The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to share how I play my 78’s!
I use a Victor IV with mahogany horn (thanks again jerry B) and for more modern playback I use:
vintage Fons CQ30 variable speed turntable with SME3009 arm, and Ortofon cartridge with 78 styli of various sizes from Expert Stylus in the UK.
A 1960 tube Mcintosh preamp with EQ settings for 78’s, with original walnut cabinet.
A 1963 Marantz 8b tube amplifier.
Loudspeakers are 1964 Bozak 302a Urbans.

—wishing a happy holiday season to all,

Steven

Nice setup! I have a very similar turntable and arm combination (Fons and SME) with a Nagaoka cartridge and styli of various sizes. I love the McIntosh—I make do with more modern equipment and a Rek-O-Kut Re-Equalizer III. Unfortunately it has been years since I had tube equipment. The Fons is great both for LPs and for the varying speeds needed for shellac.

Bill

Thanks Bill—

Yeah this stuff is just too much lol.
Love it!

I use a Nagaoka for LP’s.

Cheers,
Steven

I like the wooden Eames chairs. Growing up, we had them in every room. I hated MCM then. I have since changed my tune. Those are NICE examples.

Incidentally, Sol Marantz had a home in Sun Valley, Id. when I lived there. I knew him well. He had a couple classic Mercedes that were in my shop for resurrection from time to time. Super guy.

Haha thanks George—

Those chairs are much more comfy than they look—as my guests always find out lol.

I am very fortunate my Marantz 8b example belonged to Sid Smith who designed it.

I’m quite happy with the synergy of this system.

Steven

Viva-voce wrote: Fri Dec 02, 2022 2:49 am Haha thanks George—

Those chairs are much more comfy than they look—as my guests always find out lol.

I am very fortunate my Marantz 8b example belonged to Sid Smith who designed it.

I’m quite happy with the synergy of this system.

Steven

Yes- especially considering the screw heads that protrude out of the back into either side of the spine.

Haha yes—saved money on chiropractors lol

The Fons CQ-30 and its clone the Fons International Mk. I are great turntables for the 78 collector, with the flexibility for 78s and the quality for LPs as well. I used to count them as the best I knew, and they still count as close second best; my favorite now is the Strathclyde STD305D, which to the Fons tables' virtues adds a built-in digital speed readout in RPM. Unfortunately, the Strathclydes are hard to get serviced and full of vulnerable, once-upon-a-time-cutting-edge electronics. Mine, normally a feature of my system for acoustic 78s (yes, I have one for acoustics and one for electrics) has been in the shop for months now with no end in sight. Sigh....

In its place, I substituted my backup table, a Technics SP-15. Less speed variability, but still wide enough for most purposes; digital readout, but in percent deviation from standard, not RPM. Still, very handy as I work through a large collection of acoustic 78s that dropped into my lap.

Then the Technics went down, too.

Fortunately, I have yet another table, a Fons, also in reserve. So now the Fons is standing in and doing its customary yeoman service. If it goes down, though, I'll be in trouble!

Oh, I should mention: my Strathclyde and Fons tables have nice SME arms. The Technics has a Syntec that I absolutely hate--tracks poorly and hard-to-impossible to change tracking force settings.

Hi David,

Yes I’ve been very happy with the Fons. I had the Strathclyde previously and had same issues as yours and could not get it repaired unfortunately. The technics I have not owned due to the issues you mentioned. A digital speed readout was great to have but it’s ok as I’ve become pretty good at finding the correct pitches.

Happy listening!
Steven