Best cartridge for Garrard 2025tc - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

casperf · 27th Dec 2011, 6:19 pm

Greetings from Athens, GA. As a late-thirties vinyl enthusiast, this forum has been a great help to me in repairing my table. Thank you regular posters.

It's time for a new stylus for my Garrard 2025tc. I can get a replacement for my Pickering HP/AC-1 cartridge quite easily, but I am curious if there are better alternatives out there. This cartridge came with the table ($free from its original owner after years of neglect in the attic). Don't worry, I've re-oiled the motor and other parts. It runs like a champ.

Does anyone have suggestions about what superior cartridges would fit my tonearm?

And further more, how do I get the Pickering cartridge off? I don't see any screws on this one. Is it just glued on?

Audio1950 · 27th Dec 2011, 7:52 pm

Are there not two screws, one either side of the cartridge, that screw into the headshell part of the arm? This is the usual method of fixing high quality cartridges like the Pickering.

Barry

casperf · 28th Dec 2011, 5:32 am

I think there is a cover on the cartridge and tonearm. Here are some pictures.

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ben · 28th Dec 2011, 11:39 am

Never seen a 2025TC with magnetic cartridge before. I believe the Stanton 500AL or EL (eliptical) will fit these pickerings, just watch the clearance of the headshell.

casperf · 29th Dec 2011, 12:51 am

Okay, you've seen the pictures. So, at the risk of looking stupid, does anyone have experience removing the cartridge in this kind of scenario?

Brian R Pateman · 29th Dec 2011, 10:32 am

The pickup shell pulls off the arm.

Hold the arm and pull the shell forward, gently, without twisting.

radiotircoed · 29th Dec 2011, 5:12 pm

Might this be T4P mount?

Brian R Pateman · 29th Dec 2011, 6:39 pm

I think that this pre-dates the T4P mount. The arm looks exactly the same as that fitted to the Garrard 5-300 auto-changers. They use a "pull off" shell (the black plastic bit) of which several variants were available. If my poor old memory serves there was a single screw and a two screw version and one with a clip for the Sontone cartridges.

casperf · 30th Dec 2011, 5:52 am

Brian, you may be right, but I can't get the clip off. I am already exerting more pressure than I feel I should.
Worse yet, the manual cue arm has just snapped off.

I believe this calls for two of those annoying emoticons. Specifically--

I guess I'll be leaving the Pickering on and getting some Superglue tomorrow.

D_S_J_R · 1st Jan 2012, 4:11 pm

Try a Pickering V15 - VE stylus, which tracks between 2.5 and 3 grammes I think. Available from Vickers in York (Pickering UK).

27th Dec 2011, 6:19 pm	#1
casperf Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Athens, GA, USA. Posts: 4	Best cartridge for Garrard 2025tc Greetings from Athens, GA. As a late-thirties vinyl enthusiast, this forum has been a great help to me in repairing my table. Thank you regular posters. It's time for a new stylus for my Garrard 2025tc. I can get a replacement for my Pickering HP/AC-1 cartridge quite easily, but I am curious if there are better alternatives out there. This cartridge came with the table ($free from its original owner after years of neglect in the attic). Don't worry, I've re-oiled the motor and other parts. It runs like a champ. Does anyone have suggestions about what superior cartridges would fit my tonearm? And further more, how do I get the Pickering cartridge off? I don't see any screws on this one. Is it just glued on?

27th Dec 2011, 7:52 pm	#2
Audio1950 Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Whittlesey, near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 3,763	Re: Best cartridge for Garrard 2025tc Are there not two screws, one either side of the cartridge, that screw into the headshell part of the arm? This is the usual method of fixing high quality cartridges like the Pickering. Barry

28th Dec 2011, 5:32 am	#3
casperf Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Athens, GA, USA. Posts: 4	Re: Best cartridge for Garrard 2025tc I think there is a cover on the cartridge and tonearm. Here are some pictures.

28th Dec 2011, 11:39 am	#4
ben Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK Posts: 7,498	Re: Best cartridge for Garrard 2025tc Never seen a 2025TC with magnetic cartridge before. I believe the Stanton 500AL or EL (eliptical) will fit these pickerings, just watch the clearance of the headshell. __________________ Regards, Ben.

29th Dec 2011, 12:51 am	#5
casperf Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Athens, GA, USA. Posts: 4	Re: Best cartridge for Garrard 2025tc Okay, you've seen the pictures. So, at the risk of looking stupid, does anyone have experience removing the cartridge in this kind of scenario?

29th Dec 2011, 10:32 am	#6
Brian R Pateman Nonode Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Western Lake District, Cumbria (CA20) - UK Posts: 2,136	Re: Best cartridge for Garrard 2025tc The pickup shell pulls off the arm. Hold the arm and pull the shell forward, gently, without twisting. __________________ Brian

29th Dec 2011, 5:12 pm	#7
radiotircoed Pentode Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Tircoed Forest Village - Swansea, UK. Posts: 193	Re: Best cartridge for Garrard 2025tc Might this be T4P mount? __________________ Radio Tircoed - Working for the Community

29th Dec 2011, 6:39 pm	#8
Brian R Pateman Nonode Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Western Lake District, Cumbria (CA20) - UK Posts: 2,136	Re: Best cartridge for Garrard 2025tc I think that this pre-dates the T4P mount. The arm looks exactly the same as that fitted to the Garrard 5-300 auto-changers. They use a "pull off" shell (the black plastic bit) of which several variants were available. If my poor old memory serves there was a single screw and a two screw version and one with a clip for the Sontone cartridges. __________________ Brian

30th Dec 2011, 5:52 am	#9
casperf Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Athens, GA, USA. Posts: 4	Re: Best cartridge for Garrard 2025tc Brian, you may be right, but I can't get the clip off. I am already exerting more pressure than I feel I should. Worse yet, the manual cue arm has just snapped off. I believe this calls for two of those annoying emoticons. Specifically-- I guess I'll be leaving the Pickering on and getting some Superglue tomorrow.

1st Jan 2012, 4:11 pm	#10
D_S_J_R Heptode Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Suffolk Coastal, UK. Posts: 603	Re: Best cartridge for Garrard 2025tc Try a Pickering V15 - VE stylus, which tracks between 2.5 and 3 grammes I think. Available from Vickers in York (Pickering UK). __________________ Best wishes, Dave