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

[maxhifi]

Originally Posted by WISCOJIM

Tom, I got mine off of ebay > https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odk...ridge&_sacat=0

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I think the eBay ones have a sapphire stylus, versus diamond at VM, and are made in China versus japan, plus lack the 1/2" Mounfinf bracket, but if that stuff doesn't matter hey it is nearly free! How do they sound? I've wanted to try the eBay ones for quick fix up projects.

[WISCOJIM]

Originally Posted by maxhifi

I think the eBay ones have a sapphire stylus, versus diamond at VM, and are made in China versus japan, plus lack the 1/2" Mounfinf bracket, but if that stuff doesn't matter hey it is nearly free! How do they sound? I've wanted to try the eBay ones for quick fix up projects.

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

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[Electronic M]

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

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That will work great once I get to work on my 45RPM changers (though at least one is missing it's cartridge). Most of the 45RPM units have rubber idler wheels that are totally shot (unlike the units I've been working on) which dampens motivation to get to them.

Still the carts and arms on what I'm working on are different, so I'm going to get at least one with the bracket.

[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.

[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.

[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

[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...

[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

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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.

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