand? What do people like? And if so which one has various options and where do I get them. I have checked out the webpages for Garage-a-records, and Needle Doctor, I don't see the variety within brands to give me various options. I am not looking to have 30. But I was thinking of 3 or 4.
   
  I meant to talk with you and others at Sat's Baltimore Record Club, but I forgot about it which is why I am asking on the list. While I need a new turntable, (and I could use suggestions there,) I thought I would start with replacing the cartridge and stylus. My 78s are in a different place and with a different setup than for LPs and 45s. So this is a dedicated system 
  Cheryl

Steven Smolian <smolians@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
  If you are playing records back for pleasure, a Shure M44 is fine. The 78 
needle (or needles) should be mounted on their stiffer cantalever(s). If 
either of us had thought about it then, we could have discussed this last 
Saturday at the Baltimore club in between the band noises.

For professional dubbing, I use M-44s with about 30 styli of various shapes 
and sizes, though maybe a dozen work for most of what passes through. I do 
a lot of transcriptions and lacquer cut discs. If you don't need perfect 
sound from them, a 2.5 mil conical and/or 2.75 eliptical works for that 
application as well as post-WWII records. If you deal with many lacquers, a 
whole panoply of sizes and shapes are required to get quietest possible 
results. Much is due to ageing and wear rather than initial groove size. 
Some problems arise from badly cut discs.

There should be plenty on the web about groove sizes of commercial records. 
Still, it can get pretty tricky when doing commercial copies.

Steve Smolian


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dr. Cheryl Thurber" 
To: 
Sent: Monday, December 12, 2005 9:37 PM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Acoustic playback, 78 cartridge and stylus question


>
> I have been following this discussion. Someone else asked about more 
> modern electric playback.
> Using a new cartridge and 78 stylus, which ones work best for various 
> types? I also ask this for the purely selfish reason that I need new ones 
> myself. I am asking about the midprice range, not the cheapest, nor 
> expensive. What do people use on a daily basis? The other side of the 
> question is are there combinations that work best for acoustic, for 
> electric, and then for the more modern post WWII 78s. I would prefer to 
> only buy one cartridge (but only used for 78s) and then get the separate 
> styli. I use a standard mount head shell.
>
> I used to have various ones for different purposes, but most are now 
> lost or damaged. I have tended to use Shure, and I remember the early 78 
> one of the late 70s when they had to be carefully cut with a razor or 
> knife in order to fit into a cartridge. I still have a V15III cartridge 
> but I never found it satisfactory, it played too light.
>
> Cheryl Thurber


Dr. Cheryl Thurber email: cthurb@xxxxxxxxx


410-747-5557