Hello, HMV,
Here is some information that I hope will help. I know a lot of this information is contradictory, and some is probably redundant. I edited it together from about 15 documents created from goodness knows how many emails, originally posted over a 15 year period on 78-L. Hopefully you'll find some useful information. At the very least, I hope you don't feel even more overwhelmed!
Cartridges: Shure M-44 (still manufactured) with the N44-C stylus (I don't know if this is still manufactured; the N 44/7 stylus is the LP version) or the Stanton 500 series (no longer manufactured) with the Stanton stylus made for playing 78s (D5127 stylus, blue plastic stylus holder, also no longer manufactured; the D5110, white plastic stylus holder, is the LP version). Many transfer engineers speak highly of the Shure SC-35 cartridge, but appropriate replacement styli for this cartridge (the 2.5 mil SS78E for 78's) are near impossible to find.
Styli: short answer: 2.3 mil, 2.7 mil, and 3.5 mil -sized styli will handle the majority of "78's" you will encounter. The term 'mil' means 'one thousandth of an inch.'
Longer answer (gathered, as I said, from many posts on 78-L going back about 15 years):
For general playback info from a collector's (and professional remastering engineer's) point of view, try the late Roger Beardsley's article at:
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http://www.therecordcollector.org/artic ... ying7.html>
He recommends - a set of 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5 mil (or alternatively 2.0, 2.8 and 3.2 mil) truncated elliptical styli should do for a start; you will rarely come across a record that does not sound acceptable with one of these, although in some cases an 1.5 mil or a 4.0 mil improves the reproduction noticeably.
Here is where you can find Expert Stylus' recommendations:
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http://www.78tours.com/Expert_Stylus_Company.htm>
For most records, I'd suggest using three truncated eliptical styli: 2.7-2.8 mil for post World War II and some wartime discs, 3.1-3.2 mil for disks made roughly from 1926-1942, and 3.5-3.6 or so for many acoustics. Reduce these sizes about 0.2 mil if the stylus is conical, rather than truncated. (Replace the stylus when it is no longer conical/evenly truncated.)
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Here is a wider array of recommended stylus sizes for particular types of discs you might encounter:
Acoustically-recorded "78 RPM" Lateral Discs ALSO seriously worn discs: 3.5-4.0 mil truncated elliptical stylus.
Early Victor electrics (197xx thru 202xx catalogue numbers) 4.5 mil truncated elliptical stylus
Pre-1935 Lateral Cut Electrical 78s: 3.3-3.5 mil truncated elliptical stylus.
Late 1930's Lateral 78 RPM Discs through the end of the 78 RPM era: 2.7-2.8 mil truncated elliptical stylus.
Narrow Groove 78's such as Polydor: 2.4 mil truncated elliptical stylus.
Edison Diamond Discs: 3.7 mil spherical or non-truncated conical stylus, but one transfer engineer recommends a 2.5 mil truncated elliptical stylus.
Paper label Pathé´ vertically cut discs: 3.7 mil truncated conical stylus, but one transfer engineer recommends 2.1 mil truncated elliptical stylus.
Etched Label Pathé´ to 14 inches in diameter: 8.0 mil conical stylus.
Etched Label Pathé´ over 14 inches in diameter: 16 mil conical stylus.
Lateral Transcription Recordings: 2.3 mil truncated elliptical stylus.
1931 to 1935 Victor Pre-Grooved Home Recordings: 5.0 mil spherical stylus.
Aluminum Instantaneous discs (e.g., Speak-O-Phone): 6.0 mil conical stylus.
Program Transcriptions: 2.5 mil truncated elliptical stylus.
Mono LPs and 45s, 1950s 7 inch Bell 78s, 1950s multi-selection 78s (e.g., Tops, Gilmar, Spin-O-Rama, Campus, Broadway Value, Value Top Hits, etc.): 1 mil or occasionally 1.5 mil truncated elliptical stylus.
Stereo LPs and 45s: 0.7 mil elliptical stylus.
Tracking force: for the recommended cartridges, above, 5 g is usually best. I've found that anything under 4 grams causes distortion. Extra heavy tracking (beyond the manufacturer's maximum; Stanton recommended a range of 3-7 g) gains no advantage, and may introduce distortion, as the stylus cantilever is no longer centered in the cartridge's magnetic field. But at least one transfer engineer disagrees with this. Doug Pomeroy said, "In any case you can simply use your eyes: watch the cantilever when playing a 78. Increase the pressure as much as you can and stop just before the stylus cantilever bottoms out. Heavy is better."
Note that a tonearm with an adjustable height feature, or a removable spindle, is necessary for the best results, because practically all 78 RPM records are pressed off-center. Centering them requires a record clamp and either a way to remove the spindle or raise up the tonearm (and build up the turntable above the spindle with heavy rubber turntable platters). Of course, a tonearm that raises also helps with playing Edison Diamond Discs.
Best wishes, Mark