Pickering TL-3 cartridge noise

[will1966]

I'm using a P-mount Pickering TL-3 cartridge on my vintage Technics SL-Q200 turntable and I have noticed recently that I'm getting a faint ringing or jingling noise whenever the arm sets onto the record or if there is a slight vibration to the platter. I never had this before. I thought maybe it was the replacement stylus I was using, so I went back and checked using the original DTL-3S stylus and I'm still hearing the same thing. I checked the connection between the cartridge and the tonearm and I don't find anything loose. I know this cartridge is at least 25 years old; has it just outlived its usefulness? Thanks for any help or advice.

 

[griffithds]

In a M/M or M/I there is no moving parts therefore nothing to wear out. A cartridge body will out last you unless dropped. I'd look else where. It seems to only be making that noise when the stylus comes into contact with the turntable. The stylus is picking up something. Turn the turntable off. Set the stylus/arm on a record and see if you can still hear it. If not, then it is ONLY happining when the turntable is on, I'd venture to say it's in your turntable. By the way, that DTL-3S is a great cartridge.
Regards,
Don

 

[will1966]

Thanks for your reply. With the turntable off, I can still hear it. I can also hear it when removing or replacing the stylus (the old one or the new one) while the tonearm is locked into position.

 

[griffithds]

Have you tried a different cartridge because it might be tone arm related.
Is it a constant ring, or just momentary type of sound. I do have a cartridge that is very sensitive and rings when you remove or replace the arm in the arm rest or when the end of record arm lift touchs the arm. There are a couple of DTL-3's on ebay right now. They tend to go cheap because people don't know just how great this "P" mount is.
Regards,
Don

 

[will1966]

I don't have another cartridge I can try. I used to have a Shure that I bought with the turntable in '84, but I haven't seen it in years. The ring is mostly when the arm is placed on the record or when it lifts off, so maybe it is just extremely sensitive. Funny, though, I never noticed the noise until I got some new Brainwavz monitoring headphones that are also very sensitive, so it's likely the noise was there all the time and I just never heard it. Thanks so much for your insight.

 

[gadget73]

Sounds kind of like poor damping in the turntable. That ringing noise is common on lighter turntables, especially ones with very lightweight platters. I've had some luck killing it by putting Dynamat or similar material on the bottom side of the platter to shut it up. I've actually done that on a couple of Technics tables that would ring like a bell if you tap the platter. After some dynamat, it sounded more like smacking a bell with a pickle. Not all tables have enough room underside to do that though.

Others have had luck by changing the platter mat to something else. I've never really experimented with platter mats, but cork is often said to work well and be quite inexpensive.

 

[griffithds]

will1966,

I forgot to mention that the XV-15 gold body Pickering is the same as your TL-3 body. I have both and tried the DTL-4S stylus on both bodies and could not hear any difference. I left the stylus on the XV-15 mainly to get away from the "P" mount adapter that is required on the TL's. You can also pick up one of them cheap on ebay. I got one with a 750e stylus for $19. Then again, I've seen them for $199. It's all timing I quess.
Regards,
Don

 

[GP49]

YES, although the innards of cartridges are pretty rugged, occasionally a wire on a coil can come loose of the enamel that is supposed to seal it in place, or a pole piece can get loose from its cement. New bodies are cheap on Ebay.

In fact on complete cartridges sold on Ebay, if the seller does not say the stylus is absolutely NEW, I consider the price I would pay to be for the body only.