Recommendation for a cheap cart that's good on 50's/60's equip

[DavGoodlin]

Im learning some record-specific considerations here but it sounds like the best cart for old records is a magnetic, 78s are all mono so no issue there.

I had a Philco-branded V-M with a powerpoint. It is a self contained flip-over stylus-ceramic like a Astatic 710. It should work without adding any more preamp stages

[maxhifi]

Originally Posted by mr_rye89

This may be a bit pricy but at least the stylii are cheap, but my favorite cart for mono is the GE VRII triple play. It has a turnover stylus for microgroove/78 much like the ceramic carts. I use mine on a Rek O Kut with a Japanese Gray 108 clone. This cart tracks at 4-6 grams for microgroove, 5+ for 78. output is somewhere around 10mv. Don't use it on stereo records as it has no vertical compliance.

You also might be able to grab a Pickering NP/AC/Stanton 400 for cheap. it specs similar to the GE but is stereo, and won't ruin stereo records.

Sounds like an awesome setup, have you got a photo? Those tonearms are going up in value, too.

[WISCOJIM]

Originally Posted by WISCOJIM

I haven't used any yet. I bought them to try in my RCA 45rpm players and the Ristaucrats.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mPOWaTEq-E

.

I installed one last night in my neighbors Ristaucrat. Sounds great, plenty of volume compared to the old Astatic he had in there. I mounted it with double-sided foam tape, making sure I got the positioning just right.

.

[benman94]

Originally Posted by mr_rye89

This may be a bit pricy but at least the stylii are cheap, but my favorite cart for mono is the GE VRII triple play. It has a turnover stylus for microgroove/78 much like the ceramic carts. I use mine on a Rek O Kut with a Japanese Gray 108 clone. This cart tracks at 4-6 grams for microgroove, 5+ for 78. output is somewhere around 10mv. Don't use it on stereo records as it has no vertical compliance.

You also might be able to grab a Pickering NP/AC/Stanton 400 for cheap. it specs similar to the GE but is stereo, and won't ruin stereo records.

+1

I use the earlier GE RPX-050. It's similar to the VRII. Tracks a bit heavier at 6 to 8 grams, and has a more rolled off high end which makes rough 78s sound a bit better.

The Pickering NP/AC is officially out of production and people are snapping them up for spares, I know I have. They'll track anything and do a decent job masking surface noise on poorer records.

I'd give the overall nod to the GE carts for sound quality, but the Pickering is cheaper. I bought my last NP/AC for $15.

One cart I've always wanted to try is the 78 only RPX-010 from '47 or '48. Tracks heavy but those GEs have a way of burying the scratches and pops...

[mr_rye89]

Originally Posted by maxhifi

Sounds like an awesome setup, have you got a photo? Those tonearms are going up in value, too.

It's been a while, I'll take one tonight.

[mr_rye89]

The Three Armed Monster! The big tonearm is an Argonne AR-500 (Japanese clone of a Gray 108)



GE VRII Triple play Close up. Set up for mono LP and 78



Some mismatch Stanton/Pickering stuff for "nice" stereo records



And more Stanton and mystery Pickering Stylus (conical) for not so nice stereo records



And yes i need to find a proper rest for that

[Electronic M]

Also need a better way to "change" your tracking force.

[maxhifi]

Really nice stuff! Thanks for sharing

[KentTeffeteller]

Big issue with 1950's and 1960's phonos is there is no one cartridge which is suitable for all of them. There's a wide range from 3v 1 tube wonder types to nice light tracking VM changers with either Zenith Micro-Touch or Tetrad light tracking (2 Grams) medium output ceramics, and several points in between and mono and stereo to deal with. And several makes have specialist cartridge issues to deal with, and little or no alternatives which easily adapt. A wide range of makes and models, and several unique challenges with some. And this is just with portables, tabletop phonos, and consoles alone. And there's also very high end examples with magnetic cartridges installed, some of which now suffer unique challenges of their own on stylus supply or limited current options which work.