ARCHIVED FORUM -- March 2012 to February 2022READ ONLY FORUM
This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022
Hi All
Forgive my total ignorance please but I'm presently trying to put back into playing order a Beogram 5500 turntable with MMC4 stylus, learning from zero base as I go along. Tried to play some old LPs without much success, so have been suspecting worn or faulty stylus. Have removed stylus and had a try at inspecting the tip with a very basic Chinese USB microscope - first try of saved pic attached.
Is it possible from this pic to please to tell whether the tip is just dirty or worn-out? - I bought this turntable at a local auction so don't know its past. If it's just a very dirty stylus, what's the best way of cleaning it please - I've tried very gentle pricks into a ball of blue-tack so far and that seems to have shifted a lot of gunge but maybe not all of it?
David
Its really not possible to evaluate wear w/o a better microscope (usually observed from straight above); however, your picture which is excellent for a cheap USB scope shows quite a lot of build up on just below the tip which should appear as a smooth cone to its shaft if it were clean. When you state you playing of records was not successful, can you describe what you were hearing that made you feel this way? Also have you checked that the arm tracing force is correct? Finally, to clean that tip, you will need a stylus brush kit such as https://www.amazon.com/Turntable-Stylus-Cleaning-Brush-Kit/dp/B076CXM8VM as Blue Tack only works for record-to-record cleaning and not the heavier duty that you need here.
Many thanks indeed for the guidance Mark - much appreciated - will try!
regards
PS
Tried some more cleaning - now at least looks symmetrical and gunge-free!
Good job! Note the reflection (lighter area) at the very tip. This is the only portion that contacts the groove. As this wears it becomes flatter and wider thus reflecting more light. There is definitely visible wear but as to whether you are hearing this, I would need a better description of what you now are hearing that you view as abnormal.
Have reinstalled the MMC4 so will give it all a test run to listen how it is now and report back on here.
Again, many thanks, Mark!