Marconiphone 4028 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Sabojh96 · 27th Mar 2020, 1:33 am

Hi all.

I have a Marconiphone 4028 record player with a BSR deck which I had serviced last year. (All the old grease had dried up making it run slow and controls getting stuck). The only slight issue I have with it is that when playing 45's or getting towards the last track of an LP there seems to be some distortion and loss of high/mid frequencies resulting in it sounding slightly muddy. It’s not completely unbearable but somewhat annoying as it wasn’t like this before the service. I’m guessing the stylus pressure is too high? Wondering if someone would be able to help me adjust it or any other suggestions as to what it might be. I’ve attached a pic of the player.

Thanks, Sabian.

Nuvistor · 27th Mar 2020, 9:27 am

I asume the stylus is good and not worn or damaged? The service sheet states a C1 cartridge and ST3 stylus but these could have been changed in the last 50 years.
Have you anything to check the stylus pressure with?

Edward Huggins · 27th Mar 2020, 10:21 am

It sounds like there may still be some lateral drag on the tone arm causing poor tracking. There is no bias/anti-skate adjustment on this deck, so it may be worth just checking for any under-motor-board fouling or to see if the cartridge wiring is not bunching up.

ben · 28th Mar 2020, 1:51 am

Distortion at the end of a side suggests that the slider and trip pawl may not be totally free and are dragging on the arm, likely down to more hardened grease you may have missed.
Remove the cam below the platter, and check everything. See that the ball bearing is present on the slider actuator.

Sabojh96 · 2nd Apr 2020, 11:42 pm

Thanks everyone. I did manage to adjust the stylus pressure which made a slight improvement and I have a new stylus on the way. Failing that, Ben would you be able to upload a picture of which part I need to be looking at please as I’m a bit of a novice at this. Thanks. Sabian.

Edward Huggins · 3rd Apr 2020, 7:23 am

A new stylus is no bad thing, but is unlikely to resolve the problem. A bit of mechanical invervention will be needed. Have you been able to remove the platter yet?

Sabojh96 · 8th Apr 2020, 11:11 am

Thanks everyone. Managed to get a new stylus, and adjust the tracking weight and it’s made a huge difference, sounds fantastic. So much clearer and no distortion! The old stylus must have been seriously worn out. Glad it was a simple fix. Thanks again guys.

27th Mar 2020, 1:33 am	#1
Sabojh96 Diode Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 3	Marconiphone 4028 Hi all. I have a Marconiphone 4028 record player with a BSR deck which I had serviced last year. (All the old grease had dried up making it run slow and controls getting stuck). The only slight issue I have with it is that when playing 45's or getting towards the last track of an LP there seems to be some distortion and loss of high/mid frequencies resulting in it sounding slightly muddy. It’s not completely unbearable but somewhat annoying as it wasn’t like this before the service. I’m guessing the stylus pressure is too high? Wondering if someone would be able to help me adjust it or any other suggestions as to what it might be. I’ve attached a pic of the player. Thanks, Sabian. Attached Thumbnails

27th Mar 2020, 9:27 am	#2
Nuvistor Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 9,433	Re: Marconiphone 4028 I asume the stylus is good and not worn or damaged? The service sheet states a C1 cartridge and ST3 stylus but these could have been changed in the last 50 years. Have you anything to check the stylus pressure with? __________________ Frank

27th Mar 2020, 10:21 am	#3
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,335	Re: Marconiphone 4028 It sounds like there may still be some lateral drag on the tone arm causing poor tracking. There is no bias/anti-skate adjustment on this deck, so it may be worth just checking for any under-motor-board fouling or to see if the cartridge wiring is not bunching up. __________________ Edward.

28th Mar 2020, 1:51 am	#4
ben Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK Posts: 7,498	Re: Marconiphone 4028 Distortion at the end of a side suggests that the slider and trip pawl may not be totally free and are dragging on the arm, likely down to more hardened grease you may have missed. Remove the cam below the platter, and check everything. See that the ball bearing is present on the slider actuator. __________________ Regards, Ben.

2nd Apr 2020, 11:42 pm	#5
Sabojh96 Diode Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 3	Re: Marconiphone 4028 Thanks everyone. I did manage to adjust the stylus pressure which made a slight improvement and I have a new stylus on the way. Failing that, Ben would you be able to upload a picture of which part I need to be looking at please as I’m a bit of a novice at this. Thanks. Sabian.

3rd Apr 2020, 7:23 am	#6
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,335	Re: Marconiphone 4028 A new stylus is no bad thing, but is unlikely to resolve the problem. A bit of mechanical invervention will be needed. Have you been able to remove the platter yet? __________________ Edward.

8th Apr 2020, 11:11 am	#7
Sabojh96 Diode Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 3	Re: Marconiphone 4028 Thanks everyone. Managed to get a new stylus, and adjust the tracking weight and it’s made a huge difference, sounds fantastic. So much clearer and no distortion! The old stylus must have been seriously worn out. Glad it was a simple fix. Thanks again guys.