The Best Quality Steel Needles
- AZ*
- Victor IV
- Posts: 1143
- Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2009 8:51 pm
- Location: USA
Re: The Best Quality Steel Needles
I once found some old needles in a gramophone I purchased that looked like these. I never used them because they appeared used like most needles found in an old gramophone. So when I saw the Siren's for sale on ebay, I was curious and bought some. Results were so-so, like Charlie's and Van's. I was also concerned about record wear, since the 3 or 4 I tried generated too much black dust.
Best regards ... AZ*
- yankmycrank
- Victor I
- Posts: 100
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2009 6:22 pm
Re: The Best Quality Steel Needles
I cannot recommend the Soundgen needles strongly enough. I've not encountered any other modern steel needle that copies the original Victor taper properly--it should begin roughly mid-way in the needle shaft, tapering to a point. All the others I've seen have a constant circumference shaft and then are sharpened to a point at the end. The sonic difference is very subtle--clarity of voices and instruments in the background of an acoustic recording are notably better with the original Victor taper than with two other types I've used. The soundgen needles come from England; for best price I recommend getting together with a few collectors and splitting up a large order of say 7000-10000 needles. You can mix and match needle types (loud, soft, medium) in the order, based on packets of 100.
- ODIE3
- Victor Jr
- Posts: 33
- Joined: Fri Mar 15, 2019 11:47 am
- Personal Text: I Like Old Tech!
- Location: Kyle, Texas
Re: The Best Quality Steel Needles
i've noticed that taper. And the more that I have played these needles, I more I reach/pick for the Soundgens
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Richard
Columbia Type B 181874 - was my uncles, who found it in a ghost town (so he told me).
Victrola VV-IX 161087 G - was my great grandmothers, I remember dancing with her when I was 4 or so in her parlor.
Richard
Columbia Type B 181874 - was my uncles, who found it in a ghost town (so he told me).
Victrola VV-IX 161087 G - was my great grandmothers, I remember dancing with her when I was 4 or so in her parlor.
- CDBPDX
- Victor V
- Posts: 2005
- Joined: Sun Feb 12, 2012 10:43 am
- Personal Text: A Hobbyist Specializing in Sales and Repair of Spring Motor Phonographs
- Location: Castle Rock, WA
- Contact:
Re: The Best Quality Steel Needles
I recently bought some funky needles. The tips appeared to be simply sheared off with no attempt to smooth or round them.
- Attachments
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- Poor quality control…
- 677E7AA7-DA22-4965-BB65-43186E3C7A47.jpeg (111.84 KiB) Viewed 234 times
Cliff's Vintage Music Shoppe, Castle Rock, WA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIz_IpaVrW8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIz_IpaVrW8
- Orchorsol
- Victor IV
- Posts: 1625
- Joined: Wed Feb 22, 2012 9:03 am
- Location: Dover, UK
- Contact:
Re: The Best Quality Steel Needles
That's disgraceful!
BCN thorn needles made to the original 1920s specifications: http://www.burmesecolourneedles.com
Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe4DNb ... TPE-zTAJGg?
Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe4DNb ... TPE-zTAJGg?