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Getting the right stylus for Magnavox Micromatic TT

lisa_cali

lisa_cali

New Member
Deoxit has been ordered, I just need to order a replacement needle for my Micromatic tt. Based on what I've looked at on the forum I think I have the W620 model.

The broken needle on it now has a "78" on it so I'm assuming it's the phono needle: 557-DS73. I've also read others using the 557-DS77 on Micromatics. My knowledge is limited on them so far. From my understanding the DS77 can ONLY play LPs and DS73 can play 78s.

I have three questions:

1> Do I have the option to use either needle type (DS73 or DS77) on my W620?

2> Am I better off getting the identical needle I think I have on it now (DS73) because I can listen to LP and 45/78s on it?

3> From the attached picture below can someone confirm I have the W620 model turntable?

Thank you!
 

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It's a W600 Series unit.

2 things you need. The Model # of the Console and the part Number of the Cartridge.

There is a paper tag on the back panel of the console and one also inside. Something like 1st681 or 1p6342.

The cartridge # will be on the side of the cartridge. You have a 2 way stylus. Both LP and 78. To remove the cart, use a jewelers screwdriver and pry the spring clip away(toward the front of the unit) from the cartridge and pull the cart down. Then write down the number on the cartridge.

garage a records dot com and KABUSA.com should have those in stock under pfanstiel numbers.

Get two because they are getting harder to locate.

Larry
 
Thanks Larry.

The paper tag somewhere along the line got rubbed off so we can't get any info on console.

I can never find my small screwdriver when I need it. I'll have to make a run to the store and pick one up. Can I get away with just the # of the cartridge or is the model # of the console needed? I've been looking through this forum and on the internet and can't seem to find an identical console.

Lisa
 
The cartridge # for that model TT is 560345-1 or 560305-1 That is for the electricvoice
& Astatic cartridge. The needle #is 574 SD. It should also work for the generic brand cartridges. Magnavox TT's are
interchangeable from one console to another, So the console # is not that important. That is a W620 model,
and there is a NOS #574 SD needle on the bay as we speak!!
 
My needle came in today but still waiting for the Deoxit. My parents were coming over for dinner so I asked them to bring over a record. Everyone was excited to hear how it would sound!

New needle was on... turned the puppy on... and the darn tt wouldn't spin!

Well it works on 78 and 45 but I needed it on 33 to sound right. :tears: I'm hoping it just needs a little cleaning with Deoxit.

Does anyone if I should be trying something else? Thx.
 
The grease used on the mechanical linkages in the turntable have turned to Wax, grunge, cement, or whatever else you want to call it.

If you have a friend that's REALLY into electronics and fixing mechanical linkage's (AND over 30, he'll actually should know what a turntable is ), get him to remove the old grease and renew it. He'll need Q-tips, alcohol, light machine oil(3 in 1 works well), and white lithium grease. Clean off old stuff from EVERYTHING with the alcohol and Q-tips. Apply new grease sparingly where a friction point is. DO NOT GET GREASE OR OIL on the inside of the platter or the rubber wheel. Use Acetone on the platter innerwall. Use Alcohol on a q-tip on the rubber wheel, and scrub until the wheel is clean.

Oil and grease the center bearing assembly, put the platter on and start it up. It may start (especially if you didn't oil the motor bearings!) so let it run for a while, it'll settle down.

Yes you need it on 33 for 12" LP(Long Play) records. The 10" records are usually 78's although there are some OLD (60+) 10" by RCA that run @ 33. 7" records are 45rpm and are singles per side.


Next resort is to pull the turntable out and find a shop local, (there was a shop in San Leandro or South San Francisco(I was 14 then) back in the late 60's early 70's that was really good, doubt it's still there) and ask them to do a grease job.

I just did the one on my '64 Maggie. Took me 2 hours to do, and this is my 2nd. Now I have to do a total re-cap on the whole thing. OH JOY!!

Larry
 
Thanks for the detailed write up Larry! At what point is a re-cap necessary? Ouch I hope that's not what's needed with mine.

My husband's 31, he's pretty handy around the house but playing the clueless card. He still thinks I'm crazy for bring the console home.

Sounds lilke something I can do. Just need alot of patience and a careful touch with the clean up. I'll consult my father-in-law tomorrow. He'll most likely know, he's all about music. He's still rocking with a local band. :music:

Now onward with the console tune-up. Will let you know how it goes!
 
With units as old as the Maggies are, re-caps are just a matter of time. if you don't stress it (ie: play at low volume levels and don't load up the bass) the caps should last for a while. Think of them as power reservoirs with a liquid/gel electrolyte. After 20-30 years the electrolyte starts drying out, the power reserve goes south, and the cap goes out of spec, either open or short. If it opens you usually end up just replacing the caps. If it goes short, then other things downstream are affected.

The best thing to do is to find the model #(there should be another tag inside, or a stencil with production numbers and date codes inside) and get a service manual. Then either find a tech that can do the re-cap or learn to do it. It's actually not hard in the grand scheme of things, just tedious if there are 50-60 of them to do. Maggies usually have between 20-30 total.

Open up the back, find any and all stencils and tags (you may need a damp cloth to wipe it down after vacuuming inside..make sure the Maggie is unplugged!) write down the info exactly as it's written. Take a few pics. Post them here and on the Magnavox Yahoo group. You will end up knowing which model, and how old it is. Betting it's older than 30.

Here's a photo link to mine.......
http://s408.photobucket.com/albums/pp168/torskdoc/My Maggies/

Larry
 
Thx again Larry. You're a wealth of knowledge! I'll take a peak into the old Maggie this weekend and see what I can find.
 
As a new owner of a Micromatic, I was wondering if this same stylus is correct for mine. My label is long since lost on the rear. This is my model.
Any help is appreciated.
Frank G
 

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Yours is a different cartridge, it is an EV ceramic, your changer was one of the best Micromatics, cartridge options much easier than for our OP's changer.
 
my turn! i think my console better resembles Frank's but i'm still having trouble finding info on what needle to order to resolve this skipping problem. Any record i play skips every 2 seconds or so and I think it's the needle.

Edit:
model # is 2st697 and cartridge # is 502 and I can't figure out what to do with this info
 

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Last edited:
larryderouin said:
It's a W600 Series unit.

2 things you need. The Model # of the Console and the part Number of the Cartridge.

There is a paper tag on the back panel of the console and one also inside. Something like 1st681 or 1p6342.

The cartridge # will be on the side of the cartridge. You have a 2 way stylus. Both LP and 78. To remove the cart, use a jewelers screwdriver and pry the spring clip away(toward the front of the unit) from the cartridge and pull the cart down. Then write down the number on the cartridge.

garage a records dot com and KABUSA.com should have those in stock under pfanstiel numbers.

Get two because they are getting harder to locate.

Larry
Click to expand...
What if you have the record changer but it doesn’t have a cartridge in it. There’s no stylus at all. I have the model number from the record changer; but I do not have a part number.
 
matt222 said:
my turn! i think my console better resembles Frank's but i'm still having trouble finding info on what needle to order to resolve this skipping problem. Any record i play skips every 2 seconds or so and I think it's the needle.

Edit:
model # is 2st697 and cartridge # is 502 and I can't figure out what to do with this info
Click to expand...
Somebody else may have said this; but have you made sure that the tone arm is balanced correctly? There’s a screw where you can adjust the tracking weight of the stylus.
 
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