Garrard RC88/4 maintenance


Hi there,

I'm a record nut who knows next to nothing about record players, especially vintage/antique phonographs. I recently managed to get my grandmother's old tube amplifier (a great old Bogen LS67[?]) to work and it's connected to an old Sherwood radio that also works. The turntable, however, seems to spin but I can't check whether it works until I find the right needle.

Anybody have any advice on how to get my Garrard RC88/4 back up and running? In particular, anyone know what kinda needle I'd need to purchase?

Thanks,
Dan
ginovannelli
Rich,

Sorry this reply took so long. Yes, it is part of a console, an old Asian-styled lacquer console from the fifties, I think. The console is given as "Windsor Cabinet by Drexel, Magnavox, Fort Wayne, Ind."

Thanks for the info, very good to know.
Gino:

That model of Garrard record player used a ceramic cartridge with a flip over stylus ... one side for 33's & 45's, the other for 78's. Not to be funny, but God knows where you would get a replacement ceramic cartridge these days. My dad repaired appliances back in the day and having grown up with at lot of these older style record players (1960's and before), I feel that the tonearms were clunkers and would most likely damage your records. With that said, I would also think that your Bogen might need some type of work to accept a magnetic cartridge. Is this set-up part of/ taken from a console?

Regards, Rich
Also, the Garrard seems to be lacking the stacker part of the spindle. I'm not sure this is necessary if I plan on playing one at a time... anyone know? I hear this part is incredibly hard to find and very expensive, is this correct?

Thanks again.