The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I'm going to try this again. I have a substantial collection of Elvis, Bob Wills, Hank Williams (the real one), Dixieland and so on. All electrically recorded. I got flamed for playing them on my Victrola and have just left them sit for a couple of years. But I want to buy something to play them on. Had suggestions 2 years ago for VE-8/9 and even motorized. That's fine. I'm looking. But now I read that you should only use a modern turntable to play them on. Help.

Mmmm al this is arguable.
You can play 1950s 78s on your Victrola if you use extra soft steel needles or bamboo/cactus needles with no harm to your records, provided your soundbox is properly restored, so flexible enough.
You can also install in your tonearm a more modern soundbox (orthophonic) which is pretty more compliant and designed to play electrical 78s.

danohallaron wrote: Wed Aug 27, 2025 7:20 pm I'm going to try this again. I have a substantial collection of Elvis, Bob Wills, Hank Williams (the real one), Dixieland and so on. All electrically recorded. I got flamed for playing them on my Victrola and have just left them sit for a couple of years. But I want to buy something to play them on. Had suggestions 2 years ago for VE-8/9 and even motorized. That's fine. I'm looking. But now I read that you should only use a modern turntable to play them on. Help.

What format records?
78rpm - Shellac or vinyl?
45rpm
33rpm

A VE 8-9 isn't any better than the victrola you used originally. It'll sound better on the electrically recorded shellac from the same period.

You're best bet would be a modern (50's/60's) turntable, continuously variable speed, and cartridge and stylus for the type of record you're listening to.

Lenco TT with a GE VR cartridge with matching preamp is a good combination. VR has provision for styli for both 78 and 45/33 and tracks at 10gr so no gouging of the record. Add a McIntosh C-8 audio compensator to dial in equalization curves for most of the early recordings. Then into a flat gain power amp

Chuck

These are all 78's. Late 20's, 30's, 40's and 50's. I use a very nice vintage Sansui for my 33's. Sounds like I can add a turntable. I've seen the old 78's played on newer equipment with light tone arms. It all makes sense. Thanks for the input.

danohallaron wrote: Wed Aug 27, 2025 7:20 pm I'm going to try this again. I have a substantial collection of Elvis, Bob Wills, Hank Williams (the real one), Dixieland and so on. All electrically recorded. I got flamed for playing them on my Victrola and have just left them sit for a couple of years. But I want to buy something to play them on. Had suggestions 2 years ago for VE-8/9 and even motorized. That's fine. I'm looking. But now I read that you should only use a modern turntable to play them on. Help.

You have many options open to you. As your profile mentions, you have a variety of nice acoustic phonographs.

You also mention having a vintage Sansui receiver probably with a nice set of speakers. If the receiver is of a certain age it should have a mono switch.

Now you probably have a nice 33/45 rpm turntable. Now if there are additional inputs like “aux” on the receiver you should be able to use that for your 78rpm turntable addition. BUT WAIT THERES MORE! The 78rpm turntable will need a preamp for the magnetic cartridge. Your 33/45 turntable is already patched into the main magnetic input. But not knowing what model Sansui receiver you may already an additional phono input.

Since it seems your 78 records are of a later vintage, a turntable with a 78 setting would work fine for you. If you’re handy you can do your own
restoration there. Garrard, Dual or the better examples of the component BSR’s are available. Vintage cartridges like Shure, Stanton or Pickering are out there used or with the vintage players. There is a large aftermarket of various needles for some of these.

For myself I have used vintage tube gear. Currently have a Grommes PG-10 with a Garrard RC-88, plus a homemade speaker.

My main system is a Cambridge receiver and a Souvenir preamp with all of the equalization options. The turntable is Technics 1200 that was modified by KAB Electro acoustics for 78rpm. That was done way back in 1995. Technics did bring back the 1200 turntable but with a 78rpm speed now included. But they go for $1500-4500 depending on the series.

My speakers are a set of larger Advents from the 1970’s. They’ve been restored.

Some links for you:
https://www.kabusa.com/frameset.htm?/rcleaner.htm

https://www.esotericsound.com/

https://www.thevoiceofmusic.com/

Hopefully I haven’t confused you with all of this esoteric 78rpm record playing jargon!

Personally I like to play records of that vintage on my 1947 Admiral radio/phono tabletop or my 1948 Zenith Cobra-Matic turntable. Still a vintage phono, but made for those records.