Garrard RC-50 Repair progress

[John Chidgey]

I was recently gifted a Garrard RC-50 from a fellow collector on this site, thank you Robert. Thought I would provide an update with a question. 

I ultimately needed to shift the motor a bit to get the motor gears to mesh with the timing cam teeth, after aligning the timing marks the pickup arm functions as it should.

I did notice that the pickup had its wires cut so I opened the pickup head to see what was inside. I was expecting a crystal pickup but it appears to contain a magnetic pickup with a small coil inside.

If this is truly a magnetic pickup will the output be enough to connect to a Philharmonic for example?

Curious what output I should see? Is it safe to assume DC output?

Thanks,

John

[Robert Meader]

Hi John its robert.

The output will be very low about 5 millivolts. You need a signal of at least 250 millivolts at the phono jack of the Philharmonic.  Scott used a step up transformer ... look at schematics. Note at the time there was no standard record equalization in use.  The most common equalization at the time was RCA and very similar to the later RIAA still used today. Seeburg jukeboxes used 10" 78 rpm with RIAA so you should be able to get a source of "standard" records.  If you decide to go "standard" then you will  need a magnetic preamp. If on the other hand you have a bunch of 1920-1940 records then you will need a step up transformer.  Such transformers are available on ebay.  You will find the transformers listed as tube input transformers. Expect to pay $50 to $250.

[David C. Poland]

Herold, GE and others sold simple, small one tube preamps.

OR, find a vintage hi-fi preamp with both magnetic and crystal phono inputs, and even a variety of equalization curves. Such a preamp should offer bass and treble controls, and other input puts for say an FM tuner, Aux for a CD player.... Be aware that some preamps were wired to rely on the amp for power (like the early H H Scott) or would need a separate power supply, But there are many choices with some research: Fisher, Heathkit, EICO to name a few.