Help troubleshooting Califone 1130K?

[seckatary]

I recently picked up a Califone 1130K Stereo table to be a dedicated 78 player. The guy who sold it to me serviced it and said the needle/cartridge were new (Astatic, double needle). I've been getting these random static-y sounds on some 78s, as well as on 33s when I flip the needle, which seem to temporarily go away after I wipe them down with distilled water and let them dry. I don't get the same sounds when playing 33s on my regular table.

I'm trying to figure out if the static noise is inherent/more common in this type of needle/cartridge, or if the sound is likely indicative of some kind of damage to the needles or something else in the player? I took the table back in to the guy, and he said he couldn't duplicate the sound so there was nothing he could do about it. But as soon as I got it home, I put on a 78 and an LP, and both had instances of the same sound. The records I'm playing are all very clean, although I guess they could have some kind of static buildup that goes away with a water wipe but later comes back? Any help would be appreciated, this has been taking the fun out of playing my 78s. Here's a recording of a pretty bad instance of the sound: http://vocaroo.com/i/s1jqOiXVyGO7
(It's worth noting that right after a water wipe, all that sound went away.)

 

[62vauxhall]

Sounds to me like the stylus does not dig down any farther than the most worn surfaces of the groove. The fresh water wipedown probably lubricates things temporarily. If you try another needle (known to be brand new) you might have better luck.

Have those records been cleaned with anything containing isopropyl alcohol? 78's don't like that.

 

[seckatary]

Sounds to me like the stylus does not dig down any farther than the most worn surfaces of the groove. The fresh water wipedown probably lubricates things temporarily. If you try another needle (known to be brand new) you might have better luck.

Have those records been cleaned with anything containing isopropyl alcohol? 78's don't like that.

Thanks for the response. I've never personally cleaned any of my 78s with alcohol, I know that's a no-no. I've thought about buying a new needle, although they're pricey enough that it would be frustrating if it didn't solve the problem. That will probably be my next step though. (Unless anyone else has a different suggestion?)

 

[62vauxhall]

Doing a search using the terms Califone + 1130K + cartridge this came up:

http://all-unique.com/califone-products-c-69.html

An entire new cartridge is $23 and a stylus is $12. Even gives the sizes .07 for LP and 3 mil for 78's. They suggest comparing the actual stylus in the unit to the photo on the website.

At least the picture shows it has a metal cantilever not a plastic one.

EDIT: Just an afterthought but maybe replacing the whole cartridge is not a bad idea. Since those Califones were "institutional record players" mostly used in schools, yours may have been operated with less than delicate care by ham fisted individuals or grade school students.
Who knows what kind of abuse it's seen. As a consequence, maybe something inside the cartridge body is not right - as in broken.

SECOND EDIT: i just now listened to the sound clip. Was using my phone earlier so it would have been pointless. That noise to me sounds electrical in nature. Califone's should have a 1/4" input jack - usually used for a microphone. Are you able to plug something with a variable output into that - a Discman for instance? At least then you would know if that noise is generated within the player or if it originates with the turntable cartridge.

I can imagine it's being produced by something loose or broken withing the cartridge.

 

[seckatary]

Doing a search using the terms Califone + 1130K + cartridge this came up:

http://all-unique.com/califone-products-c-69.html

An entire new cartridge is $23 and a stylus is $12. Even gives the sizes .07 for LP and 3 mil for 78's. They suggest comparing the actual stylus in the unit to the photo on the website.

At least the picture shows it has a metal cantilever not a plastic one.

EDIT: Just an afterthought but maybe replacing the whole cartridge is not a bad idea. Since those Califones were "institutional record players" mostly used in schools, yours may have been operated with less than delicate care by ham fisted individuals or grade school students.
Who knows what kind of abuse it's seen. As a consequence, maybe something inside the cartridge body is not right - as in broken.

SECOND EDIT: i just now listened to the sound clip. Was using my phone earlier so it would have been pointless. That noise to me sounds electrical in nature. Califone's should have a 1/4" input jack - usually used for a microphone. Are you able to plug something with a variable output into that - a Discman for instance? At least then you would know if that noise is generated within the player or if it originates with the turntable cartridge.

I can imagine it's being produced by something loose or broken withing the cartridge.

Unfortunately, there's no input jack, there are only the two speaker jacks and two stereo headphone jacks. Just to be clear - after hearing that clip, do you still think that replacing the entire cartridge/needle could potentially fix the issue? A $23 gamble wouldn't be so bad.

 

[62vauxhall]

Bummer, too bad you can't try a different input source. It is possible that noise can be produced by a bad transistor or solder joint. Maybe even a speaker that buzzes at certain frequencies or after the voice coil has warmed up.

Process of elimination:

Do you hear it through headphones?
Since it's stereo, do you hear it through both speakers?
If just one speaker, can you disconnect them and swap each to the other channel - see if the noise comes from the same speaker or is now coming from the other one?

As rudimentary as the above tests are, if nothing changes, I would be tempted to install a new cartridge. If they don't nail you for a huge shipping charge, I agree that $23 is not a huge risk if you wish to keep the unit.

Try to determine what the tracking force should be for the cartridge and how to adjust it on the tonearm - I'd ask the cartridge vendor. If they claim to be Califone specialists. they should know.

 

[seckatary]

Bummer, too bad you can't try a different input source. It is possible that noise can be produced by a bad transistor or solder joint. Maybe even a speaker that buzzes at certain frequencies or after the voice coil has warmed up.

Process of elimination:

Do you hear it through headphones?
Since it's stereo, do you hear it through both speakers?
If just one speaker, can you disconnect them and swap each to the other channel - see if the noise comes from the same speaker or is now coming from the other one?

As rudimentary as the above tests are, if nothing changes, I would be tempted to install a new cartridge. If they don't nail you for a huge shipping charge, I agree that $23 is not a huge risk if you wish to keep the unit.

Try to determine what the tracking force should be for the cartridge and how to adjust it on the tonearm - I'd ask the cartridge vendor. If they claim to be Califone specialists. they should know.

I like those troubleshooting ideas, thanks. I appreciate all your input, I have a feeling I'll end up trying a new needle/cart, hopefully that will do the trick.