Seeburg SS160: No Audio between Needle and Amp

[deltakilo]

Hello all,

I have a Seeburg SS160 which works great except that there is no audio coming through the speakers. I did several troubleshooting steps which I believe rule out any problems with the mute circuit or the amp.

I plugged in a different device with the same type of audio cables (red/white RCA cables) into the amp. When the record is in the play position, that audio from the other device can be heard through the speakers. So obviously the amp is working. The mute circuit is working because the audio from the other device is muted when the record is in transfer, and plays when the record is in the play position.

So it seems the audio problem is not with the amp or the mute circuit, it is somewhere between the needle and where it plugs into the amp.

I also tried a different cartridge which did not help.

What are my next steps? Where else should I be looking? How does the audio run from the needle to the red/blue cables and can I test that with a multimeter?

Thanks,
deltakilo

[jukeboxmarty]

There are four fine wires twisted together that run from the tonearm's cartridge socket to the terminal strip where the red and blue shielded cable is attached.

It is common for these wires to break off (from either end). I'd visually inspect the connections.

[deltakilo]

Thanks. I did inspect the tonearm wires visually from the tonearm to the terminal strip. I resoldered them on the terminal strip as well. How do you inspect them at the cartridge socket?

[jukeboxmarty]

Make sure there is a little slack in the tone arm wires, then the socket may be removed by sliding it out of the tonearm. There is a plastic retaining clip on the backside of the tonearm. Careful though, the plastic becomes brittle with age and the clip is easily broken. It's also possible that the metal female pins in the socket have become loose over time and are no longer conducting.

EDIT: I guess it's also possible that you have a bad cartridge (but unlikely).

[deltakilo]

Thanks! 2 of the 4 wires were broken where they solder into the cartridge socket. I soldered them back and it works now. But man, those wires are old, thin and brittle. Are there upgrades available?

[jukeboxmarty]

Those wires should probably should be replaced. After time the insulation stiffens to the point where it will impede the tracking of the tonearm.

Check eBay, but be careful... Teflon insulation is not flexible enough. You need 32awg or 34awg wire with an ultra-flexible insulation.

I saw this listing and I can't vouch directly for this product, but the seller is a good guy:

www.ebay.com/itm/314390228519?hash=item49331e2e27:g:QUMAAOSwz0Nj6AJN&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwDOZD05VJYcAc6UoImUqpQXXeCo85imoetrnos0vPTQjBL7aF4ywbl8BzzBGHDaEKrKGmbV3Rinda1F%2FN6KSKOcDG13CIRt7fwPXj%2BXyJFzsXskqA9hEVW1LwlY73yyfZ206qmJdO1nGto8vfJ%2FSyLpoyKsZ4b5530Qs9hwyoSXTN5ujRH9kG%2FC32WASrJGvIbeP1V%2F25khNDpIzmppzv2mSDSPP47YCCdJ2SX6Zp821NpsFBr3%2BdLVn14G9N7RpJg%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR6q22JL4Yg