Hacker Gondolier - A bit of help required please - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

HiFiNick · 23rd May 2020, 8:29 am

Hello
I have just bought a Hacker Gondolier fitted with a Garrard 2025TC and a Sonotone 3549 cartridge which I think is faulty.
The GP42 sounded great for the first fifteen minutes or so.
Then half way through 'Dark Side Of The Moon' there were some pops and lots of noise intereference, irrespective of volume.
Now I only get minimal volume, even on max.
So I looked at some of the previous threads posted here and carefully carried out the following tests without removing the 2025TC;
Swapped over the two ECL86's in the GP42 - no difference
Swapped over the two ECL86's between the GP42 and an GP15 - no difference
Plugged a CD player into the GP42 input and got a healthy volume
Plugged a CD player into the GP15 input and got a healthy volume
Plugged a Garrard 3.500 into the GP42 input and got a healthy volume
So I think its the cartridge which is the problem. Would you agree?
So where do I go frome here?
Is it possble to repair my existing cartridge?
Is it possible to get a replacement 3549?
Should I explore the option of getting an ACOS GP93? Will one of these fit without any modifications?
Lots of questions I know, but I'm keen to get this lovely machine up and running again.
Thanks in advance for any help and taking the time to read this.
Kind regards
Nick

leslie5555 · 23rd May 2020, 9:06 am

I replaced mine with a BSR SC11M cartridge found on the auction site for just under £45. So not cheap but comes complete with fixing bracket (which I didn't use) and new stylus. And was easy to fit and sounds great.

Edward Huggins · 23rd May 2020, 12:13 pm

It may not be the cartridge at all as you said it worked OK at first. It might be the cartridge connecting pins that need cleaning. Use a fine emery paper and a contact cleaner - Servisol 10. If you pull the connectors off (and you may have to) do use fine Tweezers AND it's essential to note the correct location of each of the 4 coloured wires to each pin. If this does not work, and you if are still conviced that it is the cartridge, be aware that there are only a very few cartridges that will accurately fit the very narrow tone arm head. Whilst using the contact cleane, do spray the volume control as well.

HiFiNick · 24th May 2020, 9:50 am

Many thanks guys for your responses
I'll very carefully examine and clean the existing cartridge and see how I get on
It's very fiddly stuff and one slight slip could easily do lots of damage
I'll take my time
Nick

vinrads · 24th May 2020, 10:26 am

An excellent choice of record player , and record of course

, I once constructed the amplifier ,I wonder what happened to it , the sonotone 9ta/hc is my choice of cartridge ,but would need the plug re wiring , good luck finding a replacement cartridge ,Mick.

23rd May 2020, 8:29 am	#1
HiFiNick Diode Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Weymouth, Dorsetshire, UK. Posts: 8	Hacker Gondolier - A bit of help required please Hello I have just bought a Hacker Gondolier fitted with a Garrard 2025TC and a Sonotone 3549 cartridge which I think is faulty. The GP42 sounded great for the first fifteen minutes or so. Then half way through 'Dark Side Of The Moon' there were some pops and lots of noise intereference, irrespective of volume. Now I only get minimal volume, even on max. So I looked at some of the previous threads posted here and carefully carried out the following tests without removing the 2025TC; Swapped over the two ECL86's in the GP42 - no difference Swapped over the two ECL86's between the GP42 and an GP15 - no difference Plugged a CD player into the GP42 input and got a healthy volume Plugged a CD player into the GP15 input and got a healthy volume Plugged a Garrard 3.500 into the GP42 input and got a healthy volume So I think its the cartridge which is the problem. Would you agree? So where do I go frome here? Is it possble to repair my existing cartridge? Is it possible to get a replacement 3549? Should I explore the option of getting an ACOS GP93? Will one of these fit without any modifications? Lots of questions I know, but I'm keen to get this lovely machine up and running again. Thanks in advance for any help and taking the time to read this. Kind regards Nick

23rd May 2020, 9:06 am	#2
leslie5555 Heptode Join Date: May 2015 Location: Reading, Berkshire, UK. Posts: 692	Re: Hacker Gondolier - A bit of help required please I replaced mine with a BSR SC11M cartridge found on the auction site for just under £45. So not cheap but comes complete with fixing bracket (which I didn't use) and new stylus. And was easy to fit and sounds great.

23rd May 2020, 12:13 pm	#3
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,338	Re: Hacker Gondolier - A bit of help required please It may not be the cartridge at all as you said it worked OK at first. It might be the cartridge connecting pins that need cleaning. Use a fine emery paper and a contact cleaner - Servisol 10. If you pull the connectors off (and you may have to) do use fine Tweezers AND it's essential to note the correct location of each of the 4 coloured wires to each pin. If this does not work, and you if are still conviced that it is the cartridge, be aware that there are only a very few cartridges that will accurately fit the very narrow tone arm head. Whilst using the contact cleane, do spray the volume control as well. __________________ Edward.

24th May 2020, 9:50 am	#4
HiFiNick Diode Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Weymouth, Dorsetshire, UK. Posts: 8	Re: Hacker Gondolier - A bit of help required please Many thanks guys for your responses I'll very carefully examine and clean the existing cartridge and see how I get on It's very fiddly stuff and one slight slip could easily do lots of damage I'll take my time Nick

24th May 2020, 10:26 am	#5
vinrads Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK. Posts: 3,766	Re: Hacker Gondolier - A bit of help required please An excellent choice of record player , and record of course , I once constructed the amplifier ,I wonder what happened to it , the sonotone 9ta/hc is my choice of cartridge ,but would need the plug re wiring , good luck finding a replacement cartridge ,Mick.