Audio Systems: Turntable cartridge lead color, thumb weight, turntable cartridge

Question
QUESTION: I have a Sherwood turntable that has been idle for several years with the stylus cartridge off.  I want to ressurect it but do not know how to reconnect the cartridge wires.  The wires are blue, white, red and green.  The pins on the cartridge are labeled L & R (side to side) and + and - (top to bottom).  How should the wires be connected?  I would appreciate your help.


ANSWER: Hi Jim-

In audio, Red usually means "Right." Whoever developed the system thought it would be easier if they stuck with the same first letter. The other ones, however, are not as easy...

Here is a table that should help you make the connections:
Red          R          Right "hot"
Green          RG         Right Ground
White          L          Left "hot"
Blue          LG         Left Ground

In your case, I believe that the plusses are the "hot" and the minuses are the "ground" (at least, they are in every other bit of electronics I've seen!)  If it's backwards, it'll sound strange and buzzy, but shouldn't break anything.

If it's been sitting for a few years, you'll also want to make sure that you have the right setting on your tracking counterweight. Get a Stylus Force Gauge and make sure everything is good and balanced.

Good luck, and congratulations on making the shift back to the good ol' days of analog!

-Steve



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello Steve --

Many thanks for your prompt response.  I appreciate your comment regarding the stylus tracking weight, but do not have any info for this particular turntable.  I seem to recall a figure of 1.5 grams for another cartridge but am even guessing there.  Is there some "rule of thumb" weight that could be used with most units?  Again, thanks for your help and for making yourself available.

Jim

Answer
Hi Jim-

The last time I replaced a cartridge, it was 2.5 grams. I think it's one of those things that varies from unit-to-unit. I have, however, done it just by feel in the past... you just kind of do a trial-and-error thing so that the needle just barely doesn't skip out of the groove when the record is spinning.

You could also take it to a local repair place -- the store I go to, Sound Source, in Rochester NY always offers to mount the cartridge and calibrate everything for free whenever I buy anything. Perhaps there's a similar place near where you live?

Also, depending on how the unit was stored, you might not even need to do anything in terms of calibration of the tracking weight; if it hasn't been moved much since you last used it, and you're reinstalling the same cartridge that was in there previously, it should already be calibrated.

Hope this helps!