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Post by roaring20s on May 16, 2010 0:12:07 GMT -6
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Post by martinola on May 16, 2010 0:19:31 GMT -6
Hey James! I'm kind of in transition. Right now I'm using about 50 percent Steel needles versus 50 percent Bamboo. At first, I wasn't so pleased with Bamboo, but now like them quite well. (Still, when I want to knock somebody's socks off with the Credenza, I'll use a full tone steel.) Interesting Poll. I'll be curious to see what people post. Regards, Martin
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Post by roaring20s on May 16, 2010 2:03:08 GMT -6
Martin, please check the "other" and if you have tried Cactus or not boxes.
I agree about using steel for that extra boost. By the way, I have never tried Cactus and I live amongst them!
James.
I have tried a cactus now and have update my vote on the poll. Don't forget to check out the Cactus Needle thread.
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Post by barnettrp21122 on May 16, 2010 10:16:49 GMT -6
Martin, please check the "other" and if you have tried Cactus or not boxes. I agree about using steel for that extra boost. By the way, I have never tried Cactus and I live amongst them! James. You live amongst them? Would you be willing to send me a few to experiment with? If so, please PM me. I use mostly bamboo right now, since I've gotten pretty good at carving my own. They're not as loud or long-lasting as the NOS bamboo needles, but a good one comes very close. They cost next-to-nothing to make and I can knock out 2 or 3 in a couple minutes. I'd use cactus almost exclusively if I didn't have to rely on obtaining vintage stock. Dealers and collectors have kept the price rather high on these. A good cactus thorn needle gets better and louder as it gets shorter with each re-sharpening. They work well in either acoustic or electric pickups, and will even play 6-10 sides used in a Victor 10-50 changer. I'll bet I've played over 100 sides on a single needle. Bob
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Post by 3victrolas on May 16, 2010 12:37:13 GMT -6
Bob, it's true about the price of NOS cactus needles.
I use cactus needles better than 90% of the time. If I use steel needles at all, I use the soft tone type. As mentioned in a previous thread, I do have a package of bamboo needles but haven't tried them just yet. I bought them a year ago. Guess now is the time!
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Post by roaring20s on May 16, 2010 21:34:33 GMT -6
11 voters out of 21 who have logged on Sunday 5/16/10. Come on active members, participation keeps the forum informative.
We are not all alike in our collecting and/or use of our collections. It is OK if you do not play records at all. Click "other" and let us know what or why.
James.
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wjw
Two Spring Motor
Posts: 89
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Post by wjw on May 17, 2010 20:54:48 GMT -6
James, you gotta go cactus needle hunting! They sure get bid-up on e-bay. If you find some, it seems that the manufacturers cut them back from the natural tapered point and then sharpened them ( the whole shank is the same diameter).
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Post by roaring20s on May 18, 2010 0:36:04 GMT -6
Who has a cactus packet or an advertisement that provides a clue as to what cactus is used? Take a look and read them. Add the findings to this post.
Is there an article or report that you know of? Let us know.
James.
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Post by phonolair on May 18, 2010 7:48:29 GMT -6
I've tried bamboo and cactus but still perfer the loud tone steel needles. I admit I'm not a big record playing person so the finer points of the other needles may be lost on me. My main focus are the machines them self. But when I do want to play a record the steel needle is my choice.
Best regards, Larry
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Post by gramophone on May 18, 2010 22:03:29 GMT -6
I always bring back cactus needles from Mexico.I dry them while I'm there.Not sure what type of cactus it is.I also use thorns that were treated to made them harder.Either one works great.
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Post by 3victrolas on May 19, 2010 7:03:17 GMT -6
James, Here are three brands of cactus needles. All of the packages say the needles are made from chemically treated select thorns. None say what type of cactus was used. The Philharmonic package says they can be used on automatic changers. I didn't want to post too big of an image since it's difficult for some to download picture content.
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Post by kirkster on May 19, 2010 18:26:12 GMT -6
I have a packet of those Duo-Tone thorn needles, and have used them only rarely, although I liked them well enough. Talk about hindsight being 20/20. I bought those needles as a kid back in the 1960s from an old-line music shop where they were still being sold on the original display card from back in 19-who-knows-when. Wished I'd bought the entire stock and display card too.
It was a great experience to walk in there. I wished cell phone cameras were around then. The listening booths were still along one wall, there were stacks of old records in the back, old radios and phonos in the basement, and a great large 1940s Columbia red-label disc record display near the ceiling. I got a lot of great old sheet music there, some going back to the 1890s, and a handful of 78s. Music books, assorted instruments, and all sorts of old neat stuff filled the shop. I asked about an Edisonic in the basement (Beethoven model) and was told; "Nope, that's not for sale, I'm keeping that for an antique". Likewise with the Columbia display. Of course, the proprietor has long since passed on, and the store has been emptied long ago and several other businesses have come and gone since. I was such a great connection to the past to experience a place like that.
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Post by orthophonic on Jun 9, 2010 17:18:06 GMT -6
Tungstone and similar needles for the 10-50s...
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Post by roaring20s on Jun 10, 2010 23:13:39 GMT -6
I was wondering if Tungs-Tone Semi Permanent Needles would be mentioned. Thanks for adding that!
I have tried them on my Vic III and I'd rather use steel needles. My ears like less of the sound that comes with needle contact on that open playing surface.
Any other experiences with Tungs-Tones?
James.
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DonIV
Three Spring Motor
Listening to Ray Noble collection
Posts: 169
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Post by DonIV on Jun 14, 2010 16:15:07 GMT -6
Any other experiences with Tungs-Tones? I have a few of them, but I don't use them. I tried them a long time ago and I found that they produced more surface noise and more black dust. Mine may not be in the best condition, so I decided not to use them.
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