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Change from MONO to STEREO Cutting heads for Mono Discs...

Great Question ! I believe I have some of the answers...Depending on both the genre of the music and/or the specific record label in question, it is typically mid to late 1960s.

Evidence exists easily when you trace 45 RPM history, as well as the availability of the Mono or Stereo Lp for the same title. First, let's chat about the 45s, because this was the popular, R&B and Rock n Roll speed of choice in the swingin' sixties. Simply put, these discs were mixed and cut so they would sound good to us on our way to and from school, jobs or the beach, while listening on small portables or that single speaker on the dashboard or rear shelf in our cars. If we liked what we heard over the airwaves, chances are we might stop to buy the album on our way home.

Partially because of the slow acceptance of stereo discs, standardized in 1958, mono 45s were the norm. In fact, throughout the early and mid-'60s, very few 45s were available in stereo ! There were promo 45s with one side in mono and one side in stereo, but most commercial 45 releases stayed mono until circa 1968 ! There is proof right there; mono, wide grooved 45s were the norm until the late '60s.

The availability of stereo or monaural LPs for the same title LP can also verify this; as these same titles were only available in stereo by 1970. Of course, there were left-over copies and the famous "Cut-Out" bargain priced discs through most of the '70s. Remember those cut-outs, with the hole punched through or an album jacket corner chopped off, signifying pressing of that disc had stopped and no more returns will be accepted for those ?

However, some manufacturers used only the stereo cutters by the early mid-'60s. Evidence is easily seen in some mono Lp pressings of that era, available with the thin grooves only. Many 33 1/3 EPs , 7 inchers also followed this trend, in order to get more music on those 33 1/3 EPs. Prevalent in this early to late '60s era, was the "stereo compatible" warnings on album jackets, specifying the mono disc can be played with the stereo stylus, but do not play a stereo groove with a mono stylus.

So, just like the conformity and adherence to the RIAA Phono EQ playback curve took some time to actually become the standard, even though this recording pre-emphasis EQ and playback de-emphasis EQ was "accepted" stateside in late 1954 as the standard, certain labels "waited" while checking popularity and sales. Add to this the stubbornness of many equipment manufacturers, record producers, mixing, broadcasting and mastering engineers who still wanted their signature sounds and/or did not want to invest the time and money into the equipment conversions needed, actual conversion dates can appear a mystery...


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