I got a stack (and I mean hundreds) of 78's from the estate of a deceased relative -- I have 3 TT's, none of which will crank to that speed. Any recommendations ?
Not ideal, I know, but several years ago whilst aimlessly surfing the web I found a protools plugin that could take 78 records played on a 45 turntable and resample them for burning to a cd.
Sounds familiar. My wifes aunt used to be in the radio business in Houston many years ago, she was the "Weather Angel" and did promotional ads. Her and her sisters made many recordings as the Britton sisters. She passed away last year, 84 years old and left with us her record collection, many LPs signed by the original artists. Anyway, I am in the beginning of transferring these to CDs and was having a hard time finding a turntable for 78's, looked around for several months. I found my first on the side of the road, an old Zenith and it worked perfectly. Then found another at my folks house in a closet, then I was just given another old Realistic, then another and another........
I have several of these things and found some more at the Goodwill store, all very resonable. If you don't see any out, ask one of the folks working there, they have things like old turntables floating around. Also, many of the old stereo consoles had 78 players in them. The needle for a 78 is much bigger than those of the 33s, but there are tons of sources. Look at ebay, then you can get the names and brands and hit the regular Inet vendors for better prices.
I have several of these things and found some more at the Goodwill store, all very resonable. If you don't see any out, ask one of the folks working there, they have things like old turntables floating around. Also, many of the old stereo consoles had 78 players in them. The needle for a 78 is much bigger than those of the 33s, but there are tons of sources. Look at ebay, then you can get the names and brands and hit the regular Inet vendors for better prices.
A bit pricey but the Thorens TD124 might be an option.
Also, Stanton still has the 681 cartridge with 78 stylus option.
http://www.stantondj.com/v2/prod_681eee.asp
/Hugo
Also, Stanton still has the 681 cartridge with 78 stylus option.
http://www.stantondj.com/v2/prod_681eee.asp
/Hugo
Any of the Goldring Lenco GLxx series.
The speed is continuously variable too, so you can set it for each record (not all '78's were recorded at 78 rpm).
The speed is continuously variable too, so you can set it for each record (not all '78's were recorded at 78 rpm).
Take a look at DJ TT's. Strange but true, these have a 78rpm speed and varispeed. You will need that since some 78rpm are to be played at 80rpm (yes, there must be some logic).
The real investment will not be the TT but a fitting stylus. You cannot use a normal stylus to play a 78rpm as it will ride on the bottom of the groove in the dirt. Stanton has some cartridges that can be fitted with a 78rpm stylus. This isn't the ultimate one, but it is a generic form that will give better results that a normal hifi stylus. If you are serious about this, then a whole army of styluses will be needed.
I payed about as much for the TT as for the cartridge and stylus.
Oh, and they don't use RIAA correction, but something that varies according to brand and age.
Some lecture:
http://www.shellac.org/wams/wequal.html
http://www.rfwilmut.clara.net/repro78/repro.html
It is fun, but can be frustrating.
The real investment will not be the TT but a fitting stylus. You cannot use a normal stylus to play a 78rpm as it will ride on the bottom of the groove in the dirt. Stanton has some cartridges that can be fitted with a 78rpm stylus. This isn't the ultimate one, but it is a generic form that will give better results that a normal hifi stylus. If you are serious about this, then a whole army of styluses will be needed.
I payed about as much for the TT as for the cartridge and stylus.
Oh, and they don't use RIAA correction, but something that varies according to brand and age.
Some lecture:
http://www.shellac.org/wams/wequal.html
http://www.rfwilmut.clara.net/repro78/repro.html
It is fun, but can be frustrating.
Ive seen Rega planar 78's on ebay, look exactly ther same as a Rega planar 3 (original one with square edges) but go at 78rpm. Maybe worth a look.
http://www.rega.co.uk/html/planar78.htm
http://www.rega.co.uk/html/planar78.htm
And remember to use a 78 rpm stylus as well.
A standard microgroove stylus is too small. It rides on the bottom of the groove when playing 78 rpm records.
This results in much more noise.
A standard microgroove stylus is too small. It rides on the bottom of the groove when playing 78 rpm records.
This results in much more noise.
Jack,
Garrad Type A and Type A MkII play 78s. Also Dual 1219 and 1229. The Garrad is a bit clunky and only tracks at about 4 grams minimum but the Duals will track at less pressure. You will also need to find a cartridge which has an available stylus with a 3 mill conical profile. Shure used to make 3 mill styli for some of their cartridges but I believe they have stopped production on all of those. The Stanton would be a decent choice or check Grado and see if they have a model with a 3 mill stylus (Grado styli are not replacable to my knowledge). Good luck and no reason to transfer them to a crummy CD: just play them!!
Ken
Garrad Type A and Type A MkII play 78s. Also Dual 1219 and 1229. The Garrad is a bit clunky and only tracks at about 4 grams minimum but the Duals will track at less pressure. You will also need to find a cartridge which has an available stylus with a 3 mill conical profile. Shure used to make 3 mill styli for some of their cartridges but I believe they have stopped production on all of those. The Stanton would be a decent choice or check Grado and see if they have a model with a 3 mill stylus (Grado styli are not replacable to my knowledge). Good luck and no reason to transfer them to a crummy CD: just play them!!
Ken
For carts and stylii try
Musonic .
They have a good range of suitable stuff.
If you have some electronics experience, you could put together an inverter to run a 45 rpm t/t at 78, but unless you're looking to get the best possible quality from your 78s why not scour thrift shops etc? Most older record players, and the majority of 70s and 80s music centres have suitable turntables. In the latter case, you'll probably already have a preamped output.
OTOH, if you're serious about this job, you'll need to find or make a preamp with the correct range (yes, there are several) of equalisation curves, and as I mentioned before a turntable with pitch control, as many '78s' are actually recorded at anything between about 65 and 85 rpm.
Musonic .
They have a good range of suitable stuff.
If you have some electronics experience, you could put together an inverter to run a 45 rpm t/t at 78, but unless you're looking to get the best possible quality from your 78s why not scour thrift shops etc? Most older record players, and the majority of 70s and 80s music centres have suitable turntables. In the latter case, you'll probably already have a preamped output.
OTOH, if you're serious about this job, you'll need to find or make a preamp with the correct range (yes, there are several) of equalisation curves, and as I mentioned before a turntable with pitch control, as many '78s' are actually recorded at anything between about 65 and 85 rpm.
dnsey said:
Rod has such an equalisation stage on his website:
http://sound.westhost.com/project91.htm
Jack,
I looked at the site dnsey listed and they do have a lot of cartridges and styli but I'm afraid the exchange rate of Pounds to Dollars might kill you. I checked Music Direct's site (www.amusicdirect.com) and they list a Grado 78 rpm cartridge for $80 (I was wrong; the Grado stylus appears to be replacable) and a Shure M78S for $60. Also check out Jerry Raskin's Needle Doctor (www.NeedleDoctor.com).
Please be sure to clean each record before you play it. A wet cleaning is best if you have a record cleaning machine. As I understand it, 78s require a different fluid than LPs. Nitty Gritty makes (or used to anyway) Pure 1 for 78s. I am sure there are probably others too.
Many of these records reportedly sound very good when played with modern equipment. I'll know more when I get my old Fisher mono preamp rebuilt and can play my collection.
Happy listening.
Ken
I looked at the site dnsey listed and they do have a lot of cartridges and styli but I'm afraid the exchange rate of Pounds to Dollars might kill you. I checked Music Direct's site (www.amusicdirect.com) and they list a Grado 78 rpm cartridge for $80 (I was wrong; the Grado stylus appears to be replacable) and a Shure M78S for $60. Also check out Jerry Raskin's Needle Doctor (www.NeedleDoctor.com).
Please be sure to clean each record before you play it. A wet cleaning is best if you have a record cleaning machine. As I understand it, 78s require a different fluid than LPs. Nitty Gritty makes (or used to anyway) Pure 1 for 78s. I am sure there are probably others too.
Many of these records reportedly sound very good when played with modern equipment. I'll know more when I get my old Fisher mono preamp rebuilt and can play my collection.
Happy listening.
Ken
This is a very tricky business. The site Netlist gave has some very good advise on it, read it before you start because some disks can be damaged beyond repaid by any fluid including distilled water. Identification is a must, but sadly not easy.
My record cleaning machione came with a sticker saying "Not to be used on 78s"; the methylated spirits would dissolve the shellac. I should have thought distilled water wouldn't be a problem.
Normally it isn't, but if you happen to touch an acetate with any fluid you ruin it. So if you know what you are holding it isn't a problem. But knowing is the problem...
Havoc,
Thanks for the tip. I think most of the 78s have are the stardard (for the US) breakable material which isn't acetate or shelac but I'm not really sure what it is. I will definitely be carefull with identification before I start any cleaning procedure.
Jack,
To my knowledge (admittedly limitted) there were few actual vinyl 78s produced. Most were some kind of Bakelite or something. They were almost all breakable (those Columbia labels stating "UNBREAKABLE" were just a bunch of marketing horse hockey. I learned this as a young child before I knew what marketing was! They broke just like all the others.)
As for finding a turntable, search for "automatic turntable". This was the name several manufacturers gave to their slightly better products in an attempt to distinguish them from the garden variety "record changer". However, I think all of the BICs were too new to include 78 rpm; my 912 doesn't have it.
Good luck and I hope you find a decent 'table and cart.
Ken
Thanks for the tip. I think most of the 78s have are the stardard (for the US) breakable material which isn't acetate or shelac but I'm not really sure what it is. I will definitely be carefull with identification before I start any cleaning procedure.
Jack,
To my knowledge (admittedly limitted) there were few actual vinyl 78s produced. Most were some kind of Bakelite or something. They were almost all breakable (those Columbia labels stating "UNBREAKABLE" were just a bunch of marketing horse hockey. I learned this as a young child before I knew what marketing was! They broke just like all the others.)
As for finding a turntable, search for "automatic turntable". This was the name several manufacturers gave to their slightly better products in an attempt to distinguish them from the garden variety "record changer". However, I think all of the BICs were too new to include 78 rpm; my 912 doesn't have it.
Good luck and I hope you find a decent 'table and cart.
Ken
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