u/Arsenic_Pants

I'm having an issue with this Sugden Connoisseur BD2/A I just finished restoring. It's a dumb issue, (I feel like I should be able to figure this out) but I'm kind of stumped as it is anyway.

My issue is the tracking force adjustment and playability with what seems like any cartridge I install.

I currently have a Grado GF3 installed, but I've also tried a Stanton 500 and a lowly AT-3600L and they're all giving me the same issue.

It seems as though no matter what the actual tracking force is for each cartridge/stylus, they won't track unless the force is set to something HEAVY, like 4g or more. If I set the force to say 1.5g-2g as in the case with this Grado, it's spotty and doesn't even play both channels, and simply skips with every rotation. Same thing with the other two carts.

It's not the wear of any of the styli either, because the 3600 is brand new and the Grado sounds fantastic when I install it on my daily driver turntable.

It has something to do with the tonearm on the turntable itself I think. The tonearm moves freely and doesn't bind up at all though, and it also doesn't matter if I have the supplemental weight attached to the back of the tone arm, it still always needs to be set to 4g or more.

Do you think it would have something to do with the cartridge's position in the headshell? I'm not using a protractor for the installation, I'm just giving it my best guess.

Can anyone shed some light on this issue I'm having?

I just scored an SU-7700 for cheap, and I'm picking it up tomorrow.
My current setup is an SA-500 receiver, Technics SL-1300 with a vintage Shibata stylus and Technics SB-5000a speakers with some supplemented Ohm C2s.

I've been looking for a proper Technics amplifier from the same era for a little while now, although I was hoping I'd find an 8600, but I'm happy this 7700 popped up so close and for so cheap. It needs a bit of work at least just in getting it looking pretty, but I'm no slouch when it comes to restoring junk.

Both the SA and the SU make around the same WPC, with the SU making 5w less on paper, but going by what I've read the SU also has a wider dynamic range? 5-40 vs 20-20.
So possibly it will play nicer with my Shibata stylus? Perhaps I can set up some kind of quad system at some point? I already have a Panasonic decoder as well.

I'm looking forward to hearing the difference, if there is any. I'll probably do a full recap eventually, too.
If the SU works straight away I'll report back and let you know what I think! The seller says it "turns on and lights up" but "hasn't tested it beyond that" so there's a fair chance it doesn't make any sound, but we'll see. Maybe I'll luck out.

Maybe they'll sound objectively identical and I'll just have a fun project amplifier to restore. We'll see!

Can anyone tell me what this thing is called? "Cartridge clip" or "holder" doesn't bring anything up on eBay or google, and I'm not sure what else to call it. It's not exactly a "sled" either.

I'm helping a friend restore his vintage console, and the turntable uses an early cartridge that clips onto the headshell using one of these things, except this one is broken (and covered in duct tape goo, from a half-assed repair).
Unfortunately I can''t remember the manufacturer of the turntable. I want to say Magnavox? maybe? I might be getting it confused with another console he has.

Are these proprietary to a certain cartridge manufacturer?

Or maybe there's a 3D-print file somewhere? But I still don't know what to search for.

Can anyone help me out?
Cheers.

I just picked this up for a couple bucks at a junk store.

I have to admit I mostly bought it because it was cheap and it features the Firebird II concept car on the cover, but the actual album is surprisingly good. my copy is even in fairly good shape, I'd say VG overall. I had also never heard of Duane Tatro, but apparently he was a fairly prolific TV soundtrack composer through the 60's and 70s, including composing the M*A*S*H* theme. This must have been an early side project of his? The "soundtrack" sound is definitely apparent in this album.

It's also definitely the kind of jazz your white-bread Grandpa would listen to, but It has it's charm. Kind of off-kilter and has a little sprinkling of free-jazz elements.

I enjoyed it, and I was surprised to see it's Discogs value is a bit more than the few bucks I paid for it. Which is always nice.

If you see it at a junk or thrift store yourself I would recommend picking it up.

Can anyone help me find this typeface? Check out the capital B. Looks like a lot of modern "friendly" sans serifs but I have no idea which one.

I just picked up this Garrard Synchro 95B in amazing original condition. I've greased the main bearing, greased the central auto-return gear mechanism in the center, and greased and freed up the mechanical switches so they all move freely.

The turntable turns at the correct speed when just spinning idle, but whenever I auto-start the movement of the tonearm mechanism, it nearly slows down to a dead crawl, with only barely enough "oomph" to stay going. It does speed back up again, but I'm sure that can't be the way it's supposed to operate.

Is there something else I should be re-greasing and freeing up? Should I be completely removing that center auto-return gear mechanism and cleaning it completely?

Is the motor possibly just dying?

The idler wheel is pliable and rubbery. I don't think it's too dry or worn out to use, but I could be wrong. I'm not used to idler wheel turntables.

Please see the video. I laid the stacker spindle in the center so it's easier to see how slow the rotation gets.

Cheers