The Secret Society of Lathe Trolls

Wink Junior · Joined: 24 Mar 2007 Posts: 7 Location: Portland, Ore USA

I was bidding on an auction for a Presto 6N and it fell through. I'm looking for a lathe to cut demo 12" discs for local DJ's and doing special one-off projects, etc.

So I'm not wanting to drop $20K on a full system, but would like something that's better than the Vestax VRX-2000 - although perhaps that one doesn't suck as much as ppl have said it does? I'm not looking to do audiophile recordings, rather fill a niche market for ppl who want demos, dub plates, and as said, special projects.

If anyone has one for sale, or can suggest other alternatives to it in the same price range/quality, and/or has opinions about the VRX-2000 - I'm talking to someone about one of those for US $6K w/extras but think that's a bit much considering I've heard the results are shite and the cutting needles are good for about 50 discs max.

Anyway, opinions, offers, anything most welcome! Cheers, Wink
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Lewis D · Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 1:07 pm Post subject:

Yes, the vestax is crap. Do not buy it.

I would recommend that you get a presto lathe. They come up on ebay all the time. They were very very popular in the day and there are loads around.

With this, you can get the presto head with it which will give you good results. But a grampian head will be better and louder. You should be able to get all this for under $3000 max. If you had this setup of a presto lathe and a grampian system, you will be cutting commercial quility records. However, you need alot of practise which can be expensive (matierials). Best to get someone to show you.

Lewis

JayDC · Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 4:11 am Post subject:

I cut "commercial quility records" with my Presto 1-C head. I dunno why everyone is so GRAMPAIN. Seems like just more money to spend..

If I ever upgrade it will be straight to the vinylium sc-99...

Lewis D · Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 6:29 am Post subject:

Fair enough if the Presto gives you good results. A few records at columbia were mastered with those I think. But, the reason I say grampian is better is because, it can cut louder and a better frequency response. In my opinion is just sounds better, alot more open sounding.

If I were going stereo, as I see you want to, I would get the Westrex system. Sounds amazing. You'll need the right amplifiers tho. Most people let thier systems down by having crappy transistor amplifiers, the amps are half the sound. Nice valve ones will do the job!

JayDC · Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 12:59 pm Post subject:

Will the westrex fit the presto 6n?.. I was looking at pics of one, and can't imagine how I would fit it..

Lewis D · Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 6:28 am Post subject:

Hmmm. not sure, im sure you could make somthing so it will screw on. I think you have to make some special box to fit the sc-99 onto the presto?

motorino · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 207

i believe you dont need very special parts Wink

http://www.floka.com/lofi/portable_lathe.html

Lewis D · Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 10:21 am Post subject:

Yeah, maybe the westrex would be hard to fit on, but then again those lathes as great as they are (I used one for ages) were designed for portable use and so we not really designed for top notch cutting heads to fit on.

And wow, that vinylium amplifier looks mega cheapo! Looks like a toy! The Grampian amp comes in two pieces, the power supply and the amp. The power supply itself is a two man job to lift, and its mono! If somthing is big and heavy (and big knobs!), its bound to be good quility.

But yeah, Iv heard a few cuts of those vinylium systems and I wasnt very impressed, sounded tinny and weak even if cut loud, there was distortion also when cut to peak about +2db.

flozki · Joined: 19 May 2006 Posts: 55 Location: switzerland

jayDC:
westrex no chance on a presto. or at least it doesnt make sense. weight, and also size you wont be able to cut the whole recording area....
also the stylus will be far before the center line...so then you have to change the whole overhead.

lewis D wrote:
"But yeah, Iv heard a few cuts of those vinylium systems and I wasnt very impressed, sounded tinny and weak....."

oh boy, what kind of cuts did you heard???
i bet i rock every system against the wall with a sc99 system, even i have no problem to compare to full neumann system in a one to one comparison.... there is a difference. but i would say if it comes to loud cuts or bass. i can stand behind...work with the shit and then judge.

lucky i have westrex,neumann AND sc99. so i can compare. even with BIG BIG BIG westrex and even BIGGER neumann tube amps. but all the big stuff gives you around 60-80 watts. and the "cheapo toy..hehehehe" (hand built, swiss made) vinylium amp gives you even more.. and i can carry around the world, even if i think its fucking heavy...

i worked a lot with grampian as well. just another class.sorry. definitely not comparable. a piece of moving iron developed around 1930. vibrates, adds resonances like hell. all this can make sound really fat. can be the right cutter for some kind of music, can be the nightmare for others...

there are also freaks swear by mechanical recording. they say everything after introducing the electrical cutter head sounds like crap. and i can understand what they mean. they had BIG, BIG horns to capture the sound. must be good.

but i know the feeling:
to drive a 49er buick makes more impression than driving a small volkswagen.

i love to cut with a scully, westrex system.... on a nice, sunny day. no hustle. no long cuts....just to enjoy cutting a nice record.

cheers.
f.
equipment is not all. lee perry had only 4-channels. the rest was magic...
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ps: if you are interested to know how it sounds. you can order a plate at vinylium. one side with the kingston, the other side with the neumann system. these guys dont have to hide something. ...whenever you are seriously thinking about a nice cutting system do this test.and do it with others (when you can do this), check the sound ,maybe the price tag and and decide.

JayDC · Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 12:50 pm Post subject:

I definately want an sc-99, just wish they had a "jayDC" special.