Grinnell Bros Portable is TOO LOUD

[paradroid1793]

I have a Grinnell Brother's portable from I think the mid 30's. Yesterday I went through a lengthy process of removing the metal fishnet on the inside so I could access the internal horn. The tonearm is connected to the horn mech on wood which someone did an awful job at fixing many years ago with staples and hot glue. With access to the horn, and the repeating problem from before fixed- the machine was VERY VERY LOUD. I did the old way of putting a rag into the horn, essentially muting it almost. However, the reproducer is still quite uncomfortably loud. What would be a good method of quieting it down?

[audiophile102]

I prefer bamboo Fibre needles. Soft tone needles for records that are less than ideal condition.

[OrthoFan]

If you have a chance, please post some photos of your portable.

If by TOO LOUD, you mean overly shrill, blasting, etc., this is often caused by a semi-frozen sound box with hardened diaphragm gaskets and a throat gasket. This will make the reproduction shrill and uneven and you lose most of the mid-range.

If the sound box has been properly overhauled with soft gaskets, playing late production 78s -- late 1940s and beyond -- which have a greater range and more amplitude than the earlier 78s, especially when using a standard loud tone steel needle, will make the reproduction overly loud; earsplitting in some cases.

For volume control, using the skinny "soft tone" steel needles will reduce the volume, as suggested, as will using medium tone needles. Thorn or fiber needles will "soften" the sound.

OrthoFan

[paradroid1793]

I'll get some photos when I go home. I doubt the soundbox has been serviced as it was just the one that came with it. If any repair on it has been done, it's probably as poor as the previously internals. The record is a batwing.