02-09-2014, 11:21 PM
The last last thing....
The cartridge is NOT 66-1 or any ceramic 66xx (66-TY, looks the same as 66-1). Starting from the fact it is not aluminum but white plastic and the shape is totally different and the pins are arranged vertically one over another, not horizontally.
I guess this is also the reason they changed the wire clamps.
I have an itch to fix this but so far it's been a freeby and with this a cartridge is anywhere from 96 bucks at Turntableneedles.com to 35 bucks for two in this auction
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-NOS-ASTATIC-66...5afabb96df
but ine is oxidized and the condithion, even if it is NOS, is unknown.
PS. Just thought of it....I have plenty of receptacle connectors contacts that crimp on the #28-30 wires and are in fact the same material and thickness (berillium copper and are even gold-plated) as the turntable head connectors that go onto the cartridge pins. Some might fit the pins of the adapter cartridge. If this works I will 1) try to fit the contacts 2) try to yank the wires, crimp the contacts on, 3) hopefully throw away that mess of push-ons that create problems, plus eliminate thet soldering mess and black tape. That would be a final touch on otherwise fully working TPA-1, short of buying a new needle or cartridge (which I leave to Tim to do as this might get a bit expensive).
The cartridge is NOT 66-1 or any ceramic 66xx (66-TY, looks the same as 66-1). Starting from the fact it is not aluminum but white plastic and the shape is totally different and the pins are arranged vertically one over another, not horizontally.
I guess this is also the reason they changed the wire clamps.
I have an itch to fix this but so far it's been a freeby and with this a cartridge is anywhere from 96 bucks at Turntableneedles.com to 35 bucks for two in this auction
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-NOS-ASTATIC-66...5afabb96df
but ine is oxidized and the condithion, even if it is NOS, is unknown.
PS. Just thought of it....I have plenty of receptacle connectors contacts that crimp on the #28-30 wires and are in fact the same material and thickness (berillium copper and are even gold-plated) as the turntable head connectors that go onto the cartridge pins. Some might fit the pins of the adapter cartridge. If this works I will 1) try to fit the contacts 2) try to yank the wires, crimp the contacts on, 3) hopefully throw away that mess of push-ons that create problems, plus eliminate thet soldering mess and black tape. That would be a final touch on otherwise fully working TPA-1, short of buying a new needle or cartridge (which I leave to Tim to do as this might get a bit expensive).
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