Please don't confuse bamboo with cactus or "fiber" needles.
I work for a cactus farm and have experimented with various varieties of
thorn over the years. They work and have a mellow tone (sort of an
acoustic equalizer) but my conclusion is don't use them except on
"junker" records. The sticky sap, even when dried, is a major culprit in
transfer to records.
"Fiber" can mean the needle was made from just about any fibrous
vegetable source. Ditto no to using them, for the same reasons.
Bamboo, however, is a whole other story. There are just about as many
different varieties of natural bamboo as there are roses. There are
bamboos rated for flexibility, strength, size, etc. depending on what
use it is to be put. I wonder what type was used for needles? Was it
specified in the patent??
As to fibrous needles "burning" when played, I don't think so. Then
again I haven't tested for scorching of the used needle tip, either.
Malcolm
*******
Warren, Richard wrote:
> Hi Folks,
>
> There's not much doubt that for playing acoustical discs on acoustical-era machines bamboo or fiber needles seem to provide smoother and quieter results; but those results come with curses from those who later receive records so played. A chemist explained that the some of the relatively soft fiber material is burned into the groove walls by the friction & pressure of the heavy arm and playback head and is either impossible or nearly impossible to remove. This residue would be difficult to see because it would have been burned black in playback and bonded to the groove walls. This cooked organic material can alter the sound of the disc, causing curses from any subsequent owner who hears the results when playing the discs by other methods (especially the most accurate ones). That's fine if one can't hear the alteration or one likes the altered sound and keeps one's discs only for use on vintage machines; but the assertion "played only with cactus or fiber or bamboo needles" is likely to cause horror and rejection in serious collectors and audio archivists, especially those who have had to try to deal with ruined records.
>
> Of course, also from the viewpoint of audio archivists and record dealers, "fibered" records form a category both easy to eliminate from serious consideration and sad to see if rarities are included.
>
> Richard
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tom Fine
> Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2009 6:15 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Victrola Needles
>
> Hi John:
>
> Where does one get bamboo needles these days?
>
> -- Tom Fine
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "John Eberle" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2009 1:08 AM
> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Victrola Needles
>
>
>
>> It is my humble opinion based on over 40 years of collection acoustic 78s ,
>> that playing them with bamboo needles is the way to go .
>> Bamboo needles cause almost no wear and have a moderate volume
>> and good musical tone . In my collection are many Zonophone , Victor ,
>> Columbia ,Emerson and others that
>> I have played many dozens of times over the years on a Victor Model ll (
>> which has a laminated Oak
>> Horn ) with fibre ( bamboo ) needles . They still play clear , loud and
>> relatively noise free. The grooves appear rather smooth and clean viewed at
>> 100x under a microscope .
>>
>>
>> John Eberle
>> AMERICANA CD MASTERING
>> 313 EAST COLLEGE STREET SUITE 3A
>> DICKSON , TENNESSEE 37055
>> 615-441-4660
>>
>>
>>
>
>
|