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Bamboo Needle Source
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2025 9:52 am
by OUBenton
Good morning! I recently acquired my first victrola. A very nice VE-XVIII in excellent original condition. Included in the sale was an HMV fiber needle cutter. I am interested in experimenting with bamboo needles. Would anyone happen to know of a good source of bamboo needles? Thanks in advance for your comments and input.
Re: Bamboo Needle Source
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2025 10:23 am
by Lah Ca
It is quite easy to make bamboo needles. However, these will not be as durable as vintage ones were when they were new.
A small selection of links taken from the many search results Startpage offered up:
viewtopic.php?t=54282
https://www.angelfire.com/nc3/talkingma ... eedle.html
https://youtu.be/m5c_sgl6FFw?si=CM53sFFZN7rZJsvx
There seems to be a lost art here, not so much with the cutting/shaping of the needles but with the treating of them. The old time ones seem to have been chemically treated. There is some debate/discussion about what the treatment might have been. They were probably also torrified.
The grade of bamboo used is also important. Not all bamboo is created equal. I can buy bamboo garden stakes for next to nothing at a dollar store ($5.00 will get you enough bamboo to make your own needles for the rest of your life), but the quality of the bamboo is quite variable. The skin isn't always the best, and it is the hard skin that forms the tip of the needles made.
But whatever, the needles you make will be reasonably serviceable. You just won't get as many plays out of them before they need resharpening. And they may not sound quite as good as top quality NOS ones.
If you want to buy needles, you can check EBay. The last time I looked there were ones for sale there: some were claimed to be NOS; others were newly made ones. I have heard that the new Japanese-made ones, made with antique bamboo from the rafters of old minka (traditional Japanese farm houses), can be quite good.
Re: Bamboo Needle Source
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2025 11:00 am
by OUBenton
Lah Ca-Sincere thanks for your reply and the information. I will peruse the links provided and educate myself on this topic. Have done a bit of this already...enough to appreciate that it is a cavernous subject. I will keep an eye peeled for ebay listings...that will probably be the best avenue for me as I already have plenty of interests that take up all of my spare time.
Re: Bamboo Needle Source
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2025 1:30 pm
by outune
Will send PM-
Brad Abell
Re: Bamboo Needle Source
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2025 1:47 pm
by audiophile102
Here is where I purchase my Bamboo Fibre Needles. Top quality and will play several records before resharpening.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/256709192919?i ... SwHQ9WV0hS
Re: Bamboo Needle Source
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2025 6:33 pm
by Orchorsol
Lah Ca wrote: Wed Mar 26, 2025 10:23 am
It is quite easy to make bamboo needles. However, these will not be as durable as vintage ones were when they were new.
A small selection of links taken from the many search results Startpage offered up:
viewtopic.php?t=54282
https://www.angelfire.com/nc3/talkingma ... eedle.html
https://youtu.be/m5c_sgl6FFw?si=CM53sFFZN7rZJsvx
There seems to be a lost art here, not so much with the cutting/shaping of the needles but with the treating of them. The old time ones seem to have been chemically treated. There is some debate/discussion about what the treatment might have been. They were probably also torrified.
The grade of bamboo used is also important. Not all bamboo is created equal. I can buy bamboo garden stakes for next to nothing at a dollar store ($5.00 will get you enough bamboo to make your own needles for the rest of your life), but the quality of the bamboo is quite variable. The skin isn't always the best, and it is the hard skin that forms the tip of the needles made.
But whatever, the needles you make will be reasonably serviceable. You just won't get as many plays out of them before they need resharpening. And they may not sound quite as good as top quality NOS ones.
If you want to buy needles, you can check EBay. The last time I looked there were ones for sale there: some were claimed to be NOS; others were newly made ones. I have heard that the new Japanese-made ones, made with antique bamboo from the rafters of old minka (traditional Japanese farm houses), can be quite good.
No undue criticism intended, but I disagree with some aspects of the second and third links there. One important point is that the bamboo 'shell' or 'skin' surface should be intact and on the side of the needle presented to the outer groove wall. The best guide in my opinion is here:
https://www.wardworks.org.uk/Gramophone/index.html
I have various new and new-old-stock bamboo fibre needles available, but maybe not much use as I'm in the UK.
Re: Bamboo Needle Source
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2025 9:55 pm
by Lah Ca
Orchorsol wrote: Wed Mar 26, 2025 6:33 pm
No undue criticism intended, but I disagree with some aspects of the second and third links there. One important point is that the bamboo 'shell' or 'skin' surface should be intact and on the side of the needle presented to the outer groove wall. The best guide in my opinion is here:
https://www.wardworks.org.uk/Gramophone/index.html
No undue criticism taken.
Always happy to accept polite due criticism.
I have accidentally cut the odd bamboo needle or two the wrong way round with the skin presented to the inner groove wall. They do work, just not as well.
Re: Bamboo Needle Source
Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2025 1:22 am
by ymg200
https://youtu.be/IqoDHetN6MU?si=HTfvA1dXl3RJ1PlM
Here is another video how to make fibre needles. He doesn't mention hardening, but I like how he uses larger props to demonstrate the process.
Re: Bamboo Needle Source
Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2025 10:15 am
by Lah Ca
The maker of the video is a CAPS member. I have never met him in person, but online in CAPS meetings he comes across as a really nice guy. He also seems very knowledgeable and very bright. He has done some great CAPS presentations.
Re: Bamboo Needle Source
Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2025 11:59 am
by Inigo
Orchorsol wrote: Wed Mar 26, 2025 6:33 pm
One important point is that the bamboo 'shell' or 'skin' surface should be intact and on the side of the needle presented to the outer groove wall.
I've always been using them the opposite way... I believed the set screw must press on the soft side, not on the hard skin side. I have to try this...