by erichayes » Sat Jun 27, 2009 9:15 pm
Poke around for a GE VR-II or RPX (if you're considering 78 playback as well). The VR-IIs were quite popular in the '50s and '60s, and can be found in Webster-Chicago (Webcor), Garrard, Collaro and other changers of that era.
The RPX requires tone arm modification, as it has a push-to-turn stylus selector button on the top to switch between the 33/45 and 78 styli.
There's a little controversy regarding what stylus diameter to use with mono LPs. Old farts like me remember when stereo records first came out that the manufacturers recommended a separate stereo cartridge dedicated to playing stereo records, and another cartridge (such as the VR-II or RPX) for playing mono records. Playing earlier stereo records with a 1 mil stylus was instant death to the record, but playing a mono LP with a .7 mil stereo stylus caused the stylus to "bottom out" in the groove, creating noise and premature stylus wear. Newer members of the Monaural Aficionados tend to pooh pooh the latter, but my ears don't lie to me (my brain does, but that's another story . . .).
Bear in mind, also, that rumble doesn't factor into the monaural equation, since there is no vertical moment involved. If you should find one of the aforementioned changer/turntables in good shape, buy it and resurrect it. "They don't make 'em like they used to".
Last edited by
erichayes on Sat Jun 27, 2009 10:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Eric in the Jefferson State