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Post by clayton on Feb 3, 2017 23:11:38 GMT
Hey All,
My juke was missing one of its needles, so I purchased a replacement pair for a Pickering 340D cart. After installing I find that they are tracking pretty hard. I have been able to make adjustment 13 which makes the sound beautiful on the right or left side independently, but cannot seem to get both sounding great. Is this common? Any ideas / tips? I'm pretty sure the cartridge is original. Did I perhaps get a bad set? They are .7 mil with 2.5g tracking, diamond, and yellow in color. I've ordered a spare set of tone arm springs in case, but I feel that is a real longshot.
-C
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Post by Ron Rich on Feb 3, 2017 23:47:26 GMT
Iffin you purchased them from someone who claims that "color makes no difference"--they are probably KRAP ! "Color" was very important in identifying both the needle style, and the tone arm pressure setting for the needle. "Yellow" and "red" (diamond), and "Violet" (sapphire)require 2.5 to MAX, 3 grams. "Green" (diamond), or "Tan/Brown" (sapph) 4.5 to 5.5 Max. grams.
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Post by babycat on Feb 4, 2017 6:20:03 GMT
my tech mentioned that he does get some bad pairs of the yellow ones (i run them too), but the QC seems better than the current crop of T-needles, which convinced me to update my tonearm, caddy and all, with your cartridge. but with fresh yellow needles on the 340D, i could not get my original springs to track heavy enough to eliminate distortion on both A and B sides. my guy gave me another pair to try, and in my case, a new pair of tracking springs is what got me to set them closer to 3 grams, where everything sounds really good. the springs made the difference for sure, but i'm not 100% sure that the first pair of needles were necessarily bad. could be, but i didn't ask for them back to diagnose them once i was back in business with the springs. good luck!
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Post by clayton on Feb 12, 2017 22:02:37 GMT
To follow up for anyone else with similar issues, it was bad needles! The first I purchased on eBay, the second (functioning) set I bought from needles4jukeboxes.com .. a good clue was that the first set slipped into the cartridge too easily.
I also had to adjust the springs a bit, but I think that was mostly due to my constant messing with them trying to get the bad set adjusted.
Thanks so much guys, having a lot of fun with this!
Onto my preamp!
-C
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Post by Ron Rich on Feb 13, 2017 2:22:16 GMT
Hi Clayton,
Meant to say this before--there is no such thing as a "340D" cart. The 340 series carts are just that--340's-- The needle installed by Pickering determines what the last three PICKERING, part numbers/letters, are. The final letter (xxD, in this case) would indicate a "Diamond" stylii was installed. A "S" would indicate a sapphire was installed. Seeburg's numbering system made no note of the needles installed, nor the spring pressure--just changed for different apps. I have tested the needles 4 -- product, and found it to be ALMOST as good as the OEM's for use in a "late style--160 selection arm. However, IMHO it is NOT acceptable for use in a commercial operation of any 100 select phono (345 type cart.), in either the mono, or stereo (340 type) PHONO'S. I strongly urge you to re-check needle pressure, because if it is not correct, you will shortly ruin, good needles !
As for needles "falling out"--be aware--SOME of the aftermarkets, have "shanks" that are too fat, which will ruin the cartridge retaining clips ( AND, void the warranty ) !!
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