Can you use solder on a DJ needle?

Question

It just sounds stupid to me in general but I HAVE to ask.

And before anyone bashes me, YES I've used solder, YES I know what it does. Hence my question in more detail; will it affect the needle's ability to read vinyls? The idea came up because I think it's awesome in STICKING things together.

As far as the damage is concerned, it was COMPLETELY bent downwards (never trusting friends who aren't DJs with my crap ever again, lesson learned). After bending it back to place, it created a little slice and if I have to bend it again for any reason, it's going to break off :(

My solutions at hand are gum and nail polish -___- but if solder will help without "bringing extra stuff into my original signal" then I will do it.

Any thoughts?
I'm in a crunch with no time to get a new stylus btw.

Answer 1

I have many years of DJ and Jukebox experience. I have had this

happen on many occasions. When it was first bent downward, it

folded the little tube. Bending it back has opened up the fold that

is facing down. Use Super Glue Gel to fill in this little gap. Carefully

use a tooth pick and work a 1/8 of a drop into the gap. With the

same tooth pick, carefully remove any excess from the sides of

the gap. Let it dry for a few hours. This should last through many

gigs allowing you enough time to obtain a replacement stylus.

I recommend that you use a Shure N44 Stylus and the Shure

magnetic cartridge for same. This is what the good Jukeboxes

use that play vinyl records for the very best sound quality. I have

installed this into a Wurlitzer and Rock Ola Jukeboxes with great

success. Much better than Pickering and Audio Technika.

Feel free to e-me. Oh, you can find the Stylus and the Magnetic

Cartridge under Jukebox Parts and Jukebox Needles on e-bay.

Answer 2

Solder definitely not, too heavy and unlikely to stick to the stylus parts, maybe superglue and a bit of single core 24 gauge wire as a brace between the two bits. Or if you are really up against it then a tiny piece of thin plastic and the nail polish which you could try "plastic welding" all together with a soldering iron (no solder). Can't guarantee it'll last the gig though or that the stylus will be at the correct angle.

Answer 3

Ignore all other answers before mine.



Forget trying to repair the stylus assembly; adding any mass at all,

no matter how little, will change its dynamic performance characteristics

in unpredictable ways, plus, more importantly, you won't have any way

to be certain that it is aligned properly so that it won't damage records.



Simply buy a suitable replacement stylus.

Answer 4

Silicon glue or 5 minutes Eproxy can do a better job.