M44G Masterpieces Album - Celebrating the 1st listening to compare the stylus for M44G with the new Beatles’ song Now and Then!

Celebrating the 1st listening to compare the stylus for M44G with the new Beatles’ song, Now and Then!

The biggest topic on the pop music scene in 2023 will be the Beatles' last new song, Now And Then. As soon as its release was announced, it was widely covered in the news. The marketing of the song, which made collectors weep, became a major topic, as it was released on vinyl records of various specifications, cassettes, and even CD singles.
Vinyl records were released in a variety of colors, including 7-inch color records and 12-inch singles, and there are many collectors who buy them all. As an office worker with a family to work for, I bought only a 12-inch single due to budget constraints. Although the 7-inch single with color vinyl is attractive, I decided to buy the 12-inch single because I thought the sound quality would be better because the groove width of the 12-inch single is wider.
Now, I purchased this record online. By coincidence, it arrived on the same day that I was having dinner with my Beatles and record-loving friends, so everyone was so excited! The dinner turned into a listening party: We were amazed at the sound quality in the room, which was so different from that of the streaming and radio, and we dropped the stylus again and again every time the song ended. The song has become our new standard in the minds of everyone who was there.

Now, in this article, I would like to compare Shure’s record cartridge M44G and corresponding replacement styli while immersing myself in such fun first Now and Then fulfilling memories. Shure’s ultra-standard cartridge M44G has been loved over generations since the 1960s, both for listening and DJ use, and the replacement styli support M44G listeners. There are currently no replacement styli from Shure, but a variety of manufacturers produce them, so I’m sure that some of you are wondering which one to choose. We carry 100Sounds and Nagaoka replacement styli at Sound House.
In my previous post on Paul McCartney’s LP “McCartney III”, I compared the 100Sounds and Nagaoka models. I had the impression that the 100Sounds model is suitable for clubs and makes your mind high, while the Nagaoka model is a trustworthy one that makes you want to listen to it carefully. The Nagaoka model I introduced then has been discontinued, but happily, a new, more powerful needle has been released!

So let’s take out new styli from 100Sounds and Nagaoka.

The first one is the now standard 100Sounds RS-44-100B replacement stylus for the M44G/M44-7.

100Sounds / RS-44-100B Replacement Stylus for M44G/M44-7

The appeal of this stylus is that it makes various styles of music sound trancy. When I recently DJ’d at a gathering where reggae and soul music was played, I got excited from the moment I slid out the metal package.
Thanks to the sound that emphasizes the roar of the bass range and shouter voice, the party was a lot of fun.

And this is Nagaoka’s new DJ-44G, which I tried out for the first time.

Nagaoka / DJ-44G - Replacement Stylus for M44G/M44-7

The DJ-44G is a model that delivers more powerful sound pressure and a delicate, wide-range, powerful sound without sacrificing the toughness of its sound quality, so you can expect an excellent sound quality for listening and DJing.
When I took the stylus out of the package, there was a cover on the tip of the stylus, which made me weep for the consideration of the listening user.

Now that styli are ready, let’s open the record and listen to it with each stylus!
Open the record of the new song Now and Then from the Beatles and there is an inner sleeve with the lyrics and commentary inside.

Take out the record to find the familiar label of Apple Records on side A.

However, what I want you to pay attention to is the color shade of the apple on the label, which is close to the dark green color commonly known as the dark green label (*) used on records made in England during the Beatles’ active period in the 1960s. You can feel the passion of the creator.

*In the 1970s, the bright green label was adopted.
(Picture on the left: dark green label / right: light green label)

Now & Then is a 12" single of the Beatles’ latest number, which is a fun package and disc, and I listened to it with two styli for the M44G.
*The sound quality and the way it resonates may vary depending on the playback environment, so I hope you will just read this as a reference.

Side A: Now and Then

●100Sounds

It sounds as if the Beatles, including vocals and chorus, holding the space, is powerful and reminiscent of the original UK recordings from the 1970s. The bass sounds undulating and thick, but it is a sound that only complemented the powerful melody of the song. The slide guitar sounds like self-neo-psychedelic and ‘modern rock’, which I think is unique to 100Sounds. My overall idea is “let’s hear the Beatles songs on vinyl records in 2023, too!”

●Nagaoka

The piano, vocals, drum rims, and individual voices of the chorus sounds very clear.
Surprisingly, the sound of the slide guitar blends with the other stringed instruments rather than sounding loud, and my ears got drawn in the wonderful string arrangement and the harmony of the slide guitar. The bass guitar sounds like it’s singing!

I really enjoyed listening to Now and Then with two different models of styli, but turn the record to the side B (AA), Love Me Do in the 2023 mixed version is recorded. It’s labeled as stereo, not mono.

The label on this side is also worth noting: the best part is that it uses the red parlophone label design, which was the design of the original UK vinyl from 1962. It makes me cry.
I don’t have the original Love Me Do vinyl because it’s traded at quite a high price, so please compare the red parlophone design of Love Me Do and the picture of the original vinyl design back then on the vinyl by another artist...

The label on the Love Me Do side is carefully designed.
Compared to the previously released 50th anniversary reissue (2009 remastered version) from 2012, the harmonica sound has been brushed up even more clearly and the reverb on the vocals is more pleasant.

50th Anniversary Reissue Version

Now, how does Love Me Do 2023 Mix sound with two different styli?

Side AA：Love Me Do

●100Sounds

The blend of acoustic guitar and drums sounds rhythmical, and the reverb of hand clapping makes me feel as if it’s played in a club! The swell of the bass sounds like P.I.L. I think it will be fun to listen to Pretty Things with this stylus. I enjoyed the garage flavor that reminded me that the Beatles are a rock band.

●Nagaoka

The muddiness of the harmonica is smoothed out with this stylus and resonates deep into my heart! The bass line is bright and sings as brightly as the vocals, making Paul fans smile. The lingering of the vocals and the intensity of the hand clapping around the harmonica solo can be clearly heard. It reminds me of the vividness and power of the Beatles’ early UK original vinyl singles played back with a mono stylus.

I listened to both sides of this vinyl with two different styli, but both styli sounded great and I honestly can’t stop listening after these two songs!
I listened to Tomorrow Never Knows to see what would happen if I listened to it with a more uplifting Beatles song... I could hear different kinds of shocking sounds from two different styli! It’s so sick! So, next time again with the Beatles, I would like to compare two styli with “Revolver” album!