"What we've got here is failure to communicate..."
So this entire fracas is because, according to one party of this dispute, you cannot play old 78s, even with a purpose-built "78 stylus", on anything other than a disposable steel needle on an acoustic phonograph?
Do tell, again why is it ok that a steel needle will not harm (much) old orthophonic recording and acoustic ones, but will chewed 50s 78 record fast? <your avoiding this...
Until you come to the realization that a modern vinyl record wares out a modern diamond stylus. Thus playing a old orthophonic recording and acoustic one is like running the same diamond stylus over a sharpening stone because of this records make up.
I'm confused, too. Even if the old impregnated shellacs contain iron and even abrasives, are you supposed to go out and buy a Victrola? You'd think if the danger was so bad and the demand so great that someone would have come up with a 1/2" cartridge for standard arms that takes those steel needles. I mean, why not? How hard could it be to come up with a steel needle 1/2" cartridge or some equivalent?
That's how I roll. People, stop fretting, and start playing your music!Again, the only "danger" is playing a modern (post 1940) 78 on a Victrola type player with a steel needle. The record will get chewed up quickly. Playing an older 78 with a modern 78 stylus is fine, and will cause no unusual harm to either the record or stylus.
Slightly off topic, but of interest to 78 people should be the 78 project (no afilliation) at http://great78.archive.org/ and their archive at https://archive.org/details/78rpm?and[]=subject:"78rpm" They have a lot of info on materials, eq and speed.
I set up my AT120LP-USB AT95E cart (one of them) with a 78 stylus. I played back a disc last night, and to my ears, it sounded decent, certainly listenable. But, given the RIAA curve a modern day phono preamplifier applies, what tone adjustments do folks like to make to bass, treble, etc, to get it to sound more like the way it was originally listened to, without the curve applied?
Why would a shellac 78 from the 1940s get "chewed up" any more quickly than one from the 1930s? Was there some change in shellac formulation that I've never heard of before? Or are you talking about the 1950s 78s that were pressed on vinyl, sometimes even microgroove?Again, the only "danger" is playing a modern (post 1940) 78 on a Victrola type player with a steel needle. The record will get chewed up quickly.
Why would a shellac 78 from the 1940s get "chewed up" any more quickly than one from the 1930s? Was there some change in shellac formulation that I've never heard of before? Or are you talking about the 1950s 78s that were pressed on vinyl, sometimes even microgroove?
Here is a shellac 78 from 1947 being played on a circa-1915 Columbia Grafanola:
Why would a shellac 78 from the 1940s get "chewed up" any more quickly than one from the 1930s? Was there some change in shellac formulation that I've never heard of before? Or are you talking about the 1950s 78s that were pressed on vinyl, sometimes even microgroove?
I've deleted this post. My apologies. It was a bit harsh!Please. He asked for advice on one thing and got mostly wrong advice delivered in a condescending manner on something completely different. Who is trolling?
No stylus, no listen. Do you have a better approach?The word is WEAR! WEAR! W, E, A, R
Thank you. Carry on!
I have 80+ year old 78's that play extremely well. Most of the people on here that spread untruths have never even tried to play a 78.Why would a shellac 78 from the 1940s get "chewed up" any more quickly than one from the 1930s? Was there some change in shellac formulation that I've never heard of before? Or are you talking about the 1950s 78s that were pressed on vinyl, sometimes even microgroove?
Here is a shellac 78 from 1947 being played on a circa-1915 Columbia Grafanola:
Why would a shellac 78 from the 1940s get "chewed up" any more quickly than one from the 1930s? Was there some change in shellac formulation that I've never heard of before? Or are you talking about the 1950s 78s that were pressed on vinyl, sometimes even microgroove?
Here is a shellac 78 from 1947 being played on a circa-1915 Columbia Grafanola:
Most of the people on here that spread untruths have never even tried to play a 78.
There is no "correct" way to play these. Unless your approach is the only way, which you seem to feel, it is.I personally play everything, but actually do it correctly.
1915 Victrola, Acoustic Records, with steel needle
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1930 General Motors Radio, The Queen Anne : Ceramic cartridge with steel stylus,SUT and Amplified for Orthophonic Recording.
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1954 Zenith console with Cobramatic 78,45 33,16 speed record changer, Mono, for modern 78 and vinyl records.
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