That's All Right - Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup

[jnorman111]

(J.M.J.)

Long hairline crack, does not affect play, tic, this 1949 song is the same song that a young Elvis Presley listened to, and recorded a cover version in 1954 on Sun Records.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ0GDdh6CD8

[JerryVan]

It's a real shame to play that 40's, vintage record in that 20's Victrola. You can actually see the damage that steel needle is doing as you watch the video. I am not a purist and do some things that aren't "preservationist" by any stretch but when I see a steel needle carve a nice recording like that I just cringe.

Please don't misunderstand, I don't mean to bash you or be sarcastic. I'm hoping you will reconsider what you play records on, especially ones you clearly appreciate.

[jnorman111]

(J.M.J.)
I had considered all that before I played that recording on the accoustic machine, as I have studied that "phenom" for years. Here is what I did: That record has a long Hairline Crack the entire suface, if it was not my duplicate copy, and without the crack, I would have never played it on that machine, as I have an electric Califone that plays the "newer" 78s nicely. The crack did not affect the play, so I used that record and one other "cracked" as a kind of "demo" of what the machine is capable of. Also, I used an ultra-thin needle that Ron Haring sells, so the "crack" was less noticable, and the wear, if any, but wera is not a factor on an already ruined record. It was only played once on that machine by me, so any wear was a "moot" point, as I found out when I re-played it again on my electric Califone, no sound change from previous plays on the Califone was detected.

[gramophoneshane]

I'm forever getting comments on youtube about playing later discs on the 202. Some of them I only play the once, to record for youtube, then they never see a steel needle again, or others are already quite worn, or damaged in some other way, and then others are Aussie pressings which are fine to play on an acoustic machine & no different from playing an early 30s disc.
Personally I dont worry to much about it anyway, particularly if I have several copies, and lets face it, most of these 40s/50's discs were pressed by the truck load. Although they might have some monetary value & be considered "collectible", most are by no means rare items that will be lost to history if you wear it out completely. I've paid well over $100 for a few 1950s 78s, and the first thing I do when it arrives is play it on the Re-entrant. I enjoy how they sound on the 202, so that's how I listen to them, regardless of what it cost me, or what they may be worth to someone else.

[JerryVan]

Thanks for the explanation J.M.J. You did mention the crack in your initial post, I guess I forgot that after watching the video.

As I stated, I'm not such a purist that I don't play records with a steel needle, (usually on an Orthophonic of some sort). But, I stop play immediately if I notice the needle obviously beginning to cut.

Anyway, after all this, I did enjoy hearing the recording and I'm glad that a nice record wasn't damaged in doing it. Thanks!