Comments on: Another Adventure in Jazz Collecting, Baltimore Part 7

By: jud

jud — Wed, 18 Dec 2013 21:55:55 +0000

Caliphone. Great saga, Al! Congrats.

By: Mattyman

Mattyman — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 11:46:57 +0000

Hmmmmm… Wasn’t aware of that, but then again, as said: I only have a handful of 78s and it’s not that I play them to the hilt all the time. Still your advice gave me food for thought about playing them with a sapphire stylus.

By: Ng Chee Kia

Ng Chee Kia — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 04:09:41 +0000

I don’t think that one should play 78s using modern diamond stylus. As far as I know 78s are made from shellac and much softer compared to vinyl. They should be played using sapphire stylus or the like so as not to cause damage to the record grooves. There are a few manufacturers that still make these, most notably Miyajima of Japan, which could well the best being made.

By: Rob Godridge

Rob Godridge — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 15:54:57 +0000

What a fantastic story!
I’ve had some incredible 78 finds including about 4/5 hundred unplayed store stock, mostly swing some early bop 78s but nothing as collectable and cool as this!
just to add to the 78 discussion
I collect 78s (have about 10 thousand) including about 30 12 inch blue notes lots of uk esquire bird/di records etc.
I’d just like to point out that there is a reason that 78 stylus’s are different from those for lps. They don’t only sound much, much better but the smaller stylus could damage your records, I know from experience as someone gave me one of those cheap usb turn tables and after about 10 plays of one record it was looking and sounding worse and worse.
Some folks have lots of different stylus types for different 78 eras which is smething I’m looking to do, but for now I use an expert 0.3 m diamond stylus, shure m-44 cartrage with a lenco gl75 turntable, some of the results can be heard on my listen to the gramophone blog.
cheers,
Rob

By: Joe L

Joe L — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 19:17:46 +0000

A vintage Zenith HF17R. Our good friend who restores vintage radios is fixing it up and it will play 45, 33, 78 and 16. Fun!

By: Theron

Theron — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 13:42:59 +0000

Or if you have a Technics 1200 turntable I know that Kevin at KAB in NJ can add the 78 feature.

By: Mattyman

Mattyman — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 13:19:12 +0000

@ Jan, @Al: I play the handful of 78s that I have on a Numark Pro-TT1 turntable. It plays 33, 45 and 78rpm perfectly. To have it play at 78rpm, you simply press the 33 and 45rpm button at the same time and you’re done. Makes sense: after all, 33 + 45 = 78. I use Ortofon Concorde elements. It’s not comparable to a really pricey high-end turntable, but still these Numarks weren’t cheap and for my conditions at home they are fabulous and provide excellent sound.

By: Al

Al — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 12:29:16 +0000

Hi, Jan. I play them on an old Caliphone, the kind they used to have in the public high schools here in the States. They sound good and I don’t think the tone arms are so heavy that they damage the records. You can easily pick these up on eBay. I’d be curious how others amongst us listen to 78s. Any thoughts?

By: jan

jan — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 09:09:29 +0000

Al what system do you use to play your 78s

By: Richard Connerton

Richard Connerton — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 04:53:25 +0000

Bravo…well written, entertaining…congrats on the 78s especially. I could tell the way you set the story up that you are really excited about those 🙂