Califone 1430K

[radiotron_]

Not exactly high fidelity, but, I’m repairing this Califone school record player for an old lady I know to play her beater records and 78’s on it. Had no cartridge so I installed a replacement one (89t, ceramic, flipover, it’s green in color if you’ve ever seen one before. Looks like a stubby version of the skinny ortofon carts). I tore apart the motor, cleaned, lubed and greased it and it runs like a champ. Even opened it up and dusted off the speaker. Pots are cleaned. Yet, it sounds fragile, tinny, but most importantly incredibly quiet in comparison to my Califone 1450K which only needed a motor tear down and sounds full and loud. Could be the speaker, since the speaker was pretty dirty (but not torn), or the amplifier... a visual inspection of the two capacitors revealed them to be fine... I gotta get me a multimeter. Any thoughts? Lemme know if this post belongs in another forum. I’ll post pictures tomorrow.

 

[beat_truck]

I'd suspect the cartridge. The recent 89Ts are not known to be good or consistent. (Nor are most recently made ceramics.)

I replaced the original 89T on my 1430K with a Tetrad, which has lower output, and most 78s still play loud and sound full. Especially the later ones. Actually, some of the later ones sound fuller than most LPs.

 

[radiotron_]

I'd suspect the cartridge. The recent 89Ts are not known to be good or consistent. (Nor are most recently made ceramics.)

I replaced the original 89T on my 1430K with a Tetrad, which has lower output, and most 78s still play loud and sound full. Especially the later ones. Actually, some of the later ones sound fuller than most LPs.

Would be a shame if that’s it! Is a new tetrad cheap, and does it require any particular mounting methods? Also, here are some pictures. She doesn’t look good, but she runs like a top. I was thinking it was my wiring job that would make the cartridge sound bad, but I think it simply wouldn’t work if the wires were reversed.

 

[beat_truck]

View attachment 1987530 View attachment 1987532

Would be a shame if that’s it! Is a new tetrad cheap, and does it require any particular mounting methods? Also, here are some pictures. She doesn’t look good, but she runs like a top. I was thinking it was my wiring job that would make the cartridge sound bad, but I think it simply wouldn’t work if the wires were reversed.

Not especially cheap. About $25 for NOS. New needles are only $8 when needed later, though. I bought a new Tetrad "replacement" at first, and it had pretty much no output straight out of the box, so I went NOS.

It was a pain in the ass to change from the 89T to the Tetrad. The tonearm wiring to the amp had to be changed because the Tetrad has an oddball plug on the end that would be very difficult to solder on. And on top of that, the wiring harness that came with the Tetrad didn't include a ground, so I had to run a separate one because it hummed without it. Also some of the mount on the Tetrad has to be ground away to clear the little light in the tonearm.

I replaced the 89T on a Hamilton school phono with a Pfanstiehl P228, and it was easier to wire and mount, but there is no way the bracket would clear the light on the Califone's tonearm. That's why I went with the Tetrad. And some of the higher end Califones supposedly came factory with Tetrads.

 

[radiotron_]

Not especially cheap. About $25 for NOS. New needles are only $8 when needed later, though. I bought a new Tetrad "replacement" at first, and it had pretty much no output straight out of the box, so I went NOS.

It was a pain in the ass to change from the 89T to the Tetrad. The tonearm wiring to the amp had to be changed because the Tetrad has an oddball plug on the end that would be very difficult to solder on. And on top of that, the wiring harness that came with the Tetrad didn't include a ground, so I had to run a separate one because it hummed without it. Also some of the mount on the Tetrad has to be ground away to clear the little light in the tonearm.

I replaced the 89T on a Hamilton school phono with a Pfanstiehl P228, and it was easier to wire and mount, but there is no way the bracket would clear the light on the Califone's tonearm. That's why I went with the Tetrad. And some of the higher end Califones supposedly came factory with Tetrads.

https://www.ebay.com/i/293605162083...QXhy8Rd2AqfmipnXQatXwf7piR4byHcBoCGZMQAvD_BwE Would something like this work? honestly, the main reason I’m putting so much effort into this thing is because it isn’t mine, and I’d hate to return it unfinished. The only bit that sounds very hard to me would be running a separate ground.

 

[beat_truck]

https://www.ebay.com/i/293605162083...QXhy8Rd2AqfmipnXQatXwf7piR4byHcBoCGZMQAvD_BwE Would something like this work? honestly, the main reason I’m putting so much effort into this thing is because it isn’t mine, and I’d hate to return it unfinished.

You can make it work, but like I said, it will be a pain. If you just replaced the 89T with a new one, can't you return/exchange it as defective?

I actually think that is the same kit I used, but I'm not 100% sure.

 

[radiotron_]

You can make it work, but like I said, it will be a pain. If you just replaced the 89T with a new one, can't you return/exchange it as defective?

I actually think that is the same kit I used, but I'm not 100% sure.

I don’t think the place I got the 89t from allowed returns, sadly.

 

[beat_truck]

I don’t think the place I got the 89t from allowed returns, sadly.

One thing you can try. With the machine turned on, touch the tonearm wires with your finger. If the amp is working well, you should get a stout buzz through the speaker. Not exactly scientific, but it should give you an idea.

 

[radiotron_]

One thing you can try. With the machine turned on, touch the tonearm wires with your finger. If the amp is working well, you should get a stout buzz through the speaker. Not exactly scientific, but it should give you an idea.

I turned the volume all the way up, and touched the wires in several places; alas, no buzz. It’s like there’s no amplification. may need new transistors, or, whatever it uses to amplify.

 

[beat_truck]

I turned the volume all the way up, and touched the wires in several places; alas, no buzz. It’s like there’s no amplification. may need new transistors, or, whatever it uses to amplify.

Sorry, I can't really help you much more. It'd be the blind leading the blind. I know some, but I'm not an electronics expert. I have a GE Swingmate record player that the amp suddenly went silent on that I need to try my hand at diagnosing. I have a meter, soldering gun, etc, but I just haven't decided to try it yet.

The best I have done so far is I added 78 RPM to several turntables that didn't have it before. I used plans from the internet to do the one, and educated guesses from comparing the schematics to do the others.

Maybe try starting a thread in the Solid State section or something.

 

[radiotron_]

Ok, thanks for your help though! I too am one who knows some, but is by no means an expert.

Sorry, I can't really help you much more. It'd be the blind leading the blind. I know some, but I'm not an electronics expert. I have a GE Swingmate record player that the amp suddenly went silent on that I need to try my hand at diagnosing. I have a meter, soldering gun, etc, but I just haven't decided to try it yet.

The best I have done so far is I added 78 RPM to several turntables that didn't have it before. I used plans from the internet to do the one, and educated guesses from comparing the schematics to do the others.

Maybe try starting a thread in the Solid State section or something.

 

[beat_truck]

Ok, thanks for your help though!

No problem!

 

[radiotron_]

No problem!

Update: Yeah, it’s the amplifier. I switched the 89t knock off to my own Califone and it works perfectly fine (I think the old one works better though). When put on the 1430, the old cartridge had the same lack of volume issues. Probably needs new transistors or something.

 

[beat_truck]

Update: Yeah, it’s the amplifier. I switched the 89t knock off to my own Califone and it works perfectly fine (I think the old one works better though). When put on the 1430, the old cartridge had the same lack of volume issues. Probably needs new transistors or something.

That's good that you narrowed down the problem. Hopefully it isn't too much trouble to fix it.