Comments on: End of an Era

By: Truls Bjerke

Truls Bjerke — Fri, 21 May 2021 09:23:52 +0000

In regards to the discussion above whether a 78-rpm record has better sound than 33 1/3 does, I can perhaps bring to the table that among aficionados the word is that the best sound will come from a virgin 78. However, the playing of the said record will take a little away from the putout each time you play it.

By: Miscellaneous Music and Musings | jazzcollector.com

Miscellaneous Music and Musings | jazzcollector.com — Tue, 18 May 2021 15:32:30 +0000

[…] Finally, I see the mentions of the death of Bob Koester. He received quite a nice obituary in The New York Times. I was about to tell the story of when I went to the Jazz Record Mart for the first time in the mid-1980s and wound up with a suitcase-full of Prestige 78s. I just counted and reorganized them and the final number was 130, which was a bit more than I remembered. In any case, here’s a link to the story: End of An Era. […]

By: Troy

Troy — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 15:18:31 +0000

Have been in JRM many many times as a resident of Chicago for most of my adult life. I vividly recall the time approximately 7 years ago I went to the store on my lunch hour – which turned into leaving work for the day. Seems the store bought out a collection and put it in the floor the day before. All of the LPs from the collection had the letter K writtin in ink on the upper, right corner of the back cover. Mostly 70s Blue Notes but priced to sell and in amazing shape. I must have spent over $1,000 in two trips and bought nearly 100 LPs.

Still find the occasional acorn in the massive piles but more often than not I walk out of the store empty handed. Some of the highlights I recall scoring: 1) $3.99 each for 2 copies of the M & K LP “For Duke”; 2) $10 for a Japan pressing of JR Monterose’s – In the Studio; 3) coverless first mono copy of Rollins’ – East Broadway Rundown for $1.

By: geoffrey wheeler

geoffrey wheeler — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 03:25:49 +0000

For those who have asked about 78 turntables and 78 styli, I use a Dual CS 5000 for playing 78s and use a variety of styli, which I have purchased from different sources. (For LPs, I use a Denon 62-DPL (with two tone arms), also with a variety of styli–1.0, 1.2, 2.3, 2.5, 2.7, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0.) No one styli will be right for all 78s or LPs. I have eight different styli of different shapes and mil sizes. Since I don’t have any Pathes, I don’t have large, ball-shaped styli. Some styli come from overseas. It takes a bit of hunting to find these sources. And they aren’t cheap! As for 78s sounding better than certain 10-inch reissue LPs, it depends on the label, the particular album, and the quality of the individual pressing. In the early 1950s, DJ 78s often had excellent sound. For example, RCA Victor DJs and their Special Revue pressings. When it comes to audio equipment, you can spend any amount of money. I’ve been in a few stores that sell $70- and $80,000 turntables, and speakers in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. No, i don’t own any, but they’re fun to view and listen to!

By: Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 16:33:15 +0000

I used to stop at JRM about once a week when I lived in Chicago. As previous posters as noted, it was light on grails but a nice way for me to build a collection of cheaper essentials. Sure, half the store was undesirable Dixieland titles, but if you had time to dig you’d usually be rewarded.

Great, friendly, knowledgeable staff and a great location in the middle of everything. I’ll miss that place!!

By: Horsti62

Horsti62 — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 11:25:47 +0000

Moin, if you are looking for a cheap cartridge with some “historic touch” I would recommend the
denon 103. I made best eyperience with 78´s or 10″ or 12″ monos with an additional A23-trany on my Thorens 226 & Fidelity Research FR64S. A real power combination… I swear !
tonarm. cu Horst

By: lennib

lennib — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 20:42:58 +0000

http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/business/Jazz-Record-Mart-Closes-in-Chicago-368853541.html

By: JOK

JOK — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 06:33:09 +0000

I’ve been in the market for a Lenco-Bogen B-50 for my 78’s. One of these days……..

By: Kristian kristiansen

Kristian kristiansen — Sun, 14 Feb 2016 17:46:52 +0000

Dear Daryl et al.
78 demands a special needle, you can buy Ortofon who still does their SPU for 78, and yes higher speed gives higher resolution, therefore the 16 speed records never caught on, althought one I have on Prestige sounds really good on my Thorens 124.

Here in Gothenburg, Sweden where I live one of the best used vbinyl shops closed this January, Pennies from Heaven, where I bought records during 20 years. Evert who ran it turned 75 and wanted more time for himself, but continues to sell privately from his storage to old customers. Here I found hundreds of wonderful often near M records from Swedish collectors at decent prices because Evert never went on e-bay, he rather sell directly to his customers at a lesser price than have the hassle with posting. Running a shop is a social thing that you dont get at e-bay. Many good discussions of records and their history like you tell about will disappear with the dealers and their loayl customers. I share my passion with a little group of jazz friends that meet and listen accompanied by some good food and wine

By: Daryl

Daryl — Sun, 14 Feb 2016 16:04:15 +0000

Art, what would those look like? For example, My Dual CS 5000 turntable indeed possesses a 78 speed, yet my understanding is that 78’s require a special needle. I don’t think I want to play a 78 with my Shure VST-V cartridge, right? Earlier in this comment thread a colleague notes that some 78’s possess a better sound than the related lp pressings, which has me scratching my head. Two issues emerge: 1) Is there general consensus in the jazz collecting community that the 78’s can be of a high or higher recording quality than their 33 counterparts? 2) Is there a simple way to extract this sound on an everyday audiophile system like mine described above? Many thanks to any who weigh in.