While most people will not ever own a 78, it is always nice to have the option to play it. Recently, more and more modern turntables are adding 78 back as a feature. Can You Play 78 RPM Records On A Modern Turntable? So, some artists have their full discography on 78 RPM. The artists back then did not really have another choice in format. It was after all the most popular early form of music recording formats. Some of music’s aficionados consider this the most serious form of collectors items. A lot of 78’s that are still floating around are considered rare and if they are in good condition they are even more rare. The flimsiness of the traditional 78 makes for delicate balance of breakability and damage. The later the 78 RPM record, generally, the less rare as the later records were pressed in a form of vinyl like the records today. How Common Are 78 RPM Records?ħ8 RPM records used to be very common, but, as with anything, as they age and become more delicate they break or become damaged. Just make sure you are using a clean stylus and that you follow the method above. Especially if playing them briefly to figure out the speed. It’s not really the greatest thing to do to them but it will not damage them. You will not damage the record playing it at the wrong speed. Change your turntable speed to the next speed down.If the sound produced sounds like the chipmunks singing: If you change the speed with the stylus still down you run the risk of damaging the grooves. *It is important to note you must follow these steps to not ruin your records. Change your turntable speed to the next speed up.If the sound produced sounds like slow motion: However, if all else fails, play it on a slower speed first to see what it sounds like. Most record speeds are labeled on their center label for their intended listen speed. Typically speaking, 78’s are 10” records with some being 12”. With the fragility of these records comes rarity. That is what makes them some of the most collected records to date. This speed has war history, technology history and even history in the materials used. The 78 RPM speed records are a pretty interesting piece of music technology history. This made manufacturing and purchasing music more affordable. This was more efficient cost-wise and playing-wise. As the need for full LP’s, also known as “Long Play Records”, surfaced, the slow recording speed allowed the production companies to fit more songs on one side. Vinyl made for a more durable record to send to troops as well which was a win-win.Īnother reason for the discontinuation of this speed is based on the fact 78’s contained between four minutes on a 10” and six minutes on a 12”. During World War II, shellac was limited causing the switch to vinyl pressings. Why Did They Stop Making 78 RPM Records?Ĭommonly called “shellac records” or “shellac,” these records were generally made from a shellac resin instead of the vinyl used today. However, as the 4 and 3 speed turntables began to no longer exist, this speed was mostly abandoned by the 80’s. Some for kids albums and others as actual releases. In the U.K., South America, and Russia for instance they still limitedly pressed 78 RPM records. Several other countries continued using the 78 RPM speed for a while. While America largely abandoned this speed in 1959, they still used this speed for children’s records until the late 1970’s. When Did They Stop Making 78 RPM Records?ħ8 RPM records were produced for a very long time. As manufacturing and materials changed and became more limited so did the speeds of records resulting in the discontinuation of 78 RPM. Shellac was very thin and brittle when the records aged they became even more brittle. This once-popular record speed, 78 RPM, was commonly made from shellac. Other countries continued production for this speed in children’s records until the late 70’s to mid 80’s. 78 RPM records were, for the most part, discontinued in 1959 in the USA, with the exception of some small gospel labels and kids records. So your record player has three speeds, 33⅓ RPM, 45 RPM, and 78 RPM? You have some vinyl records in your collection that say 33⅓ or 45 but you have not seen a 78 RPM record.Īre 78 RPM records still made? No, 78 RPM records are not still made.
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