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Decca cartridge experiences

I really don't expect any response to this as the issue of Deccas, and all the controversies they stirred up is now passé, but does anyone out there own and use a Decca, and if so, did you find a tonearm which will accomodate it? I'd appreciate it if anyone shared their experiences with it, good or bad. I've found two tonearms in which it will work well: one a Mayware tonearm in which it works superbly, and one a Maplenoll air-bearing 'table with fluid damping trough, but I'm having a bit of trouble getting this combo to work again (I've only recently re-acquired the Maplenoll)...I'll have to fiddle with viscosity, amount of fluid and so on.

To all those who haven't had a chance to hear this cartridge, and who like to experiment and have fun (and tear their hair out), then a Decca still has the most slam of any cartridge, and retrieves an incredible amount of detail from the groove. Though these days it no longer sells for pocket change (the Super Gold goes for $850, but there are cheaper models), it's still not in the stratosphere like so many others. It is dificlt to find a tonearm which will accomodate it as well.

I'd appreciate as well any experiences with the new versions, as I hear the new stylus profile makes it less difficult. I think the responses will be "0", but any cartridge which stirred up this much controversy (at least a while ago) is Good News, like the Shelter (which is far more accomodating, however)...Thank you for your attention, if any attention there is...
johnnantais

Showing 10 responses by topoxforddoc

topoxforddoc's avatar
topoxforddoc
353 posts
 
I still have my Deccas - a Maroon and an original Garrott Bros Decca Gold. The Garrott rebuild was just fantastic. I now use an Allaerts MC1-B which is more subtle, less slam, sweeter at the top end and tracks sooo much better.

I used my Deccas on a Hadcock 228. Back in the 80s when the Deccas were more in vogue, most people used them in unipivots. I used to sell them in the UK when I worked with a much younger Ken Kessler.

By the way, although the Garrott Bros were killed in an accidenet almost 20 years ago, the firm is back in action with rebuilds reputedly to the same standard. Won't be as cheap (mine was 65 GBP in the early 80s!)
topoxforddoc's avatar
topoxforddoc
353 posts
 
Yeah, I will some time. Had it on about 6 months ago. But I get plenty of slam from my current setup - Platine Verdier, Hadcock 228 (soon to be replaced by Schroeder model 2), Allaerts MC1B, Verdier control B valve preamp, rebuilt Quad IIs and Avantgarde Duos. In fact with the Duos, almost everything plays with slam!
topoxforddoc's avatar
topoxforddoc
353 posts
 
Johnnantais
get your Decca rebuilt by Garrot Brothers. I have an original Garrott Bros Decca and it is much better tha the standard. Following the Brothers' tragic death in the 80s, the tooling was retained and is now used by their surviving partner.
The Garrott rebuild included checking and adjusting the cantilever suspension and other important mechanical matters as well as a retip. If you need details, you can get a price from GT Audio in the UK.
topoxforddoc's avatar
topoxforddoc
353 posts
 
Lapaix,

where are you ? in France maybe? If so, you can send it to one of 3 places in the UK - Presence Audio (current distributors of the London Decca Carts), Len Gregory at the Cartridge Man in London (who uses John Wright from Decc Special products) or Expert Stylus (don't know much about their retip pedigree for Deccas).
Your maroon will need a complete rebuild with new tip, new tie and suspension. Len Gregory charges about 200 GBP for this service (to include a fine line stylus - same as on his Music Maker moving iron pickups)
topoxforddoc's avatar
topoxforddoc
353 posts
 
You'll be hard pushed to find a Garrott Decca. the Brothers died almost twenty years ago! The New "Garrott Brothers" aren't very interested in rebuilding carts
topoxforddoc's avatar
topoxforddoc
353 posts
 
Andrewg,

thanks. I'm lucky to have Garrott Brothers rebuild from the 1980s. However, I also have an old Maroon, which could do with a rebuild at some point. Ideally a Garrott Brothers rebuild would have been great, but I gather that they are not particularly keen on rebuild or retips of any carts now, preferring to sell their new carts instead.
topoxforddoc's avatar
topoxforddoc
353 posts
 
Just got my 1967 vintage FFSS MkIV C4E back from a rebuild (John Wright - the guy who builds all the current London Deccas). This is something else -it just wipes the floor with my Garrott Brothers Gold. I had heard that the older FFS carts esp the MKIVs were the bees knees and so I've been searching for a C4E for some time and came across one just before Christmas. 10 days later and GBP168 later, it came back with a rebuild and fine line re-tip.

It has all the usual Decca attributes - slam, dynamics, taut bass etc. But it adds on all the other bits you get with a top class MC - massive soundstage and depth, subtle harmonic rendition, delicacy but with grunt. It's amazing, just jaw dropping. My Garrott Gold and Allaerts MC1B are getting very little airplay now.

Best wishes,

Charlie
www.charlie-chan.co.uk
topoxforddoc's avatar
topoxforddoc
353 posts
 
Tbg,

The FFSS Mark IV was two generations prior to the current Mark VI Gold/Maroon. The Mark V was the Decca Grey/Blue; the Mark V was the first version to use the now familiar metal body. The Mark IV came either in a standard 1/2 inch mount or as an integral headshell using the Decca (Not SME) fitting. The 1/2 mount versions were the C4E (elliptical) & SC4E (Special C4E elliptical - these were the best C4E items off the line) and the C4RC (conical tip). The integral version was the H4E (elliptical).

My C4E is plastic/bakelite bodied and weighs 12g in standard 1/2 inch mounting form. The geometry in the headshell is the same as the current Deccas. I believe Geoirge Hadcock (Hadcock tonearms) had one permanently mounted on his personal TT. Some Decca aficianados think that the C4E is the best Decca cartridge apart from the Reference.I can't confirm that as I haven't heard a Reference. What I can say though is that it makes my Garrott Gold sound flat and two dimensional!!!

The C4E is remarkable having all the Decca attributes of attack & dynamics as well as a truly big scale 3 dimensional sound stage. It also has subtlety and delicacy too like a top MC.

There are some reviews of the Decca C4E and C4RC on the Gramophone archives from 1967 and 1968 - you can just google them.

Best wishes,

Charlie
www.charlie-chan.co.uk
topoxforddoc's avatar
topoxforddoc
353 posts
 
Ssolman,

You can email John Wright at

john@jwaservices.plus.com

He normally answers his emails within a day. If you send the cartridge to Brain Smith at Presence Audio, he will just send it to John.

Best wishes,

Charlie
topoxforddoc's avatar
topoxforddoc
353 posts
 
Doktorgigi,

I have my C4E in a vintage 1970s Hadcock 228 with silicone damping. I've used my Hadcock for 30 years now with Deccas - Maroon, Garrott Brothers Gold and my C4E - great match.

Best wishes,

Charlie
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