heavy lacquer 78rpms on differenet types of mats?

[illinoisteve]

I wonder who has tried playing their earlier lacquer 78s with different composition turntable mats, and what benefits, losses, or compromises the differences made. Mat choices naturally start with whatever kind of stock mat comes on your particular turntable, but then there are various other rubber and rubber-like mats with various textures, there are cork mats, and various thickness (and I presume softness levels) of felt mats, and perhaps others I don't know about.

A few days ago, I was playing some 1930s Decca 78s that had acquired a bit of warp from long storage in albums. The fairly heavy rubber (replacement--I think NOT original) mat on my Miracord 50H if anything may have exacerbated the affect of the warp. It certainly did nothing to calm that affect, I am certain.

Anyway, it got me wondering how different mat choices might affect playing 78s, something I've given no thought to before. Somebody here knows more about this than I do, please share your experience and expertise. Thanks!

 

[illinoisteve]

No 78 devotees here at AK have tried or have preferences for different kinds of record mats that serve 78 playing better than other kinds of records?

C'mon! Do you really expect me to believe that? Somebody out there, lurking but not posting, knows something about this issue.

My old table-top wind-up Victrola had a felt mat adhered to the platter. Green I seem to recall, and rather thin, but I've never tried a felt mat on a modern turntable -- at all, let alone for 78s. Anybody try felt?


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[Hitachiht550]

I have only used the stock platter mat on my Elac 45. I have a cork/rubber from GEM I will use tonight and report back.

 

[illinoisteve]

I have only used the stock platter mat on my Elac 45. I have a cork/rubber from GEM I will use tonight and report back.

Jason, cool. I'll watch for it. I don't think my Miracord 50H has a stock mat on it.