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Post by AZ on Jan 12, 2009 21:23:37 GMT -6
Back when I first tried bamboo many years ago, I wasn't impressed with the soft sound and the fact that the needle couldn't make it through a 10 inch record before it was shot. That was before I learned about some of the do's and don't's of using bamboo. Maybe I should try them again.
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Post by 3victrolas on Jan 12, 2009 23:14:56 GMT -6
Hummm, okay so you can make your own by purchasing bamboo shishkabob skewers, but has anyone made needles using live bamboo? Of course it would have to dry out first, but my neighbors black bamboo plants are sending up shoots in my side yard. Making needles (1,000,000s of 'em) might be a good use for this invasive plant.
Ha! He says black bamboo is kind of rare. He'd pass out if he knew what I have in mind. (evil laugh)
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Post by Moooperator on Jan 22, 2009 14:36:27 GMT -6
Notice these are concaved... I wonder what the marketing angle was for that?
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Post by phonojim on Feb 1, 2009 9:56:45 GMT -6
We have bamboo growing in our yard here, so I'll have to experiment. Actually I have a large number of old bamboo needles including some NOS Victors. The problem for me is that my collection largely consists of '20s jazz and hot dance which often comes in less than pristine condition and the needle points tend only to last for 1/3 to 1/2 of the record. I'll try "training" a couple of records and report back.
PJ
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Post by Moooperator on Feb 2, 2009 21:21:19 GMT -6
3v, I tried your cactus needles you sent me.. (Big thanks) and I think they are better than bamboo. Of course the sharpening of cactus takes longer than a snip of bamboo but the sound is a little more clearer and less hiss.
Hummmm... now to raise the bids on all cactus needles on ebay!
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Post by Little Nipper on Feb 3, 2009 7:05:44 GMT -6
One of the selling points of Cactus Needles was that they reduce surface noise. Some brands are very thin like a soft tone needle; others have the diameter of a loud tone needle. I prefer the latter but I have both types.
8===8 Little Nipper
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wjw
Two Spring Motor
Posts: 89
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Post by wjw on Feb 4, 2009 19:40:09 GMT -6
Notice these are concaved... I wonder what the marketing angle was for that? I was looking at an ad for Victor Fibre Needles the other night and noticed they mentioned "concave" on the packaging. A drawing was shown and it looks like the top side of the needle (opposite the pointed side) is slightly concave. Have examined some loose examples I have and don't see it.
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Post by roaring20s on Mar 4, 2009 20:27:33 GMT -6
I have been reading and learning from this and other sources over the last year. I think it was Dan's forum that had a great "needle exchange" going on. I any case the Bamboo Needle article was mentioned at the beginning of this topic is what gave me the motivation to get that extra fiber into my diet. I'll admit I kind of pass on the paraffin step. (Explained later.) Over the years I had seen these needles and the old timers I met always had a few on their turntable. I just was not interested then to listen to them or be bothered cutting my own. Since I picked up a Vic III it is mostly what I use. (Youth is wasted on the young.) It was mentioned that it took off the edginess of the sound and that is a great bonus. I like the softer sound. You can adjust the volume way down low when others in the house want peace. Just cut a thinner needle. That thinner needle works better on Othophonic records too. The older records can handle a thicker cut. All this and less groove deterioration makes it a must. Training the record groove is true. It can take many plays on some records before the bamboo will last the side. Eventually the bamboo cleans it and coats it, I guess. On records that have had a lot of use, and sounds it, I have lightly rubbed an old candle over the surface and burnished it in to lessen the drag and wear. (That step falls into the category of, they are your records and you can do what you want to them.) Badly scratch record will eat them up no matter what you do. Then its back to steel. I thought about getting a needle cutter. Maybe someday I will. I had in a drawer the biggest unused cutter I would never use. A toe nail cutter with a flat blade edge. It works just fine! I have added a few photos that may be of use anyone wanting to try making a needle. Do review Dan's article too. The first image shows the round skewer split into the triangle. The second has been cut to a standard length and has received the angled clip. The third is ready to entertain. It does not make sense to me to use an abrasive emory board to keep the edge sharp. Why add grit to the grove. The razor cuts quick and smooth. Like needles, a razor must be sharp.
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Post by roaring20s on Mar 4, 2009 20:38:51 GMT -6
In my haste I forgot to introduce myself and sign off.
I'm James from Tucson, AZ
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Post by Moooperator on Mar 6, 2009 17:14:38 GMT -6
Well that makes sense.
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Post by roaring20s on Apr 24, 2010 17:43:00 GMT -6
It is important to restate that bamboo works best on records that are in Very Good to Excellent condition. Lower grades will eat-up the fiber and may result in poorer sound quality by the end of the record. I have had good results with making my own from skewers and using them on records in Excellent condition. Skewers lack the outer skin of the old stock. That lack results in faster wear of the needle's point. I was lucky enough to have received a supply of old stock and have been very pleased with their quality and longevity. Experimentation and the information learned from our thread has sold me on the old stock whenever it's available. The outer skin is on the leading edge of the grove. This is why they perform best. On that note, I recently found a thread about phonographs which included another's experimentation shown below. Has anyone here tried this? It sounds like what member wjw has done with his old fishing pole. In any case here it is with a nice photo and description... The following is the link to the entire thread. It's from another group of Cranksters. We have a few folks on this forum that crank this way. www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/118802/134287.html?1270649315James
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