Re: info on Russco broadcast turntable?

[Scott Dorsey]

In article >, Bohus Blahut > wrote:
>
> I'm posting in hopes that someone here may have some info about a really
>nice broadcast turntable that I'd like to start using. It is the Russco
>Studio Pro Model B. It's a monstrously heavy thing, and produces the best
>sound of any of my other tables. It's meant to be mounted into a countertop
>since it doesn't have its own cabinet. It plays both at 45 & 33, though it
>lacks any kind of strobe or any sort of speed adjustment. I can send
>pictures if anyone is interested.

Sure. What do you want to know about it? It's a rumble monster because
of the idler pick design, but it was very popular.

> I would appreciate any info or any leads that you might have. I
>couldn't find anything on the web. I'd love to get a copy of a manual or
>paperwork, or heck... just know what year it's from - I'm guessing 70's.

If Russco isn't around any more, try the broadcast supply houses. I know
the Harris/Allied guys sold those things for years because I bought four
of them from them for a station install once. You might try their used
guys at 800-300-0733. Note that these were shipped without arms, and most
folks opted for the crappy Micro-Trak arms, but they will take all kinds of
stuff including the SME arms. You will probably need a seperate manual for
the arm.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Scott Dorsey]

In article >, Bohus Blahut > wrote:
>
>
>> Sure. What do you want to know about it? It's a rumble monster because
>> of the idler puck design, but it was very popular.
>
> Ahh. I assumed that it was just something on mine that needed
>adjusting.

No, the basic bearing and power design dates back to the mono era; there is a
lot of vertical vibration on the platter but that doesn't matter since it
cancels out in mono. And anyway, there's a 50 Hz cut on the transmitter
most of the time.

> You don't happen to know what years it might be from, do you? I only
>know that it was in use at the radio station in the early 80's.

They were still making them in the early eighties... and I think the basic
design dates back to the early fifties.

>> Note that these were shipped without arms, and most
>> folks opted for the crappy Micro-Trak arms,
>
> I think that's what this one has. It doesn't appear to have a brand
>name on it anywhere - it's a wood arm with a pretty sizable aluminum head.
>I'm pretty sure it's the one that you're mentioning as I seem to recall an
>Ebay auction some time ago for the same thing. What is it that's a problem
>with it?

That's the Micro-Trak. It's okay as broadcast stuff goes, but it has very
limited adjustments and it weighs a ton. It's basically designed so that
DJ's can't wreck it. The bearings in them are pretty high friction since
they have so much surface area, but they also won't pop out under abuse
either. Some of them have VTA adjustment but most don't.

> Here's the deal. I need to transfer some 60's LP's to the computer, and
>would like to use a good turntable. I assumed that the Russco would have
>been the best for me to use since it was broadcast, but I'm getting the
>picture that it's built more for durability than fidelity. When I tested it
>way back when, I seem to recall it sounding markedly better than my B&O
>turntable. I've got four turntables to choose from for this project, which
>do you think is best?
>
>Russco
>B&O Beogram RX
>Pioneer PL-51
>Dual 506

The Dual is probably the best of the set and it's still pretty rumbly.
The Dual arms are pretty resonant, but they can be fiddled with; there
was an article in TAS in the eighties some time about damping them down
and making them behave a bit better.

> Not sure what I would use as a pre-amp. I've got a Poineer SX 55, a
>Grundig RTV 400U, and a Carver 6200 - each of those have phono pre-amps. I
>do have a dedicated pre-amp from when I got the Russco, but it's in storage
>someplace and it'll be a while before it churns to the surface. While I
>don't really have a lot of money to spend on this project, I could pick up a
>dedicated pre-amp if that's going to be better. It would be running into a
>Mackie 1402, then into an Audigy sound card. What do you think?

I think you'd be better off contracting it out, personally. But try the
phono preamps in all three and see. None of those will have enough gain
to work with an MC cartridge, though, and they all have fixed loading. This
(and the arm) really limit your cartridge options.

> Ah yes. I did location sound recording for films for a while. I put a
>lot of miles on several different Nagras - gorgeous machines. Hope that I
>can find one at a thrift store someday! :)

The Nagra III is now worth something like $300 on the used market... I don't
want to think what I paid for mine. But you know, it still sounds as good
as it did when I got it and I still drag it out of the closet for occasional
gigs.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."