Hello, I have a emerson portable phono/am radio that has very low sound output when I play records. tubes are 12sa7 35z5 12sk7 50L6 12sq7. Dont seem to have a model number. Regular am radio plays fine, but hardly any sound from phono. Can a phono needle or cartridge wear out that bad? dont know how to inject a signal into the rca phono plug to see if its needle or chassis problem, but probably need to do that. It looks like 40's era. Is there a tube dedicated to be a preamp? I checked all the tubes and they seem to be good(of course tube checkers can lie). Havnt recapped anything yet, but there are a few axial caps and the rest are those square dark brown lookin things with 3 color dots on them

Hi Sean

Yes, cartridges go bad. You will need a replacement with high output. Look for one with greater than 1 volt output. As high as 3 volts were common.

Norm

:Hello, I have a emerson portable phono/am radio that has very low sound output when I play records. tubes are 12sa7 35z5 12sk7 50L6 12sq7. Dont seem to have a model number. Regular am radio plays fine, but hardly any sound from phono. Can a phono needle or cartridge wear out that bad? dont know how to inject a signal into the rca phono plug to see if its needle or chassis problem, but probably need to do that. It looks like 40's era. Is there a tube dedicated to be a preamp? I checked all the tubes and they seem to be good(of course tube checkers can lie). Havnt recapped anything yet, but there are a few axial caps and the rest are those square dark brown lookin things with 3 color dots on them

:So I guessed right, I need a new cartridge....How do I go about selecting one, by looks, cant do it by model number on player.. I know there are places that sell them but cant remember where.
:
:Hi Sean
:
: Yes, cartridges go bad. You will need a replacement with high output. Look for one with greater than 1 volt output. As high as 3 volts were common.
:
:Norm
:
::Hello, I have a emerson portable phono/am radio that has very low sound output when I play records. tubes are 12sa7 35z5 12sk7 50L6 12sq7. Dont seem to have a model number. Regular am radio plays fine, but hardly any sound from phono. Can a phono needle or cartridge wear out that bad? dont know how to inject a signal into the rca phono plug to see if its needle or chassis problem, but probably need to do that. It looks like 40's era. Is there a tube dedicated to be a preamp? I checked all the tubes and they seem to be good(of course tube checkers can lie). Havnt recapped anything yet, but there are a few axial caps and the rest are those square dark brown lookin things with 3 color dots on them

Hi Sean

Can't go by looks alone. Probably best to call someone who sells cartridges. West-Tech Services 931-424-1212 or Vintage Electronics 601-264-4755, phonoed@aol.com , are listed in the AES catalog. Believe West Tech was sold but they should know the new number.

Norm

::So I guessed right, I need a new cartridge....How do I go about selecting one, by looks, cant do it by model number on player.. I know there are places that sell them but cant remember where.
::
::Hi Sean
::
:: Yes, cartridges go bad. You will need a replacement with high output. Look for one with greater than 1 volt output. As high as 3 volts were common.
::
::Norm
::
:::Hello, I have a emerson portable phono/am radio that has very low sound output when I play records. tubes are 12sa7 35z5 12sk7 50L6 12sq7. Dont seem to have a model number. Regular am radio plays fine, but hardly any sound from phono. Can a phono needle or cartridge wear out that bad? dont know how to inject a signal into the rca phono plug to see if its needle or chassis problem, but probably need to do that. It looks like 40's era. Is there a tube dedicated to be a preamp? I checked all the tubes and they seem to be good(of course tube checkers can lie). Havnt recapped anything yet, but there are a few axial caps and the rest are those square dark brown lookin things with 3 color dots on them

Hi Sean,
For a new cartridge, try www.garage-a-records.com They can probably help you identify the cartridge by markings on the old one, and may have a replacement.

It is also very possible that your old cartridge can be rebuilt. Try "Syl's Old Radioz" at www.oldradioz.com

Poston

::So I guessed right, I need a new cartridge....How do I go about selecting one, by looks, cant do it by model number on player.. I know there are places that sell them but cant remember where.
::
::Hi Sean
::
:: Yes, cartridges go bad. You will need a replacement with high output. Look for one with greater than 1 volt output. As high as 3 volts were common.
::
::Norm
::
:::Hello, I have a emerson portable phono/am radio that has very low sound output when I play records. tubes are 12sa7 35z5 12sk7 50L6 12sq7. Dont seem to have a model number. Regular am radio plays fine, but hardly any sound from phono. Can a phono needle or cartridge wear out that bad? dont know how to inject a signal into the rca phono plug to see if its needle or chassis problem, but probably need to do that. It looks like 40's era. Is there a tube dedicated to be a preamp? I checked all the tubes and they seem to be good(of course tube checkers can lie). Havnt recapped anything yet, but there are a few axial caps and the rest are those square dark brown lookin things with 3 color dots on them