In the Court- Steve Wilson’s 50th Anniversary Remix on Vinyl In the Court of the Crimson King was not just foundational to the emergence of “prog rock” but has endured long after many other influential and important early bands who tapped that … [Read More...]
El Donut Shoppe— “Inspirational” Rare Jazz Records
El Donut Shoppe— “Inspirational” Rare Jazz Records Rare jazz records have gotten pricey. I've patronized a number of dealers in the last few years, but there are a few that stand out. One is Uncle Tony’s El Donut Shoppe. It is not your “normal” … [Read More...]
Almanac-Nock-Maupin-McBee-Marshall
Almanac- Nock-Maupin-McBee-Marshall Almanac, featuring Mike Nock, Bennie Maupin, Cecil McBee and Eddie Marshall is a stunning album that draws its power from the strength of its performers, … [Read More...]
Boomerang featuring Mark Stein
Boomerang featuring Mark Stein Boomerang- by definition, something that returns to the originator. Mark Stein may have been ahead of his time. As a founding member of Vanilla Fudge, largely … [Read More...]
Kent Glenn- Good for the Garden
Kent Glenn- Good for the Garden Kent Glenn’s Good for the Garden initially lured me in because the cover art was the antithesis of the music on the record. Glorious jazz from an L.A. composer who … [Read More...]
Bombadil- Beautiful Country
Bombadil- Beautiful Country Bombadil- I’ll confess to not knowing much about this band and further admit that I don’t listen to much “pop” music these days (in the sense of sweet songs that focus on … [Read More...]
BRAHJA- Self-Titled
BRAHJA- Self-Titled A cooperative of musicians, led by Devin Brahja Waldman of New York, recorded this album in a de-sanctified church in rural Quebec (with additional recording and mixing in New … [Read More...]
Jothan Callins- Winds of Change
Jothan Callins- Winds of Change Jothan Callins released one album as a band leader- Winds of Change, which captures everything that I revel in when listening to the less well travelled jazz records … [Read More...]
Cecil McBee- Mutima (Strata-East)
Cecil McBee- Mutima (Strata-East) I didn’t appreciate how much I enjoyed listening to Cecil McBee until I started to sift through some of the records I loved and found him credited as the … [Read More...]
Ronnie Boykins (The Will Come, Is Now)
Ronnie Boykins (The Will Come, Is Now) Ronnie Boykins was a disciple of Sun Ra’s Arkestra with a long list of credits as a bassist. This album, which is Boykins' sole release as a band leader, is … [Read More...]
Worldwide List of Phono Cartridge Retippers and Rebuilders
Worldwide List of Phono Cartridge Retippers and Rebuilders Compiled By Rob (with an introduction by Bill Hart) In connection with the publication of Mike Bodell’s study on stylus wear, I thought readers might find value in the attached list of phono cartridge retippers and rebuilders. These folks can repair most phono cartridges and bring them back to life. I do think it makes sense to consult the original cartridge manufacturer first for advice on stylus life and options for inspection.This may prove particularly important if there is any possible warranty coverage, since once a cartridge has been modified or retipped by a third party, the original manufacturer may be unwilling to perform any work on it, whether or not under warranty. Apart from the original cartridge manufacturer, there are many third-party resources for cartridge repair and retipping if you choose not to have the manufacturer do so or do not have a local dealer who is qualified to perform such an inspection. The list which follows was compiled by my friend Rob, a long-time audiophile with a considerable amount of experience buying, using and enjoying some of the great hi-fi gear made over the decades. Rob contributed this list to a forum I frequent and allowed me to reprint it here.[1] Among the questions you might consider, apart from location, turn-around time and expertise, are whether the shop will do an inspection to determine whether a stylus needs to be replaced (including an estimate of time for inspection alone) and whether they are capable of replacing the stylus without replacing the cantilever. Motor assembly and suspension work may also be within their domain but I’d check first. There may be others and readers are welcome to add them via comments (and I’ll try to update the list accordingly). My thanks to Rob, who is always gracious and ever so knowledgeable. Here’s the “list”: Expert Stylus Repair (Wyndham Hodgson) are UK … [Read More...]
The Finish Line for Your Phonograph Stylus…
The Finish Line for Your Phonograph Stylus… By Mike Bodell, May 23, 2019 Based on an informal survey of friends who predominately play vinyl records, I believe the most neglected part of their audio system is the stylus on their phonograph cartridge. The stylus is a key component in an audio system and is subjected to the most wear. Yet when I asked folks in my network how many hours of play their cartridges have seen, they could not tell me with any accuracy; all ventured educated guesses. I’ve been there too. Given the value of records today, particularly rare and collectible jazz records, it is astonishing that more care is not given to understanding the condition of the diamond stylus. That recognition led to this article, where I will examine the critical issue of stylus wear as it pertains to useful life and the potential for damage to records. In his 1954 booklet The Wear and Care of Records and Styli (Climax Pub. Co., New York, pp.56), babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015017575856;view=1up;seq=5 (courtesy of HathiTrust), Harold Weiler states that research shows the majority of listeners were damaging their valuable record collection through continued use of worn styli. He goes on to suggest that listeners were introducing considerable distortion into otherwise excellent audio systems. He writes, “It was a revelation to discover that even those who had acquired expensive fidelity reproducing equipment, were not entirely aware of the important part played by the stylus in record reproduction and record wear.” Honestly, little has changed. My research on stylus wear was driven in a large part by a desire to better care for records in my own collection, i.e., to do no harm with a worn stylus. Unfortunately, I’ve discovered that no consensus exists within the vinylphile community, nor even among manufacturers of phono cartridges on how many hours of play wears a modern natural diamond stylus to the point where it should to be … [Read More...]