Grundig record-player stylus - ECN Electrical Forums

Here is a Question that was asked of me today via Email. Not our usual type of question, but I thought maybe someone here might be able to help out.

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My mom still has a Grundig record-player that we got in Germany in the early 1960's. It was rather high-priced at the time, or at least, my mom bawled out my dad for spending that much money-he always liked the best. Anyway, the stereo system still works on the AM/FM, but she needs a needle. I am not sure of the model of the turntable, it's been quite a few years since I have seen it, but I would like to get a stylus for her for Christmas. Are they interchangable, or do I need to get a model number. Also, where would I go to get such an item? I have been surfing the web for hours, and your site seems to be one of only two that look promising. Thank You for your help and response, Pamela

Bill,
Do you have(or can you get) a Model Number for this Turntable?, pretty sure I can source one.
How much are they willing to spend?. [Linked Image]

Trumpy,

Thanks for responding.
I've sent an Email to Pamela asking her to monitor this thread. Hopefully she can supply any necessary information.

Bill

Coolness, Bill,
Always willing to help.

Bill,

I'd need to know the cartridge make and model in order to find out which type of stylus assembly is needed; there are (or were) literally hundreds of different types made.

In the 1960s the common crystal or ceramic cartridge had either:

(a) Two completely separate styli -- one for 78s, one for microgroove (LP/45) -- mounted on opposite sides of a cartridge. The whole cartridge turned over to select the correct one.

-or-

(b) A single cantilever with back-to-back styli, the cartridge being fixed and just the stylus/cantilever assembly turning.

Some of the more popular replacements of the latter type are still available off the shelf, but it's getting increasingly harder to find them these days, so the only way may to have one made specially.

There is a place here in England called The Expert Stylus Company. They can supply many custom-made replacements to order if you have the details, although it won't be cheap. Last quote I had from them a couple of years ago was around £18 (about U.S. $30) for a stylus of type (a) for a common BSR cartridge.

If the model can't be determined but the worn-out stylus assembly is still to hand, then they would probably be able to trace the correct replacement, or as a last resort they could set new tip(s) onto the existing cantilever assembly.

Pamela,
If you're reading this, see if you can find a make and model on the cartridge. It's usually there, though often in very small print.

I've done a little more searching and found this mail-order place in Indiana:
www.garage-a-records.com

If you scroll about half way down the home page there's a link to their lists of replacement styli. Might be worth a look once you have the make & model.

(from Pamela)

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Thank you for everyone's responses. I think that it is great that there is this forum for the lesser electronically inclined like myself. My mother read "everything" that she could find on the stereo. This is what she gave me:

Grundig HiFi Studio
#505AU
Solid State
2385-222
JJ507810
GMBH
8510 Furth/bay
Germany 60009

I will check out that garage web site and see what they have to say. I have to been to several of the phonograph web sites, and was not able to find what I needed. Most of those posting were for sale items, or assessment questions. I hope this helps, I will keep checking back to this website. I really appreciate your kindness.

Pamela

[This message has been edited by Bill Addiss (edited 11-24-2002).]

Pamela,
I've done a quick check through my old reference books and can't find that particular Grundig model listed, but then it might not have been sold here in the U.K.

You really need the cartridge details, or maybe remove the old stylus assembly so that one of these specialist places can identify it for you.

Remember to get the correct type of stylus, or combination of turnover styli, as using the incorrect type can cause irreparable damage to a record.

The "standard" type for playing 78 r.p.m. records generally has a tip radius of 2.5 to 3.5 mil.

A "microgroove" stylus (LP/45) has a 1-mil tip for mono, and generally a 0.5 to 0.7-mil tip for stereo (or an elliptical tip, although this wasn't common on anything but very high-quality equipment in the 1960s).

By the way, many of the early mono crystal/ceramic cartridges do not have sufficient vertical compliance for playing stereo records and can damage them. Most of the mono cartridges made by the later 1960s were designed to be "stereo compatible."

You might find something at Parts Express for your Phono.

They usually have compatible Styli matches. Need to match up to the Cartridge's Manufacturer and Model Number.

If too difficult to locate, you could also simply replace the Cartridge with a newer, more "Beefy" Cartridge that uses a more current and easy to find Stylus.
[so finding replacement Styli when it's time will be easier].

Scott s.e.t.

P.S. The Cartridge is the item where the Stylus (AKA Needle) attaches into.
Just added this in case you were unsure.
Please excuse if you knew already!

s.e.t.

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I think that I finally have some answers. My mom said that the cartridge on the arm was ARM M-44-7 Shure. I have checked with garage-a-records, and it looks like they can get a replacement cartridge. Apparently, this particular one is no longer available, but a much more aggressive one (for DJs) is around. Thank you for all your help. I wouldn't have known where to have my mother look without your help. I'm still not quite sure of cartridge it is, but I am hoping that when I hear back from g-a-r, they will tell me.

Many thanks,
Pamela

Pamela,
Glad you're getting there!

That must have been quite a high quality unit for the time, as the Shure M44 is a magnetic cartridge, as opposed to the more usual ceramic/crystal type found on a lot of domestic equipment in the early 1960s.

A replacement for a Shure M44 shouldn't be too much trouble. If all else fails, you could contact Shure directly. I don't have their details to hand, but they're based in Evanston, IL.