Jackstuff.com has a huge inventory of NOS Pfanstiehl Replacement Phonograph needles, most of them for ceramic or crystal cartridges. We'll show you how to find the exact replacement needle for your record player, turntable, juke box, record changer, etc. But first, let's recall how the needle replacement situation was handled back in....

The good ol' days

Back in the 1950s, '60s and '70s, practically every record store carried a stock of Pfanstiehl replacement needles for phonographs, record players, turntables, juke boxes, etc. If you cared about your records at all, you'd periodically check the needle to make sure it wasn't so worn that it might damage your vinyl. You might have had a little "needle microscope" to get a good look at it. At some point, you'd pull the needle out of the phono cartridge, and take it to the neighborhood record store to get a replacement.

But there were "zillions" of different needles out there - how could you be sure you got the correct replacement? The clerk at the record store took your needle and pulled out the latest Pfanstiehl guide.Then he'd compare your needle with all the drawings on the chart until he found YOUR needle. Each needle on the chart had its own Pfanstiehl number. The clerk opened the drawer that was loaded with the little Pfanstiehl packages and picked out your exact replacement needle. Of course, the record store owner hoped you'd browse through the latest LPs, EPs and 45s while you were in the store, and you probably did. And you knew you were protecting your record collection with a new needle.

What did the chart look like?

An experienced clerk had a pretty good idea what you needed, but he'd usually check the chart, just to make sure.

The Pfanstiehl guide also had cross-references for all the different models of record players sold over the years and the phono cartridges they used. Needles weren't usually interchangeable, and the record store stocked more than a hundred different Pfanstiehl replacement needles. And so do we!

Jackstuff.com currently has an inventory of almost one thousand Pfanstiehl needles (and a few from other makers, too). There are over 175 basic needle types, so we probably have what you need RIGHT NOW!

The best way to find your replacement needle is to identify by cartridge number. If you know the cartridge number, you'll probably find your needle. (You may need to pull the cartridge out of the tone arm to find the number.)

1. Find the number stamped on your phonograph's cartridge, and the brand name of the cartridge.
2. Click on the manufacturer's name in the list below. You'll be taken to a copy of the Pfanstiehl chart for your cartridge manufacturer.
3. In the LEFT column, find your cartridge number or name.
4. Hold the needle up to your computer monitor and match your needle to the illustration for that cartridge. If it's a match, you're halfway there!
5. When you locate your match, find the column "Pfanstiehl needle no." and write down the number(s). In many cases, there will be two or three or more needle numbers that can be used in your cartridge. Once you've found your match and written down the Pfanstiehl number(s), click the link, or your "BACK" button, to come back here and learn what the Pfanstiehl numbers mean.

Now - click on the name of your cartridge manufacturer and find your match. Of course, every manufacturer isn't listed here. If you don't see your cartridge manufacturer listed here and you don't know the number of the needle you need, just email us! Give us as much information as you can: cartridge manufacturer, any numbers/letters on the cartridge, manufacturer of the phonograph, model name or number, etc. The more info we have, the better our chance to find what you need. Send the info to: Jack@jackstuff.com.