2. analog
  3. 149142-123955

Which stylus is correct for a Shellac LP

I found some older LPs which I believe are shellac (because they are stiff, not "bendy" like vinyl). Should I use the wider 78 stylus (3mm?), rather than a stylus typically used for LPs, (eg., .08?) because of the physical composition of the record? I’d rather know in advance than experiment and ruin a record, or a stylus.
128x128harrar10220
harrar10220's avatar
harrar10220 OP
4 posts
 
OMG.  I have a stylus for my 78s, and I have a stylus for my LPs (33 1/3).  The question is: are the grooves on the *shellac LPs* wide (like they are on 78s) or narrow (like they are on LPs). Did the recording process affect the grooves (utilize or create narrow grooves) when they made shellac LPs?    
Post removed 
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
+1 Elizabeth! I have an early Sonny Rollins pressing just like that in mono from the early 50's. Same groove width as all LPs.
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
The groove width of a 78 compared to a 33 and 1/3 LP is readily apparent to the eye! No need for a magnifying glass!
harrar10220's avatar
harrar10220 OP
4 posts
 
"The eye" is relative, (or at least mine is no longer that objective), but I take the reasonable explanations offered - thank you!  I only asked in the first place because I was always taught the rule of thumb: Stiff = Shellac and 'Bendy' = Vinyl.  I actually have a quite a few stiff LPs.  Do I now I have to worry about using a mono stylus for those playbacks instead of the 2 channel stylus I normally use? 
More to discover