The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have been using fiberglass needles for about a year now. I'm wondering if anyone has tried this material? I have played a single side of one 12 inch record 300 times and it still looks and sounds okay to my ears and eyes. Of course after playing something 300 times its hard to remember what it sounded like the first time. Am I destroying my records?

I'd considered trying fiberglass but never have yet. What is the diameter of your needles, and where do you get the stock?
I've tried some other manmade materials but they haven't been satisfactory. I'm very interested in your experiment!
Bob

They are made from 2mm fiberglass rod. I bought a few meters of the rod over a year ago and don't recall where I got it. I also tried carbon fiber but it was too friable. After I cut the rod, I seal the ends with superglue and sharpen them with a wet diamond file to avoid inhaling the glass dust.

Thanks, I'll have to try it! I too have tried carbon fiber with poor results.
Bob

No needle thumbscrew?

Yeah well spotted, the thumb screw stopped working so I cut down a piece of razor blade and dished it slightly and stuffed it in the hole so now the 2mm fiberglass needles are a slip fit in the needle chuck hole. The piece of razor acts like a leaf spring to secure the needle and makes changing needles a doddle.

I think a way to test if there are any undesirable effects on the record would be to digitise it using a modern record deck then play the record with the fibreglass needle XX number of times and then digitise it again and listen to the two recordings to hear is there particular degradation in sound quality like a big increase in hiss or other noticeable wear.

How interesting, both about the needles, the needle chuck and the soundbox. Is it a HMV no 4 with an inverted aluminium diaphragm? How well does it work?
I'm very interested in modified soundboxes, and also have done my own modifications on the no4 and the 5a/b...

Thanks Phonosandradios, The idea to digitise, then test and then digitise again is a good protocol. I will try that if I ever get one of those decks. Thanks.

Inigo, regarding the soundbox, yes its an HMV #4 with an aluminium diaphragm. I have also installed a reproduction aluminium back that I got off a guy in England in place of the brass back for lightness and I use a brass leaf spring that I got from a guy in the states under the tone arm to alleviate the weight even further. Weight is an issue with me cause I also use Hawthorn and Pyrocanthus thorn needles and without the weight reduction they simply will not get through a record without breaking down. I have a stock #4 with brass back for comparison. They both sound the same to me except the modified one is a little louder.....maybe. What modifications have you done?