[78-L] Needle size cart?

[David Lennick]

On 4/16/2011 11:37 PM, Mark Bardenwerper wrote:
> On 4/16/2011 10:19, David Lennick wrote:
>> On 4/16/2011 11:09 PM, Mark Bardenwerper wrote:
>>> On 4/16/2011 9:25, Jeff Lichtman wrote:
>>>>> Why so small, when typically, or I have been told, Pathes have a wide
>>>>> shallow groove?
>>>>>
>>>>> joe salerno
>>>> Yes, Pathe grooves are wide and shallow. The problem with playing a
>>>> vertical Pathe with a modern stylus is keeping it from climbing out
>>>> of the groove. A small stylus rides lower in the groove so skating
>>>> forces are less likely to make it climb out. Also, the smaller
>>>> contact area may result in a lower skating force.
>>>>
>>> Seems as if the needle literally wants to leap right out. I read the
>>> raising the tracking force to max helps. I'll wager a stereo crystal
>>> would be favorable in this situation because of the higher tracking
>>> forces possible.
>>>
>> Actually the 2.0 mil TE I recommended works just fine without additional
>> tracking force (in other words, I leave the dime off the headshell).
>>
> I think my standard tip is 3 mil elliptical. I just can't afford to put
> $125-150 into a needle that plays a handful of my records.
>
I know the feeling. Worth it if you're going to have to play a lot of them or 
for professional use, but it's also a handy stylus for other purposes including 
Victor Program Transcriptions (you definitely don't want 3 mil for that) and 
it'll probably give better reproduction on many modern records made from the 
late 40s on. Kurt sells this one.

dl