[Vintage-Audio] Re Cartridges and Styluses

Duane Fischer, W8DBF [email protected]
Mon Jun 30 14:20:01 2003


Pete, 	
	
Some were 1 mil and others were 3 mils in depth. The older vinyl required
anywhere from 3-6 grams, remember putting a penny on the tone arm? That penny
weighed 4.11 grams! 	
	
There was a change in the depth and width of the grooves somewhere back there
and the stylus and tracking weight changed also. I believe it was the late
sixties to early seventies, but I would not swear to it. I do know that there
were several variations in the fifties. 	
	
Yep, I remember those flip over stylus/cartridge units. Did they ever come for a
turntable though, or just a record changer?    	
	
Duane W8DBF 	


----------
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Vintage-Audio] Re Cartridges and Styluses
Date: Monday, June 30, 2003 12:43 PM

I thought the tracking weight had to do with the type of stylus and/or
cartridge and the type of tone arm and its balancing mechanisms. I seem
to recall  playing 78's required a different stylus size than for 33 or
45 records but not a different weight. Many of the ceramic cartridges had
the typical turnover mechanisms (1 side of the cartridge for playing 78's
and the other side for 33 and 45 playing; each side with a different
stylus size) mounted in the arm head. Many magnetic cartridges required
changing out the plug in stylus. I don't recall ever considering the type
of vinyl when using the various measuring tools to set up the initial
parameters on a tone arm.
Pete

On Mon, 30 Jun 2003 08:51:35 -0400 "Duane Fischer, W8DBF"
<[email protected]> writes:
> 
>         
> During the seventies, what was the typical tracking weight 
> recommended for a
> stylus used to play stereo records of that era?                
>         
> The same question, but for the sixties?        
>         
> What about the mono recordings of the middle fifties and then stereo 
> into the
> middle to late sixties? 
>         
> When did the vinyl industry go from the thicker recordings to the 
> flimsey 33 1/3
> records that flexed if you wanted to fan yourself with one? 
>         
>         
> When the vinyl record itself was changed, did the tracking weight 
> change? If so,
> to what?         
>         
> What was the tracking weight recommended for playing the mono 45 rpm 
> records?
> What weight is now recommended for the reissues still available from 
> oldies
> specialty record stores?         
>         
> The wisdom used to be to change the stylus every thousand hours of 
> use, I think.
> Does anybody know the truth of the issue? The goal is to minimize 
> wear on the
> grooves and to maximize the fidelity.        
>         
> Thanks to all for sharing your experience on these issues.         
>         
> Duane Fischer, W8DBF         

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