Seeburg HSC-1 CARTRIDGE sought

chaslittell · by **chaslittell** » Thu Aug 18, 2016 5:20 pm

Hi folks: I got the HSC-1 home LP jukebox mech working but for an occasional glitch (dirty relay points methinks I'll find it eventually). The SB-300 got new caps in the amplifier section and it works nicely from the stereo input (the radio is hopeless oh well.)

However the record player itself sounds muddy, and I assume this means my 50-year-old cartridge is toast. Is there a source for these? Were they used on other mechanisms? (I assume not, LPs are different than 45s....)

Thanks--Chas

by **Ron Rich** » Thu Aug 18, 2016 6:14 pm

Hi Chas,
All carts issued by Seeburg since 1966 were exactly the same. In all cases, if the cart works at all, it is fine--the needle however is another story. All of the "operating parts" are contained inside the plastic needle holder. MOST, if not all of the "after market" made units are a "compromise". Seeburg used four needles* in those days. Two of them are appropriate for the HSC's and two are not. The ones for the 160 selection phonos, and the HSCs, are either set in/on yellow plastic (diamond needle), or violet plastic (sapphire tip). These are made to operate at 2.5 grams force MAXIMUM, of three grams. The green/brown set are made to operate at 4-5 grams of pressure--the "compromise type"( usually yellow, or violet) are "made to operate at both pressures" --which, of course, despite what some of the re-sellers say ( "color is not relevant"), is impossible-
You may also have problems in the pre-amp, mounted to the mechanism front ?-

* see my "Seeburg Mechanism Guide"--Red colored plastics were also used for some Home stereo models--these, other than color, were identical, to the yellow type.

Ron Rich

chaslittell · by **chaslittell** » Thu Aug 18, 2016 7:02 pm

Hi Ron: Good info, thanks!

I have replaced the needles (yellow parts.)

I guess the next step is to put a known good turntable on the preamp and see what I get.

Thanks again--Chas

by **Ron Rich** » Thu Aug 18, 2016 7:47 pm

Hi Chas,
You "replaced" the needles--BUT, which supplier sold them--and are they THE "correct" or "compromise", style ? Ron Rich

MattTech · by **MattTech** » Fri Aug 19, 2016 12:29 am

The muddiness could be a result of design, or improper rebuilding of the amp.
Remember, these units were not "hi-fi".

by **Ron Rich** » Fri Aug 19, 2016 5:00 am

Hi Mattie,
They weren't "Low Fi" ?? The cartridge, with gen-u-whine (Pickering) Seeburg yellow needles is able to output from 36 to 36K Hz., according to Seeburg's hype---also, he noted above, it sounds good with a stereo input, so, IMHO, it's a needle or pre-amp ( mute relay?) problem--- Ron Rich