Right you are about the arm... I use the GE with a SME 2009 and could still
do better. And the preamp too: Improvements made there are clearly,
significantly audible with good 78s.

Question: Is Expert Pickups still in the VRII needle business?

clark

On Sat, Nov 3, 2012 at 12:24 PM, Mickey Clark <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> I used one of these when I first started recording back on the 70's. I
> found that the plastic tonearm was not substantial enough to be a stable
> mount for the VRII. Because of the comparatively low compliance of the
> VRII, you would notice "needle talk" -the arm itself would resonate with
> the sound coming from the stylus. The VRII works a lot better when used
> with a more substantial metal arm .
>                        I have mine mounted on an Audax 16" transcription
> arm which much improves signal to noise ratio. Another thing - the VRII has
> comparatively high output so I opted to use it with a Heathkit tube type
> preamp ( WA-P2) - I custom built a power supply and replaced all capacitors
> with modern types. I don't use it to record but it's great just to play
> records. I found replacement stylii at      http://www.thevoiceofmusic.comhowever when I ordered, I recieved 1 mil lp stylii instead of the 3 mil.
> Plays mono lps better than anything. Even the most damaged records sound
> perfect with this setup - Mickey Clark
>
> Follow me on Twitter
> https://twitter.com/**MickeyRClark <https://twitter.com/MickeyRClark>
> M.C.Productions Vintage Recordings
>    710 Westminster Ave. West
>             Penticton BC
>                V2A 1K8
> http://mcproductions.shawbiz.**ca <http://mcproductions.shawbiz.ca>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "DAVID BURNHAM" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Saturday, November 03, 2012 8:24 AM
> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] On eBay now Garrard RC-88 "Leopold Stokowski
> Edition"
>
>
>  That is a legendary machine! I would love to get one in good working
>> order but shipping it to Canada is always a headache. It appears to be
>> equipped with a GE VRII cartridge which also had smooth sound on 78s and
>> mono LPs. The stylus is backed by a solid rubber pad which allows very
>> little vertical movement and, I believe, leads to less surface noise. Hard
>> to get stylii for it though!
>>
>> db
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>  ______________________________**__
>>> From: Roger Kulp <[log in to unmask]>
>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>> Sent: Friday, November 2, 2012 4:53:52 PM
>>> Subject: [ARSCLIST] On eBay now Garrard RC-88 "Leopold Stokowski Edition"
>>>
>>> http://www.ebay.com/itm/**221146871966?ssPageName=STRK:**
>>> MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.**l2649<http://www.ebay.com/itm/221146871966?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649>
>>>
>>> Might place a bid.Tell me more about it.
>>>
>>>
>>> I've heard the date is 1954.
>>>
>>> Roger
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>