Hi All, I'm a newbie too (to this list and acoustic phonos) and recently explored Fiber/Bamboo, so I thought I would share my experience in the hope that it helps.
There's a seller in Portland OR named Hideki Watanabe from whom I've bought a few homemade ones, cut from seasoned 100+ year old Japanese Susu Dake bamboo. They play very well, so long as your records are clean! Hideki lists on eBay (search for "hmv203") but you can, if you like, buy off of eBay if you contact Hideki directly. Hideki also sells less pricey ones cut from younger US grown bamboo. Here's a rundown from an email exchange we had back in November (his prices may or may not have changed since): "I sell US-made white bamboo fiber needles and Japanese vintage smoked bamboo fiber needles. 25 US-made fiber needles are $11.00+$3.00 S&H, 50 US-Made fiber needles are $20.00+$3.00S&H, 25 Japanese fiber needles are $18+$3.00S&H and 50 Japanese fiber needles are $34+$3.00S&H." As you can see, they are more expensive (the above were without eBay seller fees) than those found on the other site recently mentioned (which I found *after* I bought my set), but I think those were in packs of five (?). No matter the source, if you play fiber, you will need a sharp cutter, especially if you don't want to break out an X-acto after a few plays (it's purely for convenience and accuracy). They too are often listed on eBay (some more fancier than others). I went with a simpler hole puncher style cutter that I keep by my needle cups. One quick snip and they're ready to play again. I recall seeing DIY cutter instructions as well during my initial research if you prefer to make your own equipment. Hope that newbie testimonial helps those who don't already know! Arvin in MA On 1/4/13 6:53 PM, "Bob Maffit" <[email protected]> wrote: >tom: > >thanks, I will give it a try. > >later > >Bob > >-----Original Message----- >From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] >On >Behalf Of Tom Jordan >Sent: Friday, January 04, 2013 4:08 PM >To: 'Antique Phonograph List' >Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Newbie Question - How To Tell an Acoustical Record > >FYI >I Googled "Bamboo Phonograph needles" and got a few hits. > >One site even gives step by step instructions for making your own >Bamboo/fiber needles. > >I'm not recommending any of these, but thought that it might be helpful. >Tom > >-----Original Message----- >From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] >On >Behalf Of Mike Stitt >Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2013 9:27 PM >To: Antique Phonograph List >Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Newbie Question - How To Tell an Acoustical Record > >Don't forget you must "train" your records when using bamboo. >Mike\Oldcranky > >On Thu, Jan 3, 2013 at 6:35 PM, Bob Maffit <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Steve: >> >> Other than finding the Bamboo needles in phonographs I have obtained, >> I haven't found a source for them. >> >> Do you know of any? >> >> later >> >> Bob >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: [email protected] >> [mailto:[email protected]] >> On >> Behalf Of Steven Medved >> Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2013 7:12 PM >> To: [email protected] >> Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Newbie Question - How To Tell an Acoustical >> Record >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> If you want to preserve a record you need to use a quality needle and >> change it after each play. The Chamberlain needles on eBay are fully >> polished, but the diameter is too large and they contact the shoulders >> at the beginning of each play. >> >> >> >> You see many victrolas with records that look new, at least you used to. >> When the reproducer was new with soft gaskets the reproducer was >> compliant and they changed needles each time. 70 years later with >> hard gaskets and the same needle the records wear. >> >> >> >> I believe that as long as the record is shellac a steel needle is OK >> unless the record is rare or an early one then you would want to use >> bamboo. The vinyl 78's and the flexible Marconi records I would not >> use a steel needle with. >> >> >> >> I suggest medium tone needles, you get less distortion. >> >> >> >> The shellac records were made with an abrasive so they will accomodate >> steel needles, I learned the hard way vinyl is badly affected by steel >> needles. >> I do not think electrically recorded records are adversly affected by >> a steel needle, I have never noted any problems. The run in groove >> appeared around 1930 to 1933 from what I have been told. I welcome >> comments. Steve >> >> >> >> > Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2013 23:06:36 -0500 >> > From: [email protected] >> > To: [email protected] >> > Subject: [Phono-L] Newbie Question - How To Tell an Acoustical >> > Record >> > >> > Hi all, >> > >> > I've just gotten my first keeper wind-up phonograph, a Victor VV >> > 8-35 (which a list member is refurbishing the mechanics of, I can >> > hardly wait!), and I have a really elementary question: How do I >> > tell which records can be safely played with a steel needle? >> > >> > I suspect all Victor batwings are OK. But is there a general rule of >> > thumb besides date (would that be pretty much 1930s and before?) As >> > late as when? Is absence of a spiral run-in groove a reliable >>indicator? >> > Does "electrically recorded" mean too late? >> > >> > I belong to an antique radio club and at the last meeting one member >> > sold another a table model along with half a dozen albums of >> > 1940s-1950s 78s. I told them both that the steel needle in the heavy >> > acoustic reproducer will ruin those records, and with the right >> > records you also need to replace the needle for every play. But they >> > went ahead demonstrating the machine and turning the grooves white. >> > Oh >> well. >> > >> > Thanks, >> > >> > Chris Kocsis >> > _______________________________________________ >> > Phono-L mailing list >> > http://phono-l.org >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Phono-L mailing list >> http://phono-l.org >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Phono-L mailing list >> http://phono-l.org >> >_______________________________________________ >Phono-L mailing list >http://phono-l.org > >_______________________________________________ >Phono-L mailing list >http://phono-l.org > > _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org
