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Turntable Suggestion for Old Mono Console

berkemo

berkemo

New Member
Any suggestions for an intro/mid turntable that I can add to my 1958 Motorola console? Something like the Fluance RT81 or Pro-Ject Debut Carbon? Any technical details I should be aware of regarding compatibility with the old amp in the Motorola? Note that I will plan to play exclusively mono vinyl. I'm looking at the Audio-Technica AT33MONO cartridge.

Just getting back into vinyl tech so I can use all the help I can get!

Thanks!
 
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I will reccomend the complete opposite of what you are considering.... big heavy old toneam and GE-RPX or VR-II cartridge.
Consider a Garrard Type A turntable. Headshells are readily available so you could use the the GE for more beat up mono treasures but save the AT for your minty treasures. I I buy $200 dollar mono records in $5 condition that sound great with a heavy tracking GE cartridge.

Assuming since you're messing with an old console you don't mind some tinkering which the Garrard Type would certainly require.
 
The problem with that, you shouldn't play stereo or later mono records with an RPX. Unless you have a good size collection of mono stuff from before the late 60s its not the most useful thing. I have an RC-88/4 with an RPX that I only use for 78's since i own nothing else its really compatible with.

Stereo cartridge wired for mono will let you run any record you like. My mono 1947 Scott 800B has a Type A with a Stanton 680 DJ cartridge that I've got running in mono.

or since its already got a VM changer in there, just roll with it.


I have a 1940 Stromberg-Carlson that at some point will get a record player swap. I have a cheesy 80s Fisher linear tracker I might stick in there. Looks totally wrong but it will be more user-friendly for other people and thats more important for where that radio lives. The original 78-only machine is not useful to me and I'm not motivated to refurb it. I can cut a piece of wood to sit in the S-C to cover the original hole and just sit the Fisher on top of it. That makes it completely reversible should I ever want to.
 
Panamafred said:
I will reccomend the complete opposite of what you are considering.... big heavy old toneam and GE-RPX or VR-II cartridge.
Consider a Garrard Type A turntable. Headshells are readily available so you could use the the GE for more beat up mono treasures but save the AT for your minty treasures. I I buy $200 dollar mono records in $5 condition that sound great with a heavy tracking GE cartridge.

Assuming since you're messing with an old console you don't mind some tinkering which the Garrard Type would certainly require.
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Cool option! Love the idea of those vintage cartridges! A couple questions for this old newbie: The current setup - VM in the Motorola - has the original ceramic Sonotone 8t cartridge (which I plan to keep intact). What things do I need to consider moving to different cartridge options as it relates to the interface with the amp? Do I need to stick with ceramic? Also, most if not all of my collection is pre-65 jazz monos in vg + condition so I'm guessing I'd want to stick with the AT for the bulk of my minty vintage records and the new releases? Would the GE-RPX or VR-II just be best for the more beat up records.
 
gadget73 said:
since its already got a VM changer in there, just roll with it.
Click to expand...
That's absolutely part of the plan. I want to retain the original vintage set up. I'm just trying to figure out if some external TT might offer a bit more "high-fidelity" option. I'd like to compare the records on the old and new (or better vintage) TT/cartridges. BTW - your Scott setup looks really cool. what type of music do you listen to most on it? Your cartridge choice has me wondering if there is a preferred option for specific music genres - understanding that the variances in recordings/pressings play into the equation,
 
Honestly it hasn't gotten a lot of use in a good while. When I worked from home it was my daily listener, sometimes just running FM, other times I'd throw a stack of whatever on, but its been 15 years since I worked from home and I bet I haven't had it turned on more than a handful of times since.

The DJ cartridge was a case of I bought several of them for very small money when they were going out of production, and they were an appropriate tracking weight for a Type A. There wasn't a ton of planning there if I'm being honest.
 
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