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

[Eric Jacobs <ericj@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Contact Expert Stylus, who custom make styli for the M44.
The folks at Expert don't use email, so you'll have to write,
fax, or telephone.  I usually fax, and occasionally telephone.
The owner, Wyndham Hodgson, is very helpful.  He and I may
disagree on a few subtle points, but he will build whatever it
is you need/want at a fair price.  The workmanship is always
first rate.


Expert Stylus
50 Harriotts Lane
Surrey
Ashtead
KT21 2QB
United Kingdom

fax: +44 (1372) 276-147
tel: +44 (1372) 276-604

Expert Stylus has a complete and detailed price list for their
standard offerings (which includes the Shure M44 with a wide
range of styli).

If you're going to stick with moving magnet, I can heartily
recommend the M44.  Worth noting is that the M44 does have
a slight bump in the bass frequency response (it is a DJ
cartridge after all), but this bump makes for a nice sound with
78s.


Eric Jacobs
The Audio Archive
tel: 408.221.2128
fax: 408.549.9867
mailto:EricJ@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx



-----Original Message-----
From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
[mailto:ARSCLIST@xxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Dr. Cheryl Thurber
Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2005 9:02 AM
To: ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Acoustic playback, 78 cartridge and stylus
question


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