Dan

Have any of y'all changed the cartridge on your turntable yourself? How was it?

I'm thinking about upgrading mine. Should I buy brand new (I'm eyeing the Shure M97xE...) or get a used, but restored, vintage one?

Any suggestions?

kefrank

Maybe it's just me but I can't imagine why someone would buy a used cartridge.

I've changed out the cartridge on my Music Hall MMF-2.2. The tonearm wires are extremely thin and fragile and I ended up breaking one of them. I was able to fix it with some solder and shrinktube but I'm wary of ever trying again. All that to say, depending on your table, just be extremely delicate at every step if you're going to do it yourself.

Also, make sure you have the right counterweight for whatever cartridge you get. The cartridge I changed to required a heavier counterweight than the stock one. YMMV.

Supermallet

If I need to change the cartridge I take it to someone I trust, either a local amateur who knows their way around turntables very well, or a shop and pay a small fee to have them do it. I'm too hamfisted to trust myself.

Mikael79

I changed a cartridge on an old turntable, but when I bought a used Technics 1200, I paid to have a professional restore it and install a new cartridge.

Dan

Thanks guys. It seems fairly easy to do it myself on this particular turntable, so I might give it a shot. The folks at Uturn even shipped me a new counterweight and magnets (to add weight) for heavier cartridges, free of charge. I agree about being weary about buying a used cartridge. I just saw a local store that "specializes" in items that date back to the 30's, so I briefly considered it... but those are likely out of my price range anyway.

Anyway... I'm just going to bump this request again:

If you're in L.A. and you can swing by this place (about 5 miles from Amoeba), you'd be my personal hero. I want it for listening, not flipping. You can even crack it open and give it a spin before you send it to me if you want. I just REALLY want it.

Paff

I'm a tech professionally, so I found the replacement quite easy. Now, I'm still trying to find the right cartridge. I have that Shure, and to me it's no better than the much cheaper Audio Technica AT95E (although I do like the brush). I plan to try the Ortofon 2M Red sometime soon.

Ravenous

Found this release the other day and though its probably not some rare album. I really dig it and damn it sounds great!

slop101

Just got Manic's 2nd best album on limited blue vinyl.
Had to get it from Canada, as America can't seem to be arsed about this band...
It sounds amazing, BTW. It's the new remaster, and the vinyl is about as quiet as can be, especially for a colored one.

Geofferson

Fans of Amoeba may want to know Amoeba Records is the shirt of the month over at www.vinylshirtclub.com

Dan

Jim Guthrie's "Sword & Sworcery LP" is back in stock. Previous (color) versions are kind of expensive on eBay.

One of the best modern video game soundtracks ever, and I haven't played the game yet (but I will soon)

https://jimguthrie.bandcamp.com/albu...e-space-babies

$24.21 USD shipped. Totally worth it.

MBoyd

Here are all the Stranger Things variants so far -

http://filmmusicdaily.com/2016/09/16...tail-accounts/

I guess they left off these UK versions -

http://www.invada.co.uk/search?q=Stranger+things

I'm a take or leave it colored vinyl guy, but was kinda hot to order one last week but could never find a link. Ended up getting the pink 5th anniversary Drive instead. So I will probably just get the black vinyl version.

Dan

"VHS Black"
Isn't that just black?

I pre-ordered from Amazon, so I guess that's what I'm getting.

MBoyd

Yeah VHS Black cracked me up too! Someone on Facebook was asking for pictures!

Why So Blu?

I like that first one - the grey swirl or whatever it is version. Amoeba/Bullmoose/Turntable Labs, etc. Right now I have the Amazon on pre-order. May just cancel and scoop it up at Amoeba.

Hazel Motes

Does anyone ever run decent sales on new vinyl? I get most of my vinyl from garage sale hunting and from a cheap local record shop, so its hard for me to spend big dollars on new vinyl. But I'd like to buy some. Its just I never hear anything about sales. Anyone?

MBoyd

Soundstage direct. Elusive disc and Music Direct all send out coupon codes. Soundstage Direct just had one for 20% off and even good for pre-orders. My local store Waterloo just had thei annual 20% off sale. If you live near a Newberry Comics they seem to have in store sales quite a bit.

islandclaws

I'm just gonna wait until Vol. 2 is released and buy the box set they've been touting.

MBoyd

12" Drive on sale here http://italiansdoitbetter.bigcartel.com/

Why So Blu?

Just pre-ordered that Amoeba edition of the Stranger Things score.

kefrank

Thanks for the heads up! I already have the full soundtrack on mp3 only, but I love those tracks so I ordered a copy.

Why So Blu?

Damn, I missed the Italiansdoitbetter version of Neon Demon. They only got 350 units and they're gone.

MBoyd

Got mine in today. I thought the Mondo version sounded good, but at 45 rpm WOW! And Italians Do It Better never fails to throw in some extras to me. They gave me a 7" and another 12" as a bonus. Love those guys.

Why So Blu?

Fuck it, I just ordered that Drive vinyl 12".

kefrank

I couldn't agree more. Mine came today and my wife and I both commented on how great this record sounds on the very first listen.

I also got a bonus 12" and 7" in my package, along with several posters (on cheap paper, but still...free posters).

This was my first experience with Italians Do It Better and I am very impressed.

ruemorgue10

Recently found To Live and Die in L.A. soundtrack on vinyl. William Friedkin made a brilliant decision hiring Wang Chung to do the music for the film; it compliments it perfectly.