Pundit
Post by tonyd on Apr 25, 2021 14:31:48 GMT 12
I have a Garrard 4HF turntable in exceptional condition that I am preparing to sell. I have two ceramic cartridges for it (Garrard GCS 10/2 and Ronette TX-88), but I need a suitable modern cartridge to use with it. If anyone has a Stanton (400/500/600) or Shure (S35, M44 etc.) that they are willing to sell could you PM me? I don't mind if I have to buy a new stylus - they seem readily available - but cartridges are more difficult to find.
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Pundit
Post by papahemi on Apr 25, 2021 17:39:16 GMT 12
No help here I'm sorry, I have just bought a 4HF and promptly picked up a Shure M44MB of TM, new stylus on the way. Had to wait about a week before the M44 came up ($25) then the seller put another up - I think that may have gone too tho'. Best of luck.
We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.
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Post by Citroen on Apr 25, 2021 18:46:53 GMT 12
How does the 4HF compare to the SP25 series turntables?
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Post by cartridgeguyonline on Apr 26, 2021 8:24:13 GMT 12
I have a stanton 500 thats yours if you want it. Stylus is US but they were readily locally last time I looked.
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Pundit
Post by tonyd on Apr 26, 2021 10:15:29 GMT 12
I have a stanton 500 thats yours if you want it. Stylus is US but they were readily locally last time I looked. Many thanks Cartridge Guy. Will PM you my email.
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Pundit
Post by tonyd on Apr 26, 2021 10:28:32 GMT 12
How does the 4HF compare to the SP25 series turntables? It preceded the 301 and has a number of similarities, including the same ivory paint. I would say it is a step up in quality from SP25 although it is a very long time since I had my SP25. This 4HF holds all speeds fairly accurately, and all controls work smoothly and precisely, including the auto arm functions. Paintwork is near-mint. However the tonearm is not really suitable for LPs I think. There is quite a lot of information available about the 4HF that I am working through.Quite an interesting project.
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Pundit
Post by papahemi on Apr 26, 2021 12:19:28 GMT 12
Would love to see some pics, they may inspire me to work on mine.
We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.
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Post by cartridgeguyonline on Apr 26, 2021 17:23:46 GMT 12
Will pop that in the mail for you tommorow Tony.
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Post by Citroen on Apr 26, 2021 17:32:12 GMT 12
I have a stanton 500 thats yours if you want it. Stylus is US but they were readily locally last time I looked. "Stylus is US"? Been agonizing all day trying to work out what "US" stands for. Surely an American stylus is OK? Ultrasonic? Universal Studios? I gather it means knackered...
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Post by cartridgeguyonline on Apr 26, 2021 18:20:20 GMT 12
Unserviceable, stuffed, buggered, Not usable....
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Post by Citroen on Apr 26, 2021 18:57:54 GMT 12
Ah, UnServiceable. Who would've thought!
The Stanton 500 seems to be a popular choice for the 4HF, from what I've read.
An interesting turntable, with some pedigree/parts common with the now near infamous 301. But only cosmetic similarities, with an arm that's not universally suited to modern setups?
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Post by RdM on Apr 27, 2021 0:46:55 GMT 12
Unservicable, hmm, I like it. I'd translated it as Useless. Sometimes if unsure I write Sus for suspect. There seem to be good original Stanton styli here: styli.co.nz/brand/129-stantonI'm using a 600, have an E & EE and maybe even an A conical still spare, but nice to know that they're there.
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Post by cartridgeguyonline on Apr 27, 2021 13:36:05 GMT 12
Im using a 681 too. Really like it, currently with a conical stylus but have a brand new elliptical waiting in the wings to try at some stage.
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Pundit
Post by tonyd on Apr 27, 2021 16:02:58 GMT 12
Would love to see some pics, they may inspire me to work on mine. Here are some pics for you:
The cage in the last picture houses the electric 'pitch control'- no eddy brake for this guy - which is apparently somewhat unreliable. That with the auto tonearm control makes the wiring loom quite substantial. Have not yet had the courage to look inside the cage.
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Post by Citroen on Apr 27, 2021 18:43:34 GMT 12
Looks like a nice clean example.
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Post by RdM on Apr 27, 2021 20:16:05 GMT 12
I'm using a 681 too. Really like it, currently with a conical stylus but have a brand new elliptical waiting in the wings to try at some stage.
The 600 is a "Broadcast Standard Cartridge". Part of Stanton's Professional line up?
It had a resonance reducing blob at the end of the cantilever above the stylus.
It's in the 600 series, but not the same as a 681, which I also used to own, fancy wooden box and all. Unfortunately it was OC in one channel, I wasn't able to fix it.
This photo from about 13 years ago, albeit small, shows a comparison. The styli are not compatible.
Here's a pic from when I disassembled the 681, discovered the fault, and tried to fix it. That wire is so fine, and the insulation so tough - paint stripper did nothing - that I resorted to scraping it against a finger with a craft knife. Every time I'd almost got there it snapped, and in the end too short to reach and impossible to unwind further. A sad tale!
However, I have a Stanton 881 waiting in the wings, so hopefully all is not lost! ;=})
I have a second Stanton 600 cartridge and some styli, and was tempted to respond, but I'd already mounted it on a (very lightweight arm) Garrard GT-35P, which I might sell or pass on to a friend, although I'm puzzled about the arm set-up, which originally had an acrylic snap on device to set the stylus in the head-shell, seems an odd alignment.
I'll have to start a new thread about that!
But I also used to own one of those Garrard arms, when I was about 16-17 and building a Mullard 3-3 SE valve amp;-
then I went to an SP25 Mk I heavy cast platter. Mk II was heavy platter as well, but after that it was lightweight pressed steel. But I think I had the arm alone. Can't remember a turntable for it.
But it's a fairly heavy arm, as I recall, so I'm not sure if a high compliance cartridge would suit? Also it doesn't have anti-skate, I think.
The 4HF may have a pressed steel platter?
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Pundit
Post by papahemi on Apr 28, 2021 7:14:24 GMT 12
That is a nice unit, upon seeing the smaller pics I thought it was in a biscuit tin. My example is a lot rougher:   The usual crappy pics sorry, but you can see I have a lot to do. Now I have something to aspire to. Have you had it in a plinth? What have you done to get it to this stage?
We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.
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Post by foveaux on Apr 28, 2021 8:19:30 GMT 12
Would love to see some pics, they may inspire me to work on mine. Here are some pics for you:
Ahh, 'Mazda Racing Orange' ? 
"I see music as a lifetime affair." [Rory Gallagher]
"Free - I miss that band, but when I look back, we were very young" [Paul Rodgers]
848 posts
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Pundit
Post by tonyd on Apr 28, 2021 11:50:47 GMT 12
Here are some pics for you:
Ahh, 'Mazda Racing Orange' ? Ha, good spotting. I like a bit of orange around me: 
I always use it on the workstands I make for turntables I am working on. This is one for Dom's 301 that I did:
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Pundit
Post by tonyd on Apr 28, 2021 12:00:05 GMT 12
That is a nice unit, upon seeing the smaller pics I thought it was in a biscuit tin. My example is a lot rougher: The usual crappy pics sorry, but you can see I have a lot to do. Now I have something to aspire to. Have you had it in a plinth? What have you done to get it to this stage? It doesn't look too bad, apart from the built-up grime under the platter? Does it have any paint chips or scratches? Have you connected it to power yet?
I don't have a plinth. I see that you can by plinths for 4HF on Ebay. It would be easy to build one, no need for layers of Baltic Pine, special footers etc.
I have not done much so far - new power cord, cleaned the main bearing, fitted a brake pad (with some difficulty), new felt washer, a bit of lubrication on the levers. Now I am looking to tidy up the connections on the tag strip that go to the preamp.
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Pundit
Post by papahemi on Apr 28, 2021 12:21:11 GMT 12
It has a chip on the right rear side. Not too bad but noticeable. Cord has been cut so no power as yet, but all seems to move smoothly under the hand. I intend to put it in a layered ply plinth made to the form of a biscuit tin and use it as a 7" 45 player.
We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.
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Post by cartridgeguyonline on Apr 28, 2021 17:39:21 GMT 12
A Stanton 881 is a very desirable item: Much envious !
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Post by RdM on Apr 28, 2021 18:30:52 GMT 12
A Stanton 881 is a very desirable item: Much envious ! Unfortunately the cantilever is damaged so it will need a new stylus, when I can afford one.
Meanwhile I noticed, looking up the 4HF(trying to compare the arm I used to have - must have been a TPA10 or TPA12) some reviews, including mention of cartridges, here:
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Post by cartridgeguyonline on Apr 29, 2021 15:22:04 GMT 12
Can you still get stylii for those ?
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Pundit
Post by neilsan on Apr 29, 2021 20:18:47 GMT 12
Got a Jico Shibata for mine.
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Post by RdM on Apr 29, 2021 20:45:36 GMT 12
Can you still get stylii for those ?
Apologies for the topic drift, but oh well, Stanton were mentioned! ;-)
A few minutes with Google (or actually Startpage.com) shows, although I'd researched before, still, good to catch up:
[Edit:] I also see this, apparently made in Japan, with reviews &etc.]
However,
styli.co.nz/brand/129-stanton has a D81S, NZD 190.50, but they are using a generic photo applicable to others.. I intend to ring them and see if it's actually original, and white. Although I have read that the rubber suspension can go off on older NOS Stanton 881 styli.
If you're looking to buy an 881 cartridge, perhaps this link may help?
_
Back OT, from the reviews link I posted earlier, maybe a Stanton 500 would suit the slightly medium-heavy arm?
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Pundit
Post by tonyd on May 4, 2021 9:39:49 GMT 12
Stanton 500AL has arrived - very grateful thanks for that Cartridge Guy - and I picked up two styli for $38 from Sound Division. Now to figure out how to connect it to the three-pin headshell.
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Post by cartridgeguyonline on May 4, 2021 12:41:22 GMT 12
So is that a shared earth Tony ? Good buying on the stylii...
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