|
|
Post by cowbytes on Sept 2, 2017 1:06:53 GMT
Recently obtained a Rockola 1448 and am slowly going through it. Want to update the needle/cartridge as this still has an original cart from the 1950s and don't want to destroy too quickly any modern stereo 45s I want to play. Whats the pros/cons of the p132 or p51 carts installed in this machine? Either one particularly easier with fit and ease on the records as well as decent listening quality? I guess also cart/needle future availability as well. The older these girls get, the more unobtanium things seem to become. Thanks in advance to any opinions by everyone! James!
|
|
|
|
Post by Ron Rich on Sept 2, 2017 2:57:46 GMT
I would check with John at needles4jukeboxes.com (listed above,in FAQ's !) Ron Rich
|
|
|
|
Post by robnyc on Sept 2, 2017 3:40:07 GMT
James, the 51 is not going to have enough vertical compliance to play stereo records w/out damage. It is a relic of another time aimed at collectors of old phonos.
The 132 is crap -but stereo and will tolerate that crude tonearm. Understand, the inherent imbalance of that arm makes very heavy tracking and stiff styli cantilevers a necessity. these machines are grinders and will quickly ruin any styrene-plastic disks.
I restored a several R-O's of this era and while Rock-Ola was never my favorite manufacturer in terms of build quality, the machines do have a definite "50's panache" to them.
On those I restored, I added a counterweight to properly balance the tonearm which along with a few other mods allowed for the use of a decent magnetic cart and greatly improved audio and much lower record wear.
RobNYC
|
|
|
|
Post by Ron Rich on Sept 2, 2017 12:56:34 GMT
Rob,
Would agree with you on the 132's to a degree-- I purchased 10 o them when they first came out-- 3 of that 10, were "perfect". 3 were OK, but not great. 3 more were poor,and 1 was DOA. LKG replaced 7 of them--once again I tested them all in the same phono, returned 3 again-- I have been "tolt" that they are now "improved" ---?? Ron Rich
|
|
|
|
Post by cowbytes on Sept 3, 2017 2:27:28 GMT
Ty for your input gentlemen! I was leaning to the p132 as I have updated a rockola 435 and 1464 with it and seem to sound quite decent, at least to my half deaf ears as a result of many hours on loud farm machinery. As time marches on we have to make do sometimes with what we can find, .... seems like many available parts (repro and nos) which were plentiful in the heyday of juke collecting in the 90s have dried up, especially us non techie types in regards to old school electronics. One definitely shouldn't be playing collector discs in these old jukes to begin with.
|
|
