78rpm with microgroove stylus...did I destroy my needle?

B

beedubaya

New Member
I played a 78rpm front and back with a modern microgroove stylus. This one is from 1955 and sounds alright. I won't play my older 78rpms with a modern stylus because not only do I know its too small for the grooves, but they sound horrible. This record though is playable. However, I am very anal retentive about my equipment and am worried I damaged my stylus. My records don't sound any different, but I'm still worried. Do you think I two sides of one 78rpm would be enough to damage a microgroove stylus or do you think I am fine?
 
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The needle seems a little shorter and the cantilever is closer to the record than it used to. It's only a little over a month old however. It's still sharp so it might be in my head.
 
Being 'anal retentive' surprises that you nevertheless played a shellac record with a stylus intended for microgroove vinyl records. 78rpm shellac records contain abrasive fillers.

tri_pod
 
KentTeffeteller said:
Some late 78 RPM discs were microgroove and vinyl (Mercury and quite a few others did so this late)
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Yes, you are quite right, Kent. I have some of these. Let's hope it is one of these the OP played.

At any rate, I don't think a diamond stylus will get wrecked with 2 sides played - even on a shellac record. It may well be groove dust which makes it appear the stylus had worn...

tri_pod
 
Is the diamond gone, or broken off? I had a stylus that was so gunked up it appeared to be broken under a microscope. Alcohol on a Q-tip cleaned it off on the second or third try, with a black spot on the Q-tip and the stylus revealed again. That may not be a good idea if the stylus is an Ortofon - they say not to use any solvent whatsoever, probably forgetting that water is a solvent too. Maybe it's hidden by gunk, or maybe it's gone. Can you tell?
 
sqlsavior said:
Is the diamond gone, or broken off? I had a stylus that was so gunked up it appeared to be broken under a microscope. Alcohol on a Q-tip cleaned it off on the second or third try, with a black spot on the Q-tip and the stylus revealed again. That may not be a good idea if the stylus is an Ortofon - they say not to use any solvent whatsoever, probably forgetting that water is a solvent too. Maybe it's hidden by gunk, or maybe it's gone. Can you tell?
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That was my first thought so I cleaned it. My records still sounded as usual so I thought it might be all in my head, but last night I started getting inner-groove skipping that wasn't happening before, so I knew it wasn't in my head. I knew it wasn't the record because I could replay the same part of the song and it would not skip. I am thinking maybe playing that shellac record wore down or broke off a small piece of the tip, which would make sense since it would have been dragging the bottom of the groove.

Never again will I play a 78rpm with a microgroove stylus. I did it with my old Crosley all the time and never had an issue.
 
tri_pod said:
Being 'anal retentive' surprises that you nevertheless played a shellac record with a stylus intended for microgroove vinyl records. 78rpm shellac records contain abrasive fillers.

tri_pod
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It was after four glasses of wine and I wasn't exactly thinking clearly. I had played this record all the time on my old Crosley and never damaged the stylus.
 
There's no way playing that record would have destroyed the stylus in and of itself. One play of a shellac record, if it is a shellac record, is not going to materially wear a diamond tipped needle. If it really IS destroyed, something else happened.

Doug
 
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needlestein said:
Well, the typical Crosley needle is not really optimum for microgroove or 78. It sits somewhere in between so passing back and forth between microgroove vinyl and wide groove shellac can be done just fine--sort of, but you're probably not getting the best out of either type of record.

Was it the original Crosley stylus? If so, it was a big fat sapphire that wears relatively rapidly compared to diamond. But diamond upgrades are readily available.

What cartridge and stylus were you using this last time where you feel that damage occurred? If you were running a .7 conical, for example, I doubt you injured anything.
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Yeah, it was the original Crosley stylus. Honestly, my 78s played just fine with my Crosley. I did damage a few vinyl records with it (which is just one of many reasons I upgraded), but it did a good job with 78s. The cartridge/stylus I damaged was an AT95E. I have since replaced it and all is well, but no more 78s on it. I will soon be in the market for a new headshell and cartridge specifically for 78 play.
 
I just got a new record player to replace my other micromatic player that had a bad cartridge (Couldnt find the right one to replace it with)

This new micromatic player I have has a short needle... 1 side says MG and the other 78 ... I havent ever had one of these before... Playing my records on my MG needle most of them have heavy bass,is this the way MG needles sound?????

The needle barely works,I do not think its the right one for this cartridge! (The 78 tip doesnt work @ all even on 78s (Its not long enough) it makes all kinds of wierd sounds like its hitting the cartridge......


Its white and on most needles 78 is on the left. On this one 78 is on the RIGHT and MG is on the left.........

Its a standard magnavox cartridge so I might just replace it with a proper 33/78 needle.... BUT THIS ONE SOUNDS QUITE GOOD ON 78s!!!! (The MG side) On most 33s the sound is HEAVY (More bass than should be I think I dunno since I havent ever had an MG needle!! (All needles I have ever had say LP .. 78 (Or LP/S .. 78)))
 
Dude111 said:
I just got a new record player to replace my other micromatic player that had a bad cartridge (Couldnt find the right one to replace it with)

This new micromatic player I have has a short needle... 1 side says MG and the other 78 ... I havent ever had one of these before... Playing my records on my MG needle most of them have heavy bass,is this the way MG needles sound?????

The needle barely works,I do not think its the right one for this cartridge! (The 78 tip doesnt work @ all even on 78s (Its not long enough) it makes all kinds of wierd sounds like its hitting the cartridge......


Its white and on most needles 78 is on the left. On this one 78 is on the RIGHT and MG is on the left.........

Its a standard magnavox cartridge so I might just replace it with a proper 33/78 needle.... BUT THIS ONE SOUNDS QUITE GOOD ON 78s!!!! (The MG side) On most 33s the sound is HEAVY (More bass than should be I think I dunno since I havent ever had an MG needle!! (All needles I have ever had say LP .. 78 (Or LP/S .. 78)))
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In this case I'd say MG is not a brand or model but means Micro Groove, as opposed to 78 rpm coarse groove. The MG side will have a 0.7 to 1.0 mil stylus for modern LP records and the 78 side will have a 2.5 to 3 mil stylus for early fast spinning records. If it is too short and seems wrong then it is probably is the wrong stylus for your cartridge.
 
Im just curous what is the difference between an MG needle and a standard LP/78 needle??

Like why is the BASS heavy,is that the needles doing? (My bass control is right in the middle where I always have it)

Please 4give me buddy,I havent ever had one of these needles and it deosnt sound quite right... (It IS too short for this cartridge)
 
Merci beaucoup!!!!!

I was really thinking this myself :( (Now to find a proper needle which isnt easy now)
 
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