Too small a stylus is like driving with tires rubbing curbside

Posted by Interstage Tranny (A) on September 24, 2015 at 07:50:09

In Reply to: RE: There's NO SUCH THING as a "stereo" stylus posted by Crazy Dave on September 21, 2015 at 14:46:32:

If you use too small a stylus on shellac 78s, even after one play, I guarantee you will rub off black crud from the chafe which will deposit on the stylus tip.

Even a 2 mil stylus, called the "universal size" but known as the compromise size, can easily damage shellac discs designed for 3 mil styli. Some cartridge and stylus manufacturers offered 2.7 mil, rather than 3 mil, as replacement styli so we could "avoid the worn, scratchy groove areas" affected by the too typical worn needles used in the "good old days."

If you research the stereo preamps of the early stereo era, 1958 to 1962, you will see that some classic stereo control units did not offer a summed L+R mono choice in playback. Instead, they offered L or R channel mono playback to effectively offer a way of reducing worn groove noise; using only one groove wall. This is a most unfortunate historical event, as classic preamps like the Mc C-20 and Pilot 210, as well as more than a few others, would require a modified/rewired or replaced switch to accommodate a summed mono signal. Many stereo preamps also avoided and still avoid offering "stereo reverse" as a "mode" option. Oh well....

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - How to record 78's to CD - PacNW Redhead 18:03:57 08/31/15 (19)

Calibre 215 - Mike Porper 13:06:34 10/08/15 (0)

RE: How to record 78's to CD - Poinzy 06:53:03 09/17/15 (0)

RE: How to record 78's to CD - BigguyinATL 11:55:38 09/02/15 (11)

RE: How to record 78's to CD - Crazy Dave 07:28:33 09/03/15 (10)

There's NO SUCH THING as a "stereo" stylus - Newey 20:43:09 09/18/15 (3)

RE: There's NO SUCH THING as a "stereo" stylus - Crazy Dave 14:46:32 09/21/15 (2)

As I suspected! (nt) - Crazy Dave 11:53:30 09/29/15 (0)

Too small a stylus is like driving with tires rubbing curbside - Interstage Tranny 07:50:09 09/24/15 (0)

RE: How to record 78's to CD - Awe-d-o-file 13:26:32 09/05/15 (5)

RE: How to record 78's to CD - Dave Pogue 05:13:44 09/10/15 (1)

RE: How to record 78's to CD - Crazy Dave 07:42:51 09/10/15 (0)

RE: How to record 78's to CD - Crazy Dave 09:06:00 09/08/15 (0)

I don't believe it is just a matter of not ruining the 78 - M3 lover 16:01:10 09/05/15 (1)

RE: I don't believe it is just a matter of not ruining the 78 - Awe-d-o-file 16:33:14 09/05/15 (0)

John R.T. Davies - jusbe 06:51:57 09/02/15 (1)

RE: John R.T. Davies - elektron 12:54:28 09/02/15 (0)

The best advice I can offer, - M3 lover 09:27:47 09/01/15 (0)

RE: How to record 78's to CD - Poinzy 08:04:46 09/01/15 (0)

RE: How to record 78's to CD - Poinzy 18:44:51 08/31/15 (0)

Follow Ups

Too small a stylus is like driving with tires rubbing curbside - Interstage Tranny 07:50:09 09/24/15 (0)

Too small a stylus is like driving with tires rubbing curbside

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