The Needle Thread (2011 Edition)
discos_alma
discos_alma 2,164 Posts
The Needle Thread (2011 Edition)
So, we haven't done this in a year or so. Right now, I'm in the market for 3 needles: 2 for DJ / mixing usage, plus one more for recording / rippage.
For the DJ setup, I'm kind of torn between the Concorde Nightclub MKII's and the Concorde Q.Bert. Do the Nightclubs put heavy wear on records? The Q.Berts (what I currently have) don't wear down the grooves at all.
For recording, I'm thinking about a Shure Whitelabel.
Is there any new shit that I should be checking for? I don't use Serato.
So, we haven't done this in a year or so. Right now, I'm in the market for 3 needles: 2 for DJ / mixing usage, plus one more for recording / rippage.
For the DJ setup, I'm kind of torn between the Concorde Nightclub MKII's and the Concorde Q.Bert. Do the Nightclubs put heavy wear on records? The Q.Berts (what I currently have) don't wear down the grooves at all.
For recording, I'm thinking about a Shure Whitelabel.
Is there any new shit that I should be checking for? I don't use Serato.
Comments
I had been told to go for the Whitelabels. Most of my record spinning is at home these days. Are they really that good?
Word of advice, avoid Stanton
I always chime in on these threads since I spend a fair amount of time comparing different set ups and doing transfers.
White Labels are very versatile and generally have less vinyl noise and groove distortion than Night Clubs. They sound good with a wide variety of music, whereas Night Clubs aren't great for acoustic music and some others. I also think WL's are good value for the $$$.
I have used NC's for transfers on occasion if the record I'm working with is flat sounding or lacking in dynamics, though.
Can anyone speak for the wear that these cause on records? I do a fair amount of backspinning and don't want to fuck up my records.
I use my turntables for (in order of importance):
1. Listening
2. Sampling
3. Bed room DJing (I don't scratch)
How suited is the Shure Whitelabel for this purpose? Is this what you will use the whitelabel for as well, musica?
How does the whitelabel compare to the Ortofon Arkiv? The Whitelabel has a spherical stylus while the Arkiv has an elliptical stylus. How does that affect the wear on the records? And the sound? Isnt the elliptical stylus supposed to be superior to the spherical stylus as long as you don't scratch?
Once I had this rumble / bass feedback only from one turntable as soon as I gave it too much volume/bass, I tried everything and then switched out the needle that I had only used for 2 gigs before that and the feedback problem was gone instantly. Since then I've been switching them a lot more frequently. $60 for a pair of needles isn't much money if you play out expensive OGs, always worth it to pay it safe.
However, I still wish that tiny little curved arm you lift them with would better accommodate my German sausage fingers.
I used Ortofon Nightclub before and switched to Whitelabels maybe 8 or 9 years ago. The improvement in sound was so dramatic that even the bartender at my club night noticed and asked what I had done to get the system to sound much better. I also noticed much less or better almost zero queue burns even on styrene 45s as long as you don't overdo it with the tracking force.
Can you donate your old needles to me, or are they thrashed after your gigs? I'll pay for shipping!
Shure m97xE
Been really happy with this one for listening and recording. Anyone compare this to the white label?
As far as what's been discussed here, White Labels for sure.
I swear by Shure M44-Gs, and not only because of this. They are fairly cheap, sound great and are gentle with old records, specially styrene. I was actually going to buy the white labels, but I was advised to go with these by someone working for Shure.
If you scratch or want to Dj with them, you can get the M44-7s, the cartridge is the same and the only difference is higher output and tracking force range.
Cartridge + stylus is $69, which is a great deal if you ask me.
completely forget about M 44g's...........6 weeks after I bought mine (years ago), for home use mind you, the stylus was fucked!!!! utmost care was taken, records used were free of grit and damage.....avoid like the plague!
WL's are the biz!
should i still get whitelabels for recording? (no DJing)
it's on a systemdek II (kinda audiophile table)
cosign.. I do all my vinyl ripping with this. Turntable connected directly into an NI audio 8..
That's not true.
In other words: that hasn't happened to me or anyone else I know who uses M44 Gs, so the problem is not in the styli.
had Ortofon Nightclubs for years, fancied a change
wasted $$$ on Stanton's
wasted $$$ on Ortofon Scratch needles
wasted $$$ on Shure White Labels (I was really disappointed with these)
went back to Ortofon Nightclubs
for playin out, still this is my favourite:
great fidelity, booming Bass and very gentle to your beloved records. You??ll will also be able to scratch and backspinn with them without causing any harm to the wax. I know many stantons are shit but on these they did a great job. Dont get it twisted with other similar looking models or the white tiped ones, there??s even an updated version which allows for S***** use aswell but the Original SA-890 is the one and only Winner.
Sadly its getting harder to find the replacement tips (SA-89) as i guess they stopped manufacturing because of the updated version, so if anybody knows a good source to fill up my stack of spare tips would be appreciated.
I've used this, but still prefer the M44-G/7s.
Great avatar, BTW.