Looking for a record cutter for lacquer mastering

[replambe]

Hi, I'm looking for a machine that will cut lacquer masters. Does anyone know where I might get one, without flying to Germany? Thanks so much.

[ilium]

Seems like your best bet is going to be to wait for Sillitoe to start selling theirs

https://www.lathetrolls.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=5645

[replambe]

But fifteen grand?? Man I could almost get a house for that much. Myshank has a VR for 5000 euros but I don't have that much

[ilium]

I don't know where you live that 15k will buy a house.. but according to zillow the median home value in New Hampshire is $250k

The VR is just the head AFAIK..

Anyway... so you want a complete stereo cutting system for less than $5k that's not DIY that is good enough for cutting lacquer masters!?!?!?!

[replambe]

I live in the northern part of NH, where all the poverty is. Right next door is northwest Maine, where houses are cheap also.

The VR is just the head... meaning I'd have to supply the turntable right? Would this be a problem?

The system offered by Souri is less than $3k if you knock off VAT tax, so... yes? And if I can DIY this, could you link me? Thanks.

[piaptk]

If you "don't have $5,000" for a machine, you are looking into the wrong hobby... because the machine is the tip of the ice berg. Especially if you want to cut stereo lacquer masters.

[replambe]

Really? I looked at Sauri's site pretty thoroughly and figured I wouldn't need much more than the Vinylrecorder setup. I might need the vacuum cleaner, a better turntable, the torque motor, and of course lacquer discs. And repairs on the cutterhead now and then, right? What am I up to? 4k euros? If I'm totally wrong here, feel free to fill me in.

[replambe]

If you "don't have $5,000" for a machine

You quoted me wrong. I said 5000 euros, not dollars. That's over six grand in u.s. dollars.

[Voxster1965]

Oh brother (or sister) - what a journey of discovery you have ahead of you

[replambe]

A pleasant one I hope! I hope I'm not entirely out of luck.

[ilium]

And if I can DIY this, could you link me? Thanks.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=DIY+site%3Alathetrolls.com

[piaptk]

Oh, I'm sorry! €5,000! That changes.... absolutely nothing.

If you can get a machine from Souri for $3,000 you should jump all over it. But Based on your exchanges on this thread, I put the over/under on Souri ghosting you at about 2 emails back and forth.

[piaptk]

Oh brother (or sister) - what a journey of discovery you have ahead of you

[tragwag]

here's the main (unfortunate) points learned by years of experience:
souri sells machines selectively
you need to travel to germany to be trained by him personally before he sells it to you ($$$)
VR machines are not generally for cutting lacquers, they need a turntable and platter upgrade (multiple thousands), feedback cutting head upgrade would be ideal also
not to mention very high quality D/A converters, cabling (upgrade from the supplied RCA cables)

It can be done, but there's a reason not every VR user is cutting lacquers

give a read to the forum and see what other people are doing with their machines, the problems they're having just getting off the ground cutting plastic (as the VR was intended for)
and give a read to the many people cutting lacquers as a hobby, with pro-sumer level 1940s-60s Presto, Rek O Cut, etc systems

[Gridlock]

Get a f0cked up old Presto and some NOS laquers and make fake Johnny cash outtakes and stupid rare bootleg crap and sell them for hundreds of dollars on eBay until you have enough money for a house AND a real mastering system. That's what I do and I'm probably going to hell for it. Anybody want a 12" of the new Taylor swift album? Only ONE copy was made before the label decided to scrap the vinyl release and instead of extra bonus songs, there are 4 songs that AREN'T on it! Talk about super duper rare! I hope someone else on here is as amoral as me....

[The Shank]

Oh, I'm sorry! €5,000! That changes.... absolutely nothing.

If you can get a machine from Souri for $3,000 you should jump all over it. But Based on your exchanges on this thread, I put the over/under on Souri ghosting you at about 2 emails back and forth.

Best post of the year for now. Haha terribly so true.

Btw the price I sell the one I have is not only the system... but the guy is dreaming...

[ilium]

Heck.. all you need is some junk from around the house!!!



http://gieskes.nl/gramophonerecorder/

[petermontg]

Only ONE copy was made before the label decided to scrap the vinyl release and instead of extra bonus songs, there are 4 songs that AREN'T on it! Talk about super duper rare! I hope someone else on here is as amoral as me....

Are those the hidden tracks? You rambling on about the mole people would be worth every penny. Count me in for 4.

[audiosteam]

I'll second Tragwag.
You can have fun and learn the basic for almost nothing. Check the DIY section named "Experimenters' & Innovators' forum" specially Sillitoe, Lazarus, Knop and Sillon'R - Clem.. check fredbissnette's work too.

Some people can sound discouraging.. it's true that it's not the cheapest hobby but you can achieve acceptable results and learn a lot using recycled stuff if you're handy crafty. Flozki is very good at this too. Check his Lofi stuff. Take it like a lifetime journey, pretty much like a martial art. Step by step.
If you want to cut lacquers but you don't know what to choose it means that you're not ready yet

[replambe]

here's the main (unfortunate) points learned by years of experience:
souri sells machines selectively.......

give a read to the forum and see what other people are doing.....

Thanks for the actual helpful response. Everyone else here seems to want to barbecue me for being curious.

Ok so I understand that Souri's deal is out of the question. However if I use his prices as some sort of benchmark, the platter on his site is 310 euros. What kind of turntable would I need? Would the price really be multiple thousands? I may forego the feedback cutter head for now since it's not immediately necessary, since I would just be experimenting at first anyway. Digital/analog converters... I have a good reel to reel and a decent stereo amp... I'm guessing these are not enough? (this is something I'm guessing I don't know about).

As far as the old home record lathes, I already have one, though a very modest one. I was doing really ghetto cuts with it some years back because I didn't have a proper cutting needle for it, and wouldn't even know how to calibrate it if I had one. But I got a few somewhat audible grooves nonetheless... if that counts for anything (which it probably doesn't).

Thanks again for being civil.