The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

The speed you can read should indicate what needle is being used, but there's no guarantee somebody (or something) didn't get it wrong during manufacture.

Shane,

Yes that is what I would have thought also but it appears that both of the GE needles I have are as I described with the wrong size showing when the needle is in the play position. I think I need to get a good magnifying glass to be sure I am not seeing things?

Larry

The difference in sound with a microgroove tip vs. a widegroove on a widegroove 78 would be audible to a deaf person. Why don't you just listen with both tips and then pick the best sounding one, that will probably be your '78' side. If there's no difference, than perhaps both sides were fitted with microgroove tips.

Yes I did indeed to the "ear" test and it eliminated that distortion on the piano pieces I ask about recently. I also used a magnifying glass, even if just a standard one and it certainly shows what I thought, the markings do not represent which side is in play when the show on the little flip arm. I don't know why? The sound is more solid and much less fuzzy sounding now. I just wonder how many are playing records thinking they are on the right needle. I would have never know till I got the extra and noticed that the stylus didn't line up with what it says when showing.