kurtz Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 I just aquired a bunch of old 78's. Can I play them, or will it ruin my needle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjaicomo Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 I think it depends on if they are lacquer or vinyl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurtz Posted April 22, 2009 Author Share Posted April 22, 2009 They are not vinyl. They're all from around the 1940s so I'm guessing they are mostly shellac. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjaicomo Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 Yeah, you don't want to use your regular needle on that (I am pretty sure). Does your table even spin at 78rpm? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjaicomo Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 ps Did Joe Bussard give these to you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurtz Posted April 22, 2009 Author Share Posted April 22, 2009 Yeah, I have an Audio Technica PL120 so it can do 78rpm. I just didn't want to try it out and destroy my needle. I know they make needles specifically for 78's, I just wasn't sure what effect it would have on a normal needle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurtz Posted April 22, 2009 Author Share Posted April 22, 2009 haha I wish I got them from Joe Bussard. It's spring cleanup in my town this week, where everyone puts out their junk to get collected. Someone put out a box full of 78s that I snatched up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjaicomo Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 That is awesome. I am PRETTY sure that you need the right needle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxmartinxx Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 Steel needles will ruin vinyl 78s, however I'm fairly confident that you will be fine playing shellac 78s on your turntable. The only thing that might damage your needle is if they are really beat up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurtz Posted April 22, 2009 Author Share Posted April 22, 2009 A couple of them are a little beat, but most are in surprisingly good shape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justinthunderliger Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 I'd be surprised if they were listenable with a regular cartridge. I think you'd need a special needle for shellac 78s. As far as damage goes, I don't know, but I'm pretty sure they wouldn't sound right. I have a portable player with a nylon needle that you flip over for 78s. Never tried a 78 with the other (wrong) side of the needle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurtz Posted April 22, 2009 Author Share Posted April 22, 2009 Well, I played a couple of them and everything seems to be okay. There was a lot of cracks, pops and static in the records, but I think that's to be expected with records this old. My favorite so far is a record by Fred Lowery. The dude just whistles. It's awesome! That's something you don't hear in music these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oakland Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 If you have any Jack Teagarden records in there contact me without delay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monk0nuggets Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 My favorite so far is a record by Fred Lowery. The dude just whistles. It's awesome! That's something you don't hear in music these days. Listen to Andrew Bird! Dude is amazing, and whistles quite a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurtz Posted April 22, 2009 Author Share Posted April 22, 2009 If you have any Jack Teagarden records in there contact me without delay. No Jack Teagarden. There are two Glenn Miller & his Orchestra records though. I read that Jack played in Miller's Orchestra, but I have no idea if he's on these recordings. The songs are Moonlight Cocktail, Happy In Love, Serenade in Blue and That's Sabotage. Almost all the records are big band music from the 40's and 50's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurtz Posted April 22, 2009 Author Share Posted April 22, 2009 My favorite so far is a record by Fred Lowery. The dude just whistles. It's awesome! That's something you don't hear in music these days. Listen to Andrew Bird! Dude is amazing, and whistles quite a bit. Andrew Bird is alright. I listen to him some. This Fred Lowery guy does nothing but whistle though. haha. No singing, just whistling. He does some pretty cool shit with his whistling too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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