Sold and serviced Rega 3's some years back - I'd agree that it could be a really worn cartidge. Especially as it's used - any chance that there could be a blob of something on the stylus tip? Microscopic inspection should show this.
What are you running the Rega into ? Cables - pre-amp - does the pre-amp have selectible resistance or capacitance ?
Once had a customer extend his tonearm wires by around 30 feet - he returned three differnt tuntables B&O ,Linn Axis and a Rega 2) 'cause they just didn't sound the way they did in the store - this did in fact sound a bit like what you are describing. Any chance somebody improved the RB-300 by modifieng the tonearm wiring or grafting on "better" phono jacks via a really lousy soldering job?
A trully epically worn out stylis tip could be the source of the problem and I sure agree with everyone else - don't play records that you care about untill you're sure this is working right.
I really hope this isn't the case - but how do your records sound on other turntables? I had more than a few customer's over the years who upgraded their system only to realize thier entire LP collection was worn out.
What are you running the Rega into ? Cables - pre-amp - does the pre-amp have selectible resistance or capacitance ?
Once had a customer extend his tonearm wires by around 30 feet - he returned three differnt tuntables B&O ,Linn Axis and a Rega 2) 'cause they just didn't sound the way they did in the store - this did in fact sound a bit like what you are describing. Any chance somebody improved the RB-300 by modifieng the tonearm wiring or grafting on "better" phono jacks via a really lousy soldering job?
A trully epically worn out stylis tip could be the source of the problem and I sure agree with everyone else - don't play records that you care about untill you're sure this is working right.
I really hope this isn't the case - but how do your records sound on other turntables? I had more than a few customer's over the years who upgraded their system only to realize thier entire LP collection was worn out.