JohnnyRing0
New Member
Just picked up a Pickering 190d tonearm. Any cartridge recommendations? Thanks!
Cartridge for Pickering 190d
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The 190D is that long straight arm, with the articulated head, right ? Then, surprisingly, this high mass arm, might also be usable with even low mass, medium compliance carts, especially if warped discs need playing. IIRC, minimum tracking force with this and most 1950s long arm versions will be close to 3-4 grams. This is because of the arm's high mass and arm bearing friction.
So, thinking in a usual vintage fashion, were you hoping for stereo cartridges or mono ? LP/45 or 78s as well ? Mid-'50s was the stateside reign of GE Variable Reluctance phono pickup carts, like the RPX-040 single replaceable stylus version, as well as the RPX-050 "Triple Play" (plays all 3 speeds) two-styli version. The RPX need 6 grams of tracking force; no stereo discs except expendable ones. The mono cart's lateral only response can quickly wipe out the vertical part of the stereo grooves. Personally, I need at least one RPX-050 around for spinning 78s. They also sound extremely sweet with early mono LPs, 10 inchers and 45s; but, they still need 6 grams tracking force.
In late 1957, early 1958, GE brought out the VR-II, a similar Triple Play pickup, which works well at only 4 grams force. For mono era, period correct and still affordable, these are my recommendations. BTW, all of these GE mono magnetic carts are what made the home HiFi movement possible for almost every home.
Adapting to stereo is not that difficult. Vintage "early stereo" carts which track well with 4 grams, even 3 grams if you can clean/oil the arm bearings, are actually quite a large number. So, again, do you need to have 78 rpm abilities ? Some early stereo era carts did not even offer 78 stylus tips and/or would be very hard to source 2.5 to 3 mil styli from the aftermarket. The usual suspects were already mentioned, the Pickering Stanton 380 and Shure M3D. However, 78 tips for these are not always easy to source. Fortunately for me, I can retip those as long as I can get the original stylus stub which held the diamond safely out of its' place. I have seen NOS styli for the Stanton 380, Pickering U38 over the years, but NOS Shure N3D or N7D or genuine Shure N21D styli will be very tough to obtain. Aftermarket stuff awaits, but 78 tips will be rare.
Even rarer, but everyone must try at least one Elac 222 "Green Monster" stereo cart. Needing near 4 grams to track right, you simply will be amazed how "fast" these sound. They will compete with moving coil carts ! Alas, any new aftermarket styli will be tough. Buy only the types with brass color stubs, none of the all-silver color stylus assemblies. Like the GE VR mono carts, the non-magnetic brass is necessary around the variable reluctance, magnetic pole pieces. There are the first stereo Elacs, the round 200, 210 and later trapezoidal shaped 240, which will always sound mellower than the green 222.
Similar vintage appropriate types are the Empire 108 and B&O Stereodyne. The Empire is another early stereo cart which amazes with its' HF detail. The B&O Stereodyne, AKA: SP-1 and SP-II are quite under the radar. Dynaco marketed these in the early '60s, so they have to be good. In fact, they are better than good. Again, 78 styli will appear like unobtainium for these. Originals might be difficult, but worth the try.
Jumping into the mid-1960s, perhaps your best choice is the Pickering V-15, later Stanton 500 pickups. These were the transcription pickups of choice for many decades. Pro transcribers still use them ! These will undoubtedly be easy to source any size styli, albeit aftermarket types until you are certain you love these. Shure's transcription competition was/is the Shure M44/55. These are the classic stereo era choices, Shure vs. Pickering/Stanton. We all know that competition lasted nearly five decades ! There must be good reasons, sonically speaking, why the professionals who transfer discs to tape and digital relied on these for so long.
This is just a hint of what could be considered as a maybe. Do some more magazine/periodical research, check out the americanradiohistory site and be patient when scrollingtry to be certain of your current needs and future desires. When you hear just a few good sounding mono discs, you can get hooked in rather quickly. 78s are probably even more amazing and addictive, when you have a synergistic preamp with various, pre-RIAA EQ settings.
So, thinking in a usual vintage fashion, were you hoping for stereo cartridges or mono ? LP/45 or 78s as well ? Mid-'50s was the stateside reign of GE Variable Reluctance phono pickup carts, like the RPX-040 single replaceable stylus version, as well as the RPX-050 "Triple Play" (plays all 3 speeds) two-styli version. The RPX need 6 grams of tracking force; no stereo discs except expendable ones. The mono cart's lateral only response can quickly wipe out the vertical part of the stereo grooves. Personally, I need at least one RPX-050 around for spinning 78s. They also sound extremely sweet with early mono LPs, 10 inchers and 45s; but, they still need 6 grams tracking force.
In late 1957, early 1958, GE brought out the VR-II, a similar Triple Play pickup, which works well at only 4 grams force. For mono era, period correct and still affordable, these are my recommendations. BTW, all of these GE mono magnetic carts are what made the home HiFi movement possible for almost every home.
Adapting to stereo is not that difficult. Vintage "early stereo" carts which track well with 4 grams, even 3 grams if you can clean/oil the arm bearings, are actually quite a large number. So, again, do you need to have 78 rpm abilities ? Some early stereo era carts did not even offer 78 stylus tips and/or would be very hard to source 2.5 to 3 mil styli from the aftermarket. The usual suspects were already mentioned, the Pickering Stanton 380 and Shure M3D. However, 78 tips for these are not always easy to source. Fortunately for me, I can retip those as long as I can get the original stylus stub which held the diamond safely out of its' place. I have seen NOS styli for the Stanton 380, Pickering U38 over the years, but NOS Shure N3D or N7D or genuine Shure N21D styli will be very tough to obtain. Aftermarket stuff awaits, but 78 tips will be rare.
Even rarer, but everyone must try at least one Elac 222 "Green Monster" stereo cart. Needing near 4 grams to track right, you simply will be amazed how "fast" these sound. They will compete with moving coil carts ! Alas, any new aftermarket styli will be tough. Buy only the types with brass color stubs, none of the all-silver color stylus assemblies. Like the GE VR mono carts, the non-magnetic brass is necessary around the variable reluctance, magnetic pole pieces. There are the first stereo Elacs, the round 200, 210 and later trapezoidal shaped 240, which will always sound mellower than the green 222.
Similar vintage appropriate types are the Empire 108 and B&O Stereodyne. The Empire is another early stereo cart which amazes with its' HF detail. The B&O Stereodyne, AKA: SP-1 and SP-II are quite under the radar. Dynaco marketed these in the early '60s, so they have to be good. In fact, they are better than good. Again, 78 styli will appear like unobtainium for these. Originals might be difficult, but worth the try.
Jumping into the mid-1960s, perhaps your best choice is the Pickering V-15, later Stanton 500 pickups. These were the transcription pickups of choice for many decades. Pro transcribers still use them ! These will undoubtedly be easy to source any size styli, albeit aftermarket types until you are certain you love these. Shure's transcription competition was/is the Shure M44/55. These are the classic stereo era choices, Shure vs. Pickering/Stanton. We all know that competition lasted nearly five decades ! There must be good reasons, sonically speaking, why the professionals who transfer discs to tape and digital relied on these for so long.
This is just a hint of what could be considered as a maybe. Do some more magazine/periodical research, check out the americanradiohistory site and be patient when scrollingtry to be certain of your current needs and future desires. When you hear just a few good sounding mono discs, you can get hooked in rather quickly. 78s are probably even more amazing and addictive, when you have a synergistic preamp with various, pre-RIAA EQ settings.
JohnnyRing0
New Member
Thank you so much for the info! I searched and I was able to snag a NOS Shure M3D! The radio station in San Fran I got the arm from had it wired for stereo. So right now I have the arm with my audio guy for possibly rewiring and will keep it stereo for now, but you have me maybe thinking of switching it to mono. The arm is going to go on a ROK K-33 with the massive induction motor, so just lps for now. I’ll definatelt want to use for 78s when I eventually get a broadcast table (QRK or Gates) that has the 78 option.
Would you recommend an original Shure M3D with replacement stylus from LP Gear or the Empire 108 NOS including the orginal stylus for the 190D arm?
