"Mark Robinson" <***@verizon.net> wrote in message news:kOe4d.5827$***@trndny06...
| Hi Richard,
|
| > The size may, in fact, be perfect for old mono 45s. I have a
| > strong hunch that those records were cut with oversized
grooves
| > to help with customers who had ratty phonos and worn-out
styli.
|
| I think they also did this to record really hot, since the
average pop song
| was well under 3 minutes. The irony is that when I find an old
record of
| this type, they have ususally been mistracked so badly, that
the peak
| recorded levels have that terrible distortion that you can't
get rid of
| unless you really kill the highs. These records sound best at
the fade out,
| where the recoded velocity drops to a level that the those old
catridges
| could better track. I've found that labels (Decca comes to
mind), that cut
| at more consevative levels tend to sound better because they
haven't been
| mauled by these catridges.
|
Expert Stylus, in England, makes a number of semi-custom-sized
diamonds for "difficult" records -- they retip existing styli. If
you've got a 2 mil stylus, it may tell you something on those
records. I think that most record companies treated 45s almost
contemptuously. Check for Eddit Celetti's web pages (try
different spellings) on using an old cartridge and some of the
(almost horrifying) practices used in making popular music
records during the 45 days. My thought is that most people didn't
replace their styli often enough, and that the stylus tends to
sink down in the groove as it wears -- thus, most groove damage
is down low in the groove. A larger tip rides above the that
damage. That's when Expert Stylus becomes a godsend.
| > The 1219 is a fine machine (so long's you get a decent one).
| > There's a candidate for your idler ministrations -- those
idlers
| > weren't even as common as those for the 1019 (the earlier
| > variable-speed model). The arm's too good for clunky old
| > cartridges, but you can put in a Stanton/Pickering and get
| > interchangeable mono LP (1.0 mil) and 78 (2.7 mil) styli;
| > unfortunately, these needles must be retipped now as Stanton
| > doesn't sell them any more (they don't seem to come up on
eBay
| > either). Tracking for those 1.0 mil needles begins around
2.25
| > grams; the 78 tips need more, somthing like 3.5-5g.'
|
| Thanks for the info. I'll have to look into that.
|
|
| > Interesting persuit. I have just mounted, for my Lenco L-75,
two
| > cartridges -- a GE RPX and a VR-II, in order to re-experience
| > what we used to listen to off the record itself. I've got a
few
| > stereo cartridges in headshells for it also. The RPX takes me
| > back to 1949. I've been discovering the differences between
the
| > three mono "variable reluctance" models, and will get to know
| > them better after I finally install the machine in my system.
| > This Lenco model dates from the 70s, but its tonearm is
probably
| > just klutzy enough to handle those early GEs. It's a really
awful
| > tonearm that audiophiles love to replace with excellent
modern
| > ones. The needles for those old GEs have been a real
problem --
| > so many of the aftermarket styli were badly made. I ruined
three
| > of them just attempting to gain some compliance -- I finally
gave
| > up, having only one good new one left. But it's great
listening
| > to the sound of the 50s. Lencos turn up steadily on eBay,
| > especially in Canada. Sometimes, the prices are insanely
high.'
|
| What is a reasonable price to pay for a decent condition Lenco?
I can't say. Prices vary a lot. None of the best ones will be in
decent condition -- the arms use rubber vertical bearings; those
are always trashed. It's almost impossible to tame that tonearm,
which is one reason why some audiophiles just replace them with
expensive arms. I think that L-75s have been going on eBay for
around $85 or so, more with a dust cover (which I believe in
using).
I assume the
| Bogen B50 is the exact same turntable as the Lenco.
Correct. I don't remember the Bogen numbers, but Lenco made at
least two models for Bogen. Note that Lenco information on the
web has been almost nonexistent until right now -- brand new web
sites are emerging.
I assume there is no
| way to adjust for tracking force on these turntables.
No. VTF is adjustable. The Bogen types (I believe that the Lenco
number was L-70) had adjustable spring-loaded force, which makes
them good for 78s. You can always put a different tonearm on the
machine.
If that is the case,
| can you use a modern day DJ cartridge with one of these units?
Can the GE
| VR be used with a standard mag input? If I want to use a 50's
mono pickup
| with my Harmon Kardon, what would you suggest?
I have preferred Stantons for this type of use, ever since I
first worked with them at WCRX in Springfield, Mass. The stylus
range for them is a shadow of what used to exist. I'd recommend a
Stanton 500 with an appropriate tip -- it's a very versatile
stereo cartridge. DJ simply means a cartridge that uses a needle
that can handle mauling. A guy like Ed Saunders may be able to
set you up with the right needle(s) from his enormous stash. A
period mono cartridge typically requires a lot of force, so it's
not kind to records. I put the two GE pickups in Lenco headshells
for the hell of it -- I won't play any records I care about with
these cartridges, although the 78s will probably survive them
fine.
The GE will work fine with any standard mag input, but it's very
difficult to mount it (it's big and most have a protruding
turnaround knob shaft on the top), and needles are very iffy in
quality. Depends on what you want to do with it -- what types of
records you want to play. Your Dual 1219 is a fine machine (if
it's in good condition), probably as good as the best Lencos --
it's got a hell of a better tonearm and will cycle off at the end
of a side (which almost all the Lencos don't do). Headshells can
be grabbed on eBay sometimes, but they're becoming very rare. The
headshell's contact pins can fail. None of the old GE mono
cartridges are compatible with the Dual's tonearm. I don't think
that it's neccessary to use an old period cartridge -- the modern
stereo cartridges are much better and a lot easier on the
records. The 680 EL is a disco pickup that's also excellent with
"real" music, including mono classical music records. A current
cartridge named, I think, "680 hi fi" has the same stylus size,
but tracks lighter. You should understand that Stanton/Pickering
and Ortofon cartridges take interchangeable styli -- Ortofon,
especially, still offers a dizzying assortment of needles and is
worthy of serious consideration.
Richard