Just Purchased Rockola 470

Chris, the "E' on Shure styli signifies an elliptical tip. this is generally not recommended for the sorts of arms you'll find in a juke.

Unlike the conical tips and elliptical requires an anti-skate mechanism for best performance and to prevent groove wall climbing.

The N55-E (if orig Shure) is rated @ 3/4 to 2 grams VTF max. It seems an odd choice for this application.

Rob/NYC

Rob-NYC wrote:It seems an odd choice for this application.

Rob/NYC

And here I was proud of myself for finding an authentic needle So what is the best I can buy for a jukebox like mine? I want good sound!

Give it to me straight Rob

As far as sound, if the stylus you have doesn't get wrecked by the poor arm performance, what you bought will probably be better than the original spec'd stylus.

Both Rock-Ola and Rowe/AMI went to a version of the Shure M44 in mid-1966 using the N44 stylus (3-5 grams VTF). This was continued till the end of vinyl machine production in the early 1990s (Rowe).

http://www.amazon.com/Shure-N44C-N44-Re ... B000PHJN6U

http://www.jukeboxparts.co.uk/index.php ... ductId=270

About using 'copy" styli; As Ron mentioned using authentic Shure brand is best overall. The principal shortcoming on copies is the often flimsy stylus suspension. In an unbalanced arm such as R-O this can lead to a cantilever collapse. In a more refined arm such as those on the Rowe 1100 series changer (or counter-weighted R-O) you can usually use these at approx 2 grams.

I have a pair of Rowe MM-1 hideaways in service with N-44 copies that I bought in-bulk. They are very 'floppy" and probably would not be a good choice for a floor model juke where people might jostle it, in a hideaway there is no problem.

What I suggest here is to do the mods as outlined in Adam's posts. This should eliminate the groove hopping and greatly reduce wear.

Rob

Cloudy Saturday makes for a good day to play with the jukebox based on everyone's advice:

(1) got manual for jukebox
(2) Oil tone arm
(3) Make counter-arm modification
(4) adjust weight of stylus to just over 2 grams (specifications of stylus)
(5) adjust where needle set down as some records were skipping the beginning of the song
(6) Clean records - surprisingly the were dirty even though they didn't look it
(7) right, lower speaker wires were crossed

I believe I have completed all the items of advice, and with noticing that one of the speakers was crossed, the old jukebox is mechanically running pretty darn smooth and sounds good too thanks to everyone!

Now to continue the clean up which shouldn't take too long as it's in pretty good condition. Will be ordering the coin mechanism and coin bag which should make it fully functional. And from what I can tell these machines don't come with a volume control so I will be researching a wall attachment tonight.

Thank you gentlemen for making this purchase a success and avoiding the cost of having someone come out to my house. The jukebox will be a treasured item in our home arcade for many years to come. My 8 year old son and I dancing to the music with just the light of the jukebox the other night was priceless!

Chris

All but the very early --early, jukeboxes came with a "volume control".
That age RockOla, has (had ?) a permanent VC affixed to the cabinet, which is accessible from the outside rear. An alternate "powered remote volume control" was also offered. One or more of your manuals should tell you this, how to connect it, and the "model number" required. Ron Rich

Ron Rich wrote:That age RockOla, has a permanent VC affixed to the cabinet, which is accessible from the outside rear. Ron Rich

I looked all over (inside) for the volume control and I'm thinking no way does this jukebox have big 12" speakers and it's playing so soft!

So this thing has gone from a crappy needle, a bass speaker that was reversed and low volume to a thumping, loud box! Finally sounds like I was hoping

It's interesting to hear the sound quality from some records versus others.

Chris

That stylus is an elliptical with a specified tracking force of 1-2g. There's no way that's going to be suitable for an unmodified rockola tonearm. I'd have a look on eBay for a Rockola stylus designed for 3-5g

EDIT: I missed the updates, seems you've already sorted it!

Chris,
So, your saying that you have now located the VC outside of the cabinet ??
If so, now check you manuals, and see if the speakers are connected properly !!
Ron Rich

Ron Rich wrote:Chris,
So, your saying that you have now located the VC outside of the cabinet ??
If so, now check you manuals, and see if the speakers are connected properly !!
Ron Rich

Yes I found the VC, The lower right bass had it's wires crossed, so now that has been fixed and sounds a ton better. I assume that is all the fine tuning I can do to maximize sound quality?

Chris

Chris,
Yep--It is a "JUKEBOX", made for a commercial environment, to make MONEY--not a "hi end, stereo system" made to make money for the "hypesters"---Ron Rich

Assuming the amp is original and hasnt been rebuilt, you could recap the amp if you can read circuit diagrams and solder / desolder. This may make it a little less bass heavy and have more definition.

Jason Tisdale (son of Vern Tisdale) sells great capacitor kits for jukebox amps, i bought one myself recently, all nicely labelled. I'll get round to installing it once I get my jukebox actually picking up and returning records correctly!!

http://www.verntisdale.com/

Hi Guys,
PLEASE, do not re-list anyone who is listed above in the "where to find" post over and over--check above, and if NOT listed, add it in that location--- That's the whole purpose of that post, being a "stickie"--always will be there ! !! Ron Rich