set screw playback needles?

Turntables, tonearms, preamps, amps, cables, monitor speakers. What do you use to play back your one-off dubplates or pressed records? (related topics, too.)

Moderators: piaptk, tragwag, Steve E., Aussie0zborn

Post Reply
User avatar
tragwag
Posts: 1260
Joined: Wed Jun 22, 2011 2:30 pm
Location: Providence, RI USA
Contact:

set screw playback needles?

Post: # 25863Unread post tragwag
Sat Jun 08, 2013 2:49 pm

I just got a Meissner recorder that works great playing back old shellac 78's with standard width steel stylus.
I'm working on installing a modern RIAA decoder so I can play back new records on this machine.

The playback cartridge is an Astatic of some model (don't have the unit here to check).

I am assuming that the shank of the playback needle would need to be the same as the steel needle that already fits into it.

Would the term for this needle be 'set screw' needle?
Something like this would work I assume:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SET-SCREW-NEEDLE-Vaco-C-50-M-50-C50-M50-213S-861-D2-/130506341097?pt=US_Record_Player_Turntable_Parts&hash=item1e62c8bae9

I'm intending to play back modern commercial pressings, and home cut lacquers/polycarbonate cuts on this machine.
If it helps, I'm pretty sure the Recordio uses the same playback cartridge.

Thanks!
making lathe cuts on a Presto 6N, HIFI stereo cuts on vinylrecorder
at Audio Geography Studios, Providence, RI USA
http://www.audiogeography.com

User avatar
Techie
Posts: 126
Joined: Sat May 08, 2010 2:20 pm
Location: Wilmington, Delaware

Re: set screw playback needles?

Post: # 25873Unread post Techie
Mon Jun 10, 2013 2:29 am

I have a Meissner also. Set Screw is the term, yes. Here you go:

http://www.garage-a-records.com/search.php?pg=1&stext=set+screw+needle&sprice=&stype=&scat=

Even with an LP needle, you will probably find that the playback arm is too heavy to play modern LPs without chewing them up. The Meissner has a 33/13 option, but I believe it was intended for getting more record time from a 10" home recording disc, not for playing back pressed LPs. I think the machine was made before LPs were on the market.

User avatar
tragwag
Posts: 1260
Joined: Wed Jun 22, 2011 2:30 pm
Location: Providence, RI USA
Contact:

Re: set screw playback needles?

Post: # 25971Unread post tragwag
Thu Jun 13, 2013 12:33 pm

thanks for the info!
I really appreciate it.
It makes sense that the speed was introduced for more time on the home recording discs.
I'll check the weight on it, I don't intend to use this as my main playback system, just for live cutting gigs in the future.
making lathe cuts on a Presto 6N, HIFI stereo cuts on vinylrecorder
at Audio Geography Studios, Providence, RI USA
http://www.audiogeography.com

User avatar
Techie
Posts: 126
Joined: Sat May 08, 2010 2:20 pm
Location: Wilmington, Delaware

Re: set screw playback needles?

Post: # 25994Unread post Techie
Thu Jun 13, 2013 10:51 pm

Hi,
Also, just thinking - not only the weight of the playback arm, but also the stiffness of that type of playback stylus would contribute the the damage done to a modern vinyl microgoove. I know I did some major damage to a couple LPs, and those are the 2 factors that makes sense to me.

Post Reply