Looking for something to primarily play 78s on...ADVICE NEEDED

[cactuscowboy]

My experience is similar to DougMac's. I've never seen a 90~100 rpm Pathe in years of collecting. The plus/minus 10% (or 8% on my SL-1200) is plenty of pitch adjustment to cover any record I own, and I own a lot of early acoustic discs. A Dual with plus/minus 6% pitch adjust would probably cover most of your needs as well.

There's really no need to buy a turntable with a built-in horizontal/vertical switch. With a Stanton 500 cartridge, simply arrange wires like this:

Blue wire on headshell connects to White pin on cartridge.
White wire on headshell connects to Blue pin on cartridge.

This will cancel out horizontal signal, transmitting only vertical signal from Edison Diamond Disc & other vertical cut records. I have my specially wired "vertical" cartridge on an extra headshell, so it's a quick and easy cartridge swap anytime I want to play a vertical cut record.

 

[Bklyner]

Hello Gilgamesh!
Check out this website http://www.esotericsound.com/
It seems to me this is exactly what You looking for.

The 50th Anniversary Edition REK-O-KUT CVS-14 is a fully manual 33/45/78 RPM turntable with a continuously variable and calibrated "78" range of from 62 to 94 rpm. The high-torque, direct-drive.
A switch is provided which permits playing vertical cut records such as World Transcriptions and Edison records.

Supplied with dust cover, slip mat, and our 12-speed Super Strobe for speeds from 68.5 to 90 rpm.

 

[cactuscowboy]

There's really no need to buy a turntable with a built-in horizontal/vertical switch. With a Stanton 500 cartridge, simply arrange wires like this:

Blue wire on headshell connects to White pin on cartridge.
White wire on headshell connects to Blue pin on cartridge.

Maybe stating the obvious, but the other channel (red/green wires) would be normally.

Also a comment regarding EQ. Since you're focusing on early acoustic discs, a variable EQ phono preamp is essential IMO. I know some folks use an equalizer or modify the sound with software. I have no experience with that approach, but I can state that proper EQ can make a huge difference with acoustic disc playback.

 

[Frank Sol]

It seems to me this is exactly what You looking for.

Isnt that a $200 PL-120 ?

 

[Bklyner]

Isnt that a $200 PL-120 ?

Don't know exactly, never owned this one....
It looks like heavily modified Audio Technica PL-120.

 

[KentTeffeteller]

Most 78 discs didn't get cut faster than 90 RPM. Which was mainly used by most Pathe discs and some Odeons. 100 RPM was done by few turntables or few records. Horizontal/Vertical switch isn't really needed, having a cartridge body wired as the earlier poster suggests is recommended mounted on a headshell. My suggestion with the correct styli options will play over 99% of all discs made. My suggestions are used by no less than Sony Music, the Library Of Congress, the BBC, and many other professional archivists and organizations. Who I think would be respected for their recommendations.

 

[Gilgamesh]

I think a lot will depend on what you want to collect. Tell us more about your interests.

I'm interested in pre-war ethnic (mainly Asian, probably), gospel, hillbilly, blues, jazz, and opera music. Really I would listen to anything I can get my hands on, though, as long as it was recorded before the 1940s because pre-war is mostly what I'm interested in.

I'm getting pretty close to buying this Technics SP-15 even though it doesn't have the plinth or tonearm. Do you guys think that would be a good deal? Also, would
this plinth go with it? As soon as I get some assurance that this would be a good investment I am probably going to buy this thing. I mean, if it's good enough for the Library of freaking Congress it ought to be good enough for me, I figure.

 

[DougMac]

Sp-15

I'm interested in pre-war ethnic (mainly Asian, probably), gospel, hillbilly, blues, jazz, and opera music. Really I would listen to anything I can get my hands on, though, as long as it was recorded before the 1940s because pre-war is mostly what I'm interested in.

I'm getting pretty close to buying this Technics SP-15 even though it doesn't have the plinth or tonearm. Do you guys think that would be a good deal? Also, would
this plinth go with it? As soon as I get some assurance that this would be a good investment I am probably going to buy this thing. I mean, if it's good enough for the Library of freaking Congress it ought to be good enough for me, I figure.

I checked completed listings and that's a pretty high price for just the TT. I wouldn't pay much for the plinth, you could make one at least that good for not much money. You can easily calculate the hole size.

Since you're just getting into the hobby, I'd suggest you hold off and buy a SP-15 with plinth and arm. You should be able to get one for <$500 if you're patient.

If you're going to just listen, then you'll definately need a variable EQ preamp designed for the purpose.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is cleaning. 78's are notoriously dirty and should be cleaned before playing. The difference in sound is remarkable. I think a vacuum RCM gives the best results. I made one for ~$120. You can find them used @ $300 up or buy one new for a little more than $500. Careful cleaning with lukewarm water, Dawn and a soft brush will suffice at the beginning, just try to keep the labels dry.

 

[Gilgamesh]

Since you're just getting into the hobby, I'd suggest you hold off and buy a SP-15 with plinth and arm. You should be able to get one for <$500 if you're patient.

Alright, I'll do that then. I guess my heart is pretty much set on the Technics SP-15 now, though.

If you're going to just listen, then you'll definately need a variable EQ preamp designed for the purpose.

Any brand name and models you'd suggest?

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is cleaning. 78's are notoriously dirty and should be cleaned before playing. The difference in sound is remarkable. I think a vacuum RCM gives the best results. I made one for ~$120. You can find them used @ $300 up or buy one new for a little more than $500. Careful cleaning with lukewarm water, Dawn and a soft brush will suffice at the beginning, just try to keep the labels dry.

The vacuum RCM will probably have to wait since everything else is going to a pretty big investment for me. I already know about keeping the labels dry, but thanks for reminding me.

What do you think would be good as far as speakers, amplifier, and the receiver go? I guess that's all I'd need along with the turntable, cartridge, and styli to start playing records, isn't it? Brand and models would be very helpful since I'm very much new to all of this.

 

[fiddlefye]

I'm using a Technics SP-15 and a Technics SL-1200 (with 78 rpm modification) to play 78s. The SP-15 is great with its plus/minus 10% pitch control and digital readout. I think you'd be hard pressed to find a better player for 78s.

I use Stanton 500 cartridges with diamond elliptical stylii ranging from 2.0 to 4.0 mil. I have one cartridge wired with one channel out-of-phase (blue & white headshell wires reversed) for playback of vertical cut records.

I also use a Bugle Pro variable EQ phono preamp.

I would not consider using an antique wind-up acoustic player. Modern equipment is much gentler on the records and the sound quality is superb.

I concur on all of these suggestions. Nice and easy to work with, durable and trouble free. Some old units might be fun to play with, but I wouldn't use them to play recordings on a regular basis.

 

[Gilgamesh]

I also use a Bugle Pro variable EQ phono preamp.

I went to this website and from what I can tell they are no longer selling the Bugle Pro. Would the regular Bugle phono preamp that they are selling suit my needs just fine or is there anything else that you (or anyone else on here) would recommend for playing pre-war records?