Playing Acetate records

The "cactus needle" is actually more like balsa wood.It is used in the gramophone era playback.The sound is direct to the horn.No recording possible,except of course open mike.Why wouldn't you use your VPI/Grado combo?If the VPI will spin 78RPM.The EQ of the Acetate is most likely not RIAA.I believe KAB USA has some pre-amp EQ options available.

I could be wrong, but I believe that I read that they used to use cactus needles for the stylus, back in the old days.

I had a mastering deck that cut acetate. If I remember the stylus had to be pretty soft, some like a birds feather.