Help wanted with Garrard 2025TC - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Outrun_uk · 8th Mar 2018, 10:28 pm

Hi all,

I’ve picked up a Garrard 2025TC deck which I’d like to get working, my older brother had one when I was young as part of an ITT-KB KA1025 record player.

I seem to remember it having a flip over type stylus but the one I’ve picked up has an RS MC150 cartridge fitted which doesn’t stay in properly (I think the mount is worn or broken) and the stylus is knackered. If anyone can advise what cartridge and stylus should be fitted or better still has one available at a reasonable cost it would be appreciated

Thanks,

Kev

'LIVEWIRE?' · 8th Mar 2018, 10:35 pm

The 2025TC has, as you will know, a very narrow headshell, making it difficult to fit some cartridges. Is the MC150 a magnetic cartridge, btw? The original would have been ceramic, possibly a Sonotone or it's Garrard equivalent. Other members may know better than I what, if any, modern cart. will fit. Possibly one of the Chinese types available for about £2, though these only have a single stylus for playing LPs & 45s.

Outrun_uk · 8th Mar 2018, 10:47 pm

I'm not sure what type the MC150 is but i'd hazard a guess the the MC could mean Magnetic Cartridge? I've got one of thse Chinese carts somewhere so will investigate that if nothing else turns up, don't have any 78's but would be nice to have it original!

Thanks,

Kev

Edward Huggins · 8th Mar 2018, 11:54 pm

What type of amplifier do you plan to use with this deck? If you need a NOS ceramic type, and as you probably know, there are relatively few options available these days.

RojDW48 · 9th Mar 2018, 12:26 am

The Sonotone 3509 fits nicely in these tonearms and they are still available - Stylus Lady etc, so the clip you have already might have been 'persuaded' to fit the current MC150 (I can't find any info associated with that model ID)? The 2025TC is a nice little deck - I fitted one (with 3509) to my 40s Decca Deccalian to give it the chance to play LPs - and it's a very nice match.

vidjoman · 9th Mar 2018, 10:08 am

The black plastic part with the hole in it has a RadioSpares logo on it and the MC150 number.

'LIVEWIRE?' · 9th Mar 2018, 10:10 am

I couldn't find any info. on the RS Website about the MC150, either.

vidjoman · 9th Mar 2018, 11:37 am

It would have been a generic replacement type. Don’t think RS have done them for a long time. If the same type is wanted i’d Look for a slimline Shure M75 series.

lazythread · 9th Mar 2018, 12:52 pm

You will have to remove the ears of an M75, which may make it unusable for future use elsewhere - although it an excellent cartridge. Look out for a Pickering V15HB, they're usually very cheap on eBay and will take a standard Pickering V15 or Stanton 500 stylus. The photos show how I did it. I did drill another hole and tapped it 6BA further forwards in the 2025TC headshell, otherwise the cartridge is too far back. You'll also need to carefully open up the hole in the cartridge bracket (don't get metal filings inside the body).

Edward Huggins · 9th Mar 2018, 1:08 pm

We still need to hear from the OP whether he needs an MM or a Ceramic type......

Station X · 9th Mar 2018, 1:24 pm

Give the bloke a chance, he only started this thread late last night and probably has a job to go to during the day.

lazythread · 9th Mar 2018, 2:43 pm

Well he might work permanent night shifts like me

Kev - the cartridge in your photo looks like an Acos M7 derivative, which is definitely a magnetic cartridge. The cartridge body would have to be glued back into the plastic shell as I don't think it was designed to clip in. There are very few magnetic cartridges that clip into a housing.

Here's a comparison photo of the Pickering and a Shure M75 slimline. You'd have to trim the bracket to get it to fit.

78 styli for the Pickering and Shure cartridges are readily available.

What amplifier are you planning to use with this deck?

Outrun_uk · 12th Mar 2018, 10:36 pm

Hi all,

Been busy with work and running around over the weekend. I ended up fitting the Chinese cheapo cartridge in with a dab of glue (!) and the deck is basically working. I only picked it up for nostalgic reasons, my good records will only be played on my other decks.

It's plugged into the phono input of my workshop amp at the moment (Teac A-H300) but if I decide to set it up permanently will probably go with a cheap Acoustic Solutions amp I've got spare, not sure if it has a phono input but I do have a preamp around somehwere too.

Next job is to paint it up and fit decent mains wiring and output jacks but as I want to sand the wood back i'll have to wait for some better weather as it will be getting done outside.

Thanks everyone for your input

Cheers,

Kev

bikerhifinut · 12th Mar 2018, 11:30 pm

If you are using a standard Phono input, then they are as often as not set up for a magnetic cartridge with an out put around the 5mV mark. And will also have the RIAA eQ correction which will affect the frequency response from the ceramic cartridge adversely.
Better to use line input suited to the hundreds of millivolts output of a ceramic I'd say.

A.

gezza123 · 14th Mar 2018, 1:38 am

HI Kev.
This is all I have on the sp25t
hope its of use.
gezza123

8th Mar 2018, 10:28 pm	#1
Outrun_uk Heptode Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Liverpool, Merseyside, UK. Posts: 705	Help wanted with Garrard 2025TC Hi all, I’ve picked up a Garrard 2025TC deck which I’d like to get working, my older brother had one when I was young as part of an ITT-KB KA1025 record player. I seem to remember it having a flip over type stylus but the one I’ve picked up has an RS MC150 cartridge fitted which doesn’t stay in properly (I think the mount is worn or broken) and the stylus is knackered. If anyone can advise what cartridge and stylus should be fitted or better still has one available at a reasonable cost it would be appreciated Thanks, Kev Attached Thumbnails

8th Mar 2018, 10:35 pm	#2
'LIVEWIRE?' Rest in Peace Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: N.W. Oxfordshire(Chipping Norton) Posts: 7,306	Re: Help wanted with Garrard 2025TC The 2025TC has, as you will know, a very narrow headshell, making it difficult to fit some cartridges. Is the MC150 a magnetic cartridge, btw? The original would have been ceramic, possibly a Sonotone or it's Garrard equivalent. Other members may know better than I what, if any, modern cart. will fit. Possibly one of the Chinese types available for about £2, though these only have a single stylus for playing LPs & 45s.

8th Mar 2018, 10:47 pm	#3
Outrun_uk Heptode Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Liverpool, Merseyside, UK. Posts: 705	Re: Help wanted with Garrard 2025TC I'm not sure what type the MC150 is but i'd hazard a guess the the MC could mean Magnetic Cartridge? I've got one of thse Chinese carts somewhere so will investigate that if nothing else turns up, don't have any 78's but would be nice to have it original! Thanks, Kev

8th Mar 2018, 11:54 pm	#4
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,327	Re: Help wanted with Garrard 2025TC What type of amplifier do you plan to use with this deck? If you need a NOS ceramic type, and as you probably know, there are relatively few options available these days. __________________ Edward.

9th Mar 2018, 12:26 am	#5
RojDW48 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 2,074	Re: Help wanted with Garrard 2025TC The Sonotone 3509 fits nicely in these tonearms and they are still available - Stylus Lady etc, so the clip you have already might have been 'persuaded' to fit the current MC150 (I can't find any info associated with that model ID)? The 2025TC is a nice little deck - I fitted one (with 3509) to my 40s Decca Deccalian to give it the chance to play LPs - and it's a very nice match. __________________ '....don't go mistaking Paradise for that home across the road!' (Bob Dylan)

9th Mar 2018, 10:08 am	#6
vidjoman Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: East Sussex, UK. Posts: 3,326	Re: Help wanted with Garrard 2025TC The black plastic part with the hole in it has a RadioSpares logo on it and the MC150 number.

9th Mar 2018, 10:10 am	#7
'LIVEWIRE?' Rest in Peace Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: N.W. Oxfordshire(Chipping Norton) Posts: 7,306	Re: Help wanted with Garrard 2025TC I couldn't find any info. on the RS Website about the MC150, either.

9th Mar 2018, 11:37 am	#8
vidjoman Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: East Sussex, UK. Posts: 3,326	Re: Help wanted with Garrard 2025TC It would have been a generic replacement type. Don’t think RS have done them for a long time. If the same type is wanted i’d Look for a slimline Shure M75 series.

9th Mar 2018, 12:52 pm	#9
lazythread Pentode Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Berkshire, UK. Posts: 124	Re: Help wanted with Garrard 2025TC You will have to remove the ears of an M75, which may make it unusable for future use elsewhere - although it an excellent cartridge. Look out for a Pickering V15HB, they're usually very cheap on eBay and will take a standard Pickering V15 or Stanton 500 stylus. The photos show how I did it. I did drill another hole and tapped it 6BA further forwards in the 2025TC headshell, otherwise the cartridge is too far back. You'll also need to carefully open up the hole in the cartridge bracket (don't get metal filings inside the body). Attached Thumbnails __________________ Richard It's great when it goes around to make a sound.

9th Mar 2018, 1:08 pm	#10
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,327	Re: Help wanted with Garrard 2025TC We still need to hear from the OP whether he needs an MM or a Ceramic type...... __________________ Edward.

9th Mar 2018, 1:24 pm	#11
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,288	Re: Help wanted with Garrard 2025TC Give the bloke a chance, he only started this thread late last night and probably has a job to go to during the day. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

9th Mar 2018, 2:43 pm	#12
lazythread Pentode Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Berkshire, UK. Posts: 124	Re: Help wanted with Garrard 2025TC Well he might work permanent night shifts like me Kev - the cartridge in your photo looks like an Acos M7 derivative, which is definitely a magnetic cartridge. The cartridge body would have to be glued back into the plastic shell as I don't think it was designed to clip in. There are very few magnetic cartridges that clip into a housing. Here's a comparison photo of the Pickering and a Shure M75 slimline. You'd have to trim the bracket to get it to fit. 78 styli for the Pickering and Shure cartridges are readily available. What amplifier are you planning to use with this deck? Attached Thumbnails __________________ Richard It's great when it goes around to make a sound. Last edited by lazythread; 9th Mar 2018 at 2:47 pm. Reason: add comment re: 78s

12th Mar 2018, 10:36 pm	#13
Outrun_uk Heptode Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Liverpool, Merseyside, UK. Posts: 705	Re: Help wanted with Garrard 2025TC Hi all, Been busy with work and running around over the weekend. I ended up fitting the Chinese cheapo cartridge in with a dab of glue (!) and the deck is basically working. I only picked it up for nostalgic reasons, my good records will only be played on my other decks. It's plugged into the phono input of my workshop amp at the moment (Teac A-H300) but if I decide to set it up permanently will probably go with a cheap Acoustic Solutions amp I've got spare, not sure if it has a phono input but I do have a preamp around somehwere too. Next job is to paint it up and fit decent mains wiring and output jacks but as I want to sand the wood back i'll have to wait for some better weather as it will be getting done outside. Thanks everyone for your input Cheers, Kev

12th Mar 2018, 11:30 pm	#14
bikerhifinut Octode Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Penrith, Cumbria, UK Posts: 1,993	Re: Help wanted with Garrard 2025TC If you are using a standard Phono input, then they are as often as not set up for a magnetic cartridge with an out put around the 5mV mark. And will also have the RIAA eQ correction which will affect the frequency response from the ceramic cartridge adversely. Better to use line input suited to the hundreds of millivolts output of a ceramic I'd say. A.

14th Mar 2018, 1:38 am	#15
gezza123 Heptode Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Eastham, Wirral, Merseyside, UK. Posts: 788	Re: Help wanted with Garrard 2025TC HI Kev. This is all I have on the sp25t hope its of use. gezza123 Attached Thumbnails