Turntable for 78's? Dual maybe?

fiddlefye

fiddlefye

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I'm looking to get a 2nd turntable to use in an upstairs system and thinking to kill two birds with one stone (so to speak). I'd like to get a table which is good in the general sense, but also can run at 78 rpm. I have an old Garrard I'll get set up eventually in a dedicated mono system, but I'd like something more a bit more modern for the job the system I have in mind now.

I'm thinking that a Dual might do the job very well as many of the late 60s to 70s idler wheel models will run 78 rpm. From what I've seen I'm guessing the 1019, 1219 or 1229 would be the right choices, but I don't know the Dual models very well. While the specs on so many of them are similar, the construction seems to vary considerably and the value as well. I haven't owned a Dual since I was a teenager and had one of the cheapest models available at the time.

Could those with some Dual experience pass on some sage advice? Any other makes/models I should look for? I want to keep this to a limited budget and yet get something high quality (doh, don't we all?).
 
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A Dual or a Lenco would fill the bill. Most of the idler-driven Duals will do 78 RPM. You'll also need a cartridge with a 78 stylus as a stereo stylus is too small and has the wrong profile to work well with a 78 record. And if you are really serious you'll need a preamp with adjustable or several different phono equalization curves built so you can match the record and playback EQ for better fidelity.
 
The smaller chassis Duals have 10" platters, which would work/look great with 78's.

A:
1209
1215-S
1216 or a
1218

would be fine. I've always had a soft spot for the 1216.
 
Many Thorens models are also prepared for 78's. For example, I use a Td 126 Mk 2 for those records.
 
A larger 78 stylus is nice, but there are several mono carts on the market, from $50 to thousands of dollars, that are better tailored for 78 groove technology.

Also, I do not like Dual turntables for playing at 78, because the auto mechanism gets really abused at that speed. Everything runs off the plastic gear, which turns really fast because the platter is rotating really fast.

Makes me more nervous than I already am.

I occasionally play an old shellac on one of my full-size Dual machines, but I try to catch the thing before the lead-out groove.

Seth
Forever Analog and Covered In Parrot Poop
 
Johncan said:
I use a Elac Miracord 50H for 78s. It is built like a tank.
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I'm going to have look at a couple for sale right now, looks like a fine possibility. Thanks for the advice, hadn't thought in that direction (why we ask for advice, right?).
 
The Lenco L-75 is the way to flywith 78s. Old recordings vary greatly in speed and more so than more changers and tts that have a pitch (speed) adjustment can handle. The Lenco is continiously variable speed and just the ticket for old records.
 
I'm going to have look at a couple for sale right now, looks like a fine possibility. Thanks for the advice, hadn't thought in that direction (why we ask for advice, right?).
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Look for the MKII version. It has adjustable pitch for those 78s that run faster or slower than 78. The standard version does not have adjustable pitch control. On the MKII, you will see a knob on the top, left hand side of the turntable behind the platter for the pitch control.

John
 
I have a Dual 1209. Plays 78s beautifully.

If new is your game, the newer stanton DJ turntables have 78 rpm, and they play equally well to the Dual.
 
This is a Dual TT 78 RPM only

51428869_1.jpg


Oh you mean Dual as a brand and not two of them to dj with :banana:
 
OLIRC said:
This is a Dual TT 78 RPM only

51428869_1.jpg


Oh you mean Dual as a brand and not two of them to dj with :banana:
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Hmmm.... Am I correct that those "duals" are actually Garrards? My Dad had single TT that looked like those. I had it for quite a few years until my ex sold it in a garage sale when I wasn't looking. My Dad used to DJ when he was in high school in the 40's. I have all of his old 78's (along with a bunch more) and I'd like to be able to play them, maybe copy them for him.
 
I think the dual would fit the bill nicely. I agree that the changer function of the Duals running at 78 RPM is quite frightening!

Are there any others out there are a little more "gentle" at 78 RPM? If it were JUST for 78 play I would consider one of the Earlier Garrards. I think they look really cool.

Steve
 
targeteye said:
I think the dual would fit the bill nicely. I agree that the changer function of the Duals running at 78 RPM is quite frightening!

Are there any others out there are a little more "gentle" at 78 RPM? If it were JUST for 78 play I would consider one of the Earlier Garrards. I think they look really cool.

Steve
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I have a Garrard model A that I've got into good shape (except needing a good cartridge that fits the headshell) which will be going into a dedicated mono system. I have that turntable, a Williamson amp that my father built in the 40's (which I will be rebuilding) and a University speaker. I also have a line on an even earlier Garrard. I can't say that is a table I'd really want to use for my LPs, though I may be wrong about its qualities? I stand to be corrected on that.

What I'm looking for now is a table to partner with my Marantz 4300 that would be primarily for 33 1/3 LPs, but which could also be pressed into service for 78s occasionally. The main thing is it do LPs really well; 78's are secondary to this system. It would be nice to find a tonearm with interchangeable headshells so I could have a dedicated cartridge and needle set up for each record type. If I can find something that is strictly manual it would get around all of that mass flying about at the speed 78s trigger. I agree it would be pretty scary!
 
Here's a pic....

of my 1009. Put a Shure M44 Cart on it with a 78 stylus and catch it before it shuts off as per No Transistor. Lets see if I can get you a pic of my 1009

Eric :music:
 

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