What brand of needles do you use?

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to know what brand of needles you all use. Further, have you found any brand to cause more wear than others?

I've used Walt Sommers (Cybertigger on ebay) needles and they were the only ones I used to buy. They seem to work just fine and he has an impressive article on needles on each ebay needle listing he posts.

I've used Chamberlain needles (only soft tone) and found them to have a more refined finish that Walts and have more of a taper. The soft tone ones are tin indeed and producer a fine sound.

I've also tried Bryophonic medium tone needles. They played well, but what I found interesting is that far less recorddust is left on these after a play and consistently so.

Overall, I can't decide if one brand is better than the other. Have you any opinions?

I've used Bry-O-Phonic needles, exclusively, for the past 15 years. The only time I've spotted record dust was when I've played later (mid-to-late 1930s and beyond) records. I always play electrical recordings on my Orthophonic Victrola, and acoustic records on my Vic. V.

One thing I've noticed about Bry-O-Phonic needles is that the quality control isn't the best. In every package of 100, I've come across five or ten needles with barbed or blunt points. Before inserting a needle, I've learned to run my nail around the point to check for a barb, and to lightly feel the point to make sure it's sharp.

JDS

Joe,

Thanks for the response. Where do you order those needles anyway? The only package I've used came with a Columbia 710 I bought.

Thanks,

Imperial-Guardsman wrote:Joe,

Thanks for the response. Where do you order those needles anyway? The only package I've used came with a Columbia 710 I bought.

Thanks,

I had always ordered Bry-O-Phonic needles directly from Martin Bryan, but I no longer have his email address. The last batch--2,000 needles--I got from him was ordered about five years ago.

I've seen some packs listed for sale on a few websites, under the Bry-O-Phonic brand name, but the ads/web pages are several years old, so I don't know if they're still available.

I'll have to do some searching, because my current supply is running low. If I find a viable email address for him, that I have his permission to pass along, I'll let you know via PM.

Joe

I look forward to it, thanks!