From: "James Benjamin Roth" <[log in to unmask]>
> Greetings,
> I'm trying to transfer/digitize some old (cir 1924) Columbia 78s.
> I have quite a selection of styli which I bought from Expert  Stylus, but 
> I
> still get an undesirable surface noise even with records in seemingly good
> condition.
>
> I have similar problems with Columbias from other years.
> I never have that problem with Victor or other labels.
>
Groove sizes for 78 rpm records were NOT standardized (nor for that
matter were actual speeds...?!) until probably after WWII...?! I've
always used 3-mil diamond-tipped "needles" inlstalled in ceramic
cartridges, in old "record players" with the cart output signal fed
into the "Line In" jack of whatever I was using as a "sound
system"...! I found a VERY few 78's (most in my half-vast
Grey Gull archives...!) that were effectively unplayabe. OTOH
MANY years od dtanding WAY too close to Fender "Twins"
along with at least two serious head injuries have left me effectively
deaf in my left ear, and badly "hearing-impaired" in the right...!

A few decades ago, I could have commented coherently on
"recorded" sound; however, as I gradually approach my
"death by old age"...I am simply happy that I can hear
all/most/SOME of the music from my 78's...!

My conclusion...if I can play a 78 and tell which song is
thereon, I am basically satisfied! Likewise for XXI Jahrhundert
recorded music (at least the tiny minority thereof which I
can endure for longer than the initial second or two...?!

Steven C. Bar