Question on needle replacement/alternative for LPC480

I've determined that one of the needles is bad.

Playing side A was nice and clear, side B sounded like garbled distortion.

Swapped the needles, and the problem reversed. Side A sounded like garbled distortion, side B was clean.

This is also what initially caused me to think the unit was playing slow. My initial selection was the garbled and distorted side, which made me think it was playing too slow.

In reading, I see there are various other colors for T needles, violet and green, I seem to recall.(the book is not at my side right now)

I've read Ron's book (thanks Ron), and I do see which needles are spec'd for which machine.

What is the real world consequence of installing an other than specified needle? Is it a force issue? A sonic issue?

Cringing at the cost of a new needle, looking at used alternatives, as the blue needle is not always available.

There are only two needles available for the 480's, diamond, or sapphire "T's"--unless someone has changed the tone arm, or has installed a 345 type stereo cartridge ( very rare-were sold as 345-07D and 345-07S models). I explained this in the guide--The only good needles available today, are pricey--but they are a limited production run, and costly to make, CORRECTLY----Ron Rich

Yeah, you packed a lot of info in there...haven't digested it all. Thanks.

i think you are on the right track about trying to find a decent used needle to match your good one. at least for now. the new needles are quite different and i can't imagine trying to match the tracking forces for an old one and a new one.

a word to the wise (from this not so wise amateur tech) if you decide to spring for a pair of the new needles, be sure to test them right away. it appears that they *can* be defective, though of course many folks have been fine with them. i made the mistake of ordering them along with some other parts, but didn't get them in the LPC for some months ( i had other issues to deal with! ...and wanted to keep the needles fresh and away from my clumsy tinkering) when i finally got the juke working mechanically, i got the new needles in, and they never really balanced well together. even the exertion of the trip lever induced horrible distortion (despite various spring tensions). i recently consulted with my tech (the wonderful Warren Rowe) and he confirmed that he has had to send some back because of this, and that other sets from the same supplier would work well. i'm pretty sure that the ones i got are never going to work as a pair. but i bought them so long ago, and have put a few RPM's on them, i doubt i can return them now.

i ended up replacing the whole tonearm/cradle assembly with a later one from a late 60's/early 70's Seeburg with the magnetic trip switch. it uses a newer cartridge that was in production much longer and replacement styli are quite affordable. the behavior is delightfully more consistent than the original one i had.