78rpm system

[selfaddict]

Now that I have found a great tonearm to use with 33rpm records, I would like to find a suitable tonearm for 78rpm use :cool:.

Vintage Ortofon tonearms are way too expensive for what they are and same goes for the SME range. I am really looking for a vintage and sub £300 tonearm to start with and if I really like what I hear, never know where it takes me :eyebrows:.

One option would be 13" Transcribe Transcription tonearm, but this is "modern" tonearm and not sure how it woks with heavy mono carts.

Suggestions please.

[Patrick Dixon]

For 78s I actually use the same arm and cartridge as for vinyl.

OK, it's actually the same type of cartridge - just with no vertical coils and a 78 stylus fitted.

Arm is a Trans-fi terminator, Cartridges are Decca mk V/VIs.

What about looking for an old Decca arm and head?. You can get the cartridges refurbed by John Wright, usually for less than £200.

[DSJR]

Those on a budget look no further than a Lenco GL59 - 70 to taste. The "Vari-Luctance" cartridges are a bit lively, but can sound absolutely incredible playing 1940's - 1950's 78's at least but styli aren't that cheap.

Thank heavens 78 styli are available still for all the usual suspects out there :) Haven't heard a vintage Decca play a 78, but i reckon it could be quite something :D

[PaulStewart]

I'm just about to start work on a 78 deck, as you may hsve read I got a GL78 in a jumble sale recently and after a good clean an service it will go into a specialy built Loricraft Vestigal plinth. Back in the '60s my Dad used a Shure, which I think was an M75 with a 78 stylus factory shorted to mono. It sounded very good, but I will look for a mono cartridge to go in the Lenco arm.

My dad had an old friend called Bill Brott in the '60s, who was acollector of acoustic gramaphones, he had wind ups, electric, gravity and even steam powered models. He was adamant the only way to listen to 78s was acoustically and amplfiers were the tool of the devil. Anyone got an old Victrola.

[selfaddict]

Funny enough but I have been thinking about Decca arm/cart combo as an one option. I would expect this would be great with 401 being from the same age. Which ones should I consider? International seems to have good reputation or should I try to find something older?





For 78s I actually use the same arm and cartridge as for vinyl.

OK, it's actually the same type of cartridge - just with no vertical coils and a 78 stylus fitted.

Arm is a Trans-fi terminator, Cartridges are Decca mk V/VIs.

What about looking for an old Decca arm and head?. You can get the cartridges refurbed by John Wright, usually for less than £200.

[selfaddict]

That's dedication and I am sure there is a some truth there, I just cannot be bothered to change the needle after each side :)



He was adamant the only way to listen to 78s was acoustically and amplfiers were the tool of the devil. Anyone got an old Victrola.

[DSJR]

Very old 78's do indeed sound fab when played on an old horn gramophone, but post WW2 recordings to me sound just fine played with properly matched styli.

You WILL NEED a phono stage with variable eq, since the eq on cutting varied wildly before the now universal RIAA curve came along...

[selfaddict]

I am aware of this and luckily there are quite a few good adjustable phono stages on the market new and second hand, and they don't break the bank. Also the speed is adjustable on the Garrard, which is another useable feature because the 78rpm's are not allways recorded 78rpm.

Can you remember if Decca did 12" or 13" tonearms? It would be nice to try one of these with Decca cart.


Very old 78's do indeed sound fab when played on an old horn gramophone, but post WW2 recordings to me sound just fine played with properly matched styli.

You WILL NEED a phono stage with variable eq, since the eq on cutting varied wildly before the now universal RIAA curve came along...

[Patrick Dixon]

Pretty sure no 12" Decca arms, but why not just get another wand for the T3-pro and use that?

I have a Graham Slee revelation which gives non-RIAA de-emphasis possibilities.