Any 78 stylus less prone to damage.

[fondofmusic]

Hey everyone. I have my Elac H 50 with my Grado 78 cartridge. For some time I played 78's and once in a while on automatic play the stylus would side off the record at the start. Normally that didn't seem to effect it much. It did however begin to slant one way or the other. Finally after probably 3 years the sound started to deteriorate and I purchased the new 90.00 stylus. That lasted about three days and the arm hit some groves that shoved it off the record. The stylus was slightly bent and after another mishap I tired to straighten it out but the thing broke in half. It just seems the tiny and very flimsy stylus aren't well suited to any thing happening except the perfect record and alignment. I will have to get another sylus but wondered if any of the other cartridges that would fit the Elac might have a stronger resistance to damage. I haven't looked at one in years but it didn't seem in the long ago past that tonearms has such fragile sylus. Any suggestions. Not playing in automatic drop for longer 78 albums isn't something I really want to do but might be the only actual safe way. However I have played lots of the same records over those five years and only recently had to replace that one.

 

[tubeactive]

I would heartily recommend a more durable stylus assembly than available from Shure or Grado. Your Grado 78 stylus was a conical, right ?
I would try the Pickering V15/Stanton 500 family of carts with a genuine 2.7 mil conical or aftermarket 3 mil stylus, because they will withstand higher tracking forces than Grado or Shures. Also, aftermarket 78 styli for these cost less than $20.

Now, since that is almost settled, you might want to check how your table is now functioning with slower speed discs. Perhaps, a set-down adjustment or auto movement got jolted by a troubling 78...it happens. Once you are assured the table is okay, then decide if you want to spring for another expensive Grado needle.
Since you have had this problem twice, I would hesitate spending the bucks. If you have a Shure M91, M75 or M44, there are aftermarket 78 styli easily procured, for less than $30.

Personally, having tried these all, my 78 choice has always been sticking with the mellower sounding Pickerings. If you had mostly above average condition 78s, maybe those expensive elliptical tips like the 78E by Grado would be a treat, if it could handle auto stackers.
I also cherish my old GE RPX pickup for 78s. But, they need 6 grams of tkg force ! The Pickering 380 and V15 I use actually sound alot like the classic GE. Most Pickering 78 styli will easily handle 2-5 grams and some can withstand 3-7 grams. The inexpensive Pickering carts and aftermarket 78 styli are probably your best choice....

 

[KentTeffeteller]

The Stanton 500, Pickering V 15, and the Shure M 44 are what most people use for 78 RPM who transfer and deal with those records for a living by the way. Why mess with success. Esoteric Sound and Expert Stylus Company have any tip size you need for any disc record ever made.

 

[gadget73]

I like my GE RPX, but its not suitable for stereo use at all. You'd need a full headshell swap to make use of it. Kent's suggestions are more in line with stuff that can be run on both 78's and more modern things.

 

[tubeactive]

Yes, agreed. That is why the transcription industry favors those carts. It's much easier swapping styli than readjusting pricey headshell/cart/tonearm arrangements. Plus, the Esoteric folks offer some unique styli, like elliptical mono LP/45 and 78 tips.

For kicking back with early mono discs, though, some of the earlier mono pickups still sound delicious...

 

[fondofmusic]

Thanks for the advice. I do have a dual 1009 with Pickering cartridge and both 78 and LP stylus for it. But it won't drop records due to the poor design of the spindle. I think I got some 3m 78 stylus for it a few years back. Grado was highly recommended to me by a trusted dealer in such. But as pointed out the very fragile nature of the long stylus bar is a problem. I do have some very fine like new records of 78 album type which I enjoy if played in auto mode. The dual I have next door in my moms large basement where I can walk mornings and don't mind manually switching the records since I am a captive audience anyway. I have two head shells for the Elac. One with original Elac Cartridge and the other with the new Grado. The sound from that has been very good but pricy. I am not up on the history of Pickering cartridges, are they still available new? And will it fit the head shell of the Elac? I rather agree that to spend a pretty good chunk of money only to find it last a week isn't to encouraging. The arm alignment for the records is fine, but some records, especially if you haven't been able to test it out before may have that set of beginning grooves where it tosses the arm around causing it to loose tracking. The album I think did it in that case I noticed the columbia record have some miss stamped grooves at the start with some odd wavy ridges running though the surface. Otherwise they also were like new, but I think that issue came with them when first purchased. In the days of consoles from the 40's the arm more than likely could navigate a set of poor grooves better than what the new light weight cartridges can. Years ago I had all kinds of fine consoles but no one seemed to be able to fix them reliably so I gave up for many years playing electrical recording and stayed with my other hobby of vintage victrola records. With the advent of the internet it became apparent that some companies were again catering to people who wanted harder to find parts and so I was able to use the later turn tables often to good benefit again

 

[tubeactive]

OK, It's getting interesting, now...Inquiring mind needs to know which Elac cart and which Pickering cart are available ? The Pickering V15/Stanton 500 is an easy mount. You might need spacers to "raise" it below the headshell...Likewise, the earlier model 380 needs spacers; in fact it always needs 5/16"H spacers simply to get the stylus plumb. The V15 might also like some weight added in the headshell depending on the stylus. Replacement styli are available; the originals listed fly quickly...

Certain Elac carts are very "particular" re: setup and disc speed. If you are lucky enough to have the green monster STS222, it's HF definition might not be forgiving sounding to average 78s. The again, the earlier, round body or smaller hexagon shaped models might be perfect. I can help with a 78 tip for the models, 200, 210, 240, 222, 333. The mono Elac cart is a spectacular, high opt. mono cart !

 

[fondofmusic]

The elac cartridge I am using for LP records is cream colored sort of rounded edges and a "STS 344" on the bottom. It doesn't appear that you could switch out the stylus like with pickering so I assume you would have to find a 78 cartridge made by Elac?