Rebuild/replace crystal phono cartridge

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mratx
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Joined: Sat Aug 01, 2009 6:54 pm
Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Rebuild/replace crystal phono cartridge

Post: # 64648Unread post mratx
Fri Apr 19, 2024 2:46 pm

I have an old Rek-O-Kut 78 lathe that I mostly used for demonstrating how record cutting works, which has an Astatic B2 crystal phono cartridge (cutting head is a magnetic Audak Co art deco model.) Apparently someone had previously rebuilt it using an actual crystal, but it's now failed again. I'm trying to determine whether to rebuild it with a piezo element, or replace it with something like a mono ceramic cartridge. A couple of questions: Has anyone done the rebuild with a piezo, and if so, what do you recommend using as the damping material? Or has anyone replaced a crystal playback cartridge with a ceramic or even a magnetic, and if so, any tips? The sizing and tracking force look to be the main issues, as the current cartridge is designed for a lot of tracking force, and the arm has no adjustment.

Thanks,

Mark
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