fiber or bamboo needles

[Normandie]

Is there a source for fiber or bamboo needles that can be used on the Victor Orthophonic?

[gramophoneshane]

No-one makes new ones if that's what you're asking, so NOS needs to be found on Ebay, antique shops etc.
You can make them yourself if you have the patence to sit down with bamboo & a sharp blade

[MordEth]

In case any of our readers aren’t familiar with ‘NOS’ (I can remember when I didn’t know this terminology), it stands for ‘New Old Stock’.

Also, if you want to clarify an acronym on this forum, you can do this:

Code: Select all

[acronym=New Old Stock]NOS[/acronym]

The forum will mark up the acronym with its meaning, which can be seen by hovering the mouse over it. (See ‘NOS’ here or above.)

You can read directions on how to make them here.

Hope this helps.

— MordEth

[Neophone]

Normandie,

It's fairly easy to make your own fibre needles, the trick is finding bamboo hard enough. This week I'll post instructions on how to make your own...

Regards,
John

[B.B.B]

BBQ skewers are great to use, just cut of three slices & you have a good three-sides bamboo stock to cut needles from.
Downside is that skewers vary wildy in quality.

I have an idea that a whole length/pipe of bamboo would be a better source for raw material, I mean bamboo are used for scaffodling when building skyscrapers in Asia, so it is a really strong material.
Downside on that idea is that it would require a whole lot of more cutting.

[gramophoneshane]

How do the bamboo skewers hold up for playing records?
The originals always keep the hard shiny outer surface on one side of the needle, and its this surface that the point is cut to & sits in the groove.
Does eliminating the bark allow them to go blunt quicker?

[B.B.B]

Well, the homemade ones doesn't hold up as good as the NOS ones do. Not by far.
But there is also a noticable difference between the ones I've made myself, even from the same skewer,
some hold up very well & some doesn't make it thru a single record.
Must have something with how the wood-fibers are "arranged" inside the bamboo.

I've read that they originally cooked the fiber needles in paraffin. Why? No clue.

I haven't experimented very much myself, since I'm not a big fan of fiber needles, they aren't loud enough IMHO.
I just love the sound of a loud tone steel needle.

[Valecnik]

I haven't experimented very much myself, since I'm not a big fan of fiber needles, they aren't loud enough IMHO.
I just love the sound of a loud tone steel needle.

I agree. To my ear you could just as well play the record with a cotton swab, just not enough volume.

[gramophoneshane]

Yes, I'm a loud steel fan myself.... extra loud if I can get 'em

I've heard the paraffin process mentioned before, but was it paraffin oil or paraffin wax? My guess would be that it acted as a lubricant of sorts, cutting down on friction & allowing the point to last that little bit longer.

[B.B.B]

I haven't experimented very much myself, since I'm not a big fan of fiber needles, they aren't loud enough IMHO.
I just love the sound of a loud tone steel needle.

I agree. To my ear you could just as well play the record with a cotton swab, just not enough volume.

Cotton swab-needles, now those really save the record from wear

Yes, I'm a loud steel fan myself.... extra loud if I can get 'em

I've heard the paraffin process mentioned before, but was it paraffin oil or paraffin wax? My guess would be that it acted as a lubricant of sorts, cutting down on friction & allowing the point to last that little bit longer.

IIRC it was oil, you are most probably right, the paraffin will act as a lubricant.