Laubscher Melograph needles

[CharliePhono]

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Is there anything to the statement that this type of Laubscher needle can reduce friction or decrease wear? I try to use Laubscher needles when possible, but have yet to try these.

[CarlosV]

I have some boxes of these needles, you have to align them properly but they are less aggressive than the straight needles. The drawback is that their are LOUD.

[CharliePhono]

Thank you, Carlos. Appreciate the comment!

[Curt A]

Are they still made or are those old stock needles...

[CarlosV]

Are they still made or are those old stock needles...

Laubscher made them until recently. There is a relatively large stock still available in Europe, I would not call it "old" stock, as these needles are around 10 or 20 years old, certainly not vintage. My preferred Laubscher needles are actually the gold plated ones, straight soft-tone needles that are the best ever made in terms of metallic needles.

[CharliePhono]

Such as these?

[Curt A]

So, where can you buy them in Europe?

[CharliePhono]

This seller has them in the UK: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gramophone-Need ... 2392481791. There was another listing on the Italian eBay site for the Melograph needles. I have found Laubscher needles of just about every stripe on the German eBay site as well.

[Marco Gilardetti]

As far as I know, curved needles were deployed to be used in conjunction with some types of electromagnetic pick-ups. Again as far as I know they were not intended to be used on acoustic gramophones, and this is the first time that I see mentioning that the curve was made so they would be "more delicate". It seems to me that this claim is just fantasy and comes from a misunderstanding about the correct use / period / technology of this type of needles.

[CarlosV]

As far as I know, curved needles were deployed to be used in conjunction with some types of electromagnetic pick-ups. Again as far as I know they were not intended to be used on acoustic gramophones, and this is the first time that I see mentioning that the curve was made so they would be "more delicate". It seems to me that this claim is just fantasy and comes from a misunderstanding about the correct use / period / technology of this type of needles.

The claim is advertised in the needle box, Marco. What I can say is that these needles produce less wear than most of the others I used - it may be consequence of higher quality in manufacturing: as I mentioned before, Laubscher produced the best quality needles. I don't think they were specifically targeting electric pickup utilization, actually the significant market for these needles was the portables, which remained in use well into the sixties, long after the electric turntables switched to permanent jewel styluses.