Post by Owen Y on Aug 2, 2018 10:24:07 GMT 12
(This post was moved from the thread - Stereo-magazine Germany) STEREO (Germany) Issue 16 2018 contains a report (p.36) on repairing cartridges, eg. broken cantilevers. Mostly German/European repairers. Includes this interesting & possibly useful table listing of repair options of different cartridge manufacturers.  Also 4pg article about the Clearaudio company.
|
Pundit
Post by SL1210 on Aug 13, 2019 19:52:54 GMT 12
Cartridge repairs is specialist subject and I can't see anyone who does cartridge repairs in this sub-forum. Suggestions anyone?
I think I have put a couple of cartridges too close to a magnet. Playing these cartridges sounds dreadful, as if they had lost their styluses.
|
Post by cartridgeguyonline on Aug 14, 2019 8:20:02 GMT 12
These are MC cartridges I assume ? Only guys I know of are the guys in Melbourne that took over the Garrott bros business. Ive used them a couple of times with success but I know of others that havent been happy with the end result. Caveat emptor.
|
Post by Owen Y on Aug 14, 2019 9:45:26 GMT 12
|
Post by cartridgeguyonline on Aug 14, 2019 17:27:01 GMT 12
Thats the guys, thanks Owen.
|
Post by colinf on Aug 14, 2019 18:59:15 GMT 12
I had them try to repair my Kiseki from the 90s after I snapped the cantilever. The original cantilever was ruby and they replaced it with boron. When it came back it was distorting massively, as if it was misaligned. I took it back. It’s still there and I’ve given up dealing with them. YMMV.
AMR-iFi R&D
|
Post by michaelw on Aug 14, 2019 19:15:33 GMT 12
before i bought my new koetsu rosewood in the late 80s i was offered a garrotted koetsu silver for less than the cost of the rosewood. tried it in my linn ittok and bought the rosewood.  didn't have any luck with cheap vdh koetsus either. caveat emptor !
|
Post by cartridgeguyonline on Aug 15, 2019 17:15:40 GMT 12
Thats interesting feedback on vdh MW, was thinking of using the next time I get my Supex rebuilt...
|
Post by Owen Y on Aug 15, 2019 20:51:50 GMT 12
|
Pundit
Post by raveydave on Aug 15, 2019 21:00:36 GMT 12
I’m sure I’m not the only member of this parish that has had some success with Soundsmith.
They do what it says on the tin. Recommend.
|
Post by Citroen on Aug 15, 2019 22:41:34 GMT 12
|
Post by Owen Y on Aug 16, 2019 10:24:17 GMT 12
My London Decca is with John Wright Audio Services in UK right now, hopefully winging back to me very soon with Decapod mount block fitted. Will report when it arrives.
|
Post by cartridgeguyonline on Aug 16, 2019 12:26:31 GMT 12
As an aside, I would think that with the abundance of great sounding reasonably priced MC and MM about at present then it would need to be something fairly special to bother with a rebuild ? (NB By reasonably priced im talking in the $1k to $1.5K region....)
|
Post by Citroen on Aug 16, 2019 18:17:57 GMT 12
Don't you mean it would need to be fairly awful not to get it rebuilt?
I'm all for recycling.
|
Post by cartridgeguyonline on Aug 17, 2019 9:42:42 GMT 12
No what I meant was that unless it was either an expensive cartridge or very special to you then there probably wouldnt be much point in rebuilding it. Of course im only guessing at what these rebuilding costs are for most of those suppliers but its something to bear in mind. Also demonstrates again the use of the MM cart with a replaceable stylus: at least in theory.
|
Pundit
Post by SL1210 on Aug 18, 2019 14:48:50 GMT 12
As an aside, I would think that with the abundance of great sounding reasonably priced MC and MM about at present then it would need to be something fairly special to bother with a rebuild ? (NB By reasonably priced im talking in the $1k to $1.5K region....) I have found out the problem. The stylus has come off. I took it outside where there was good light and used the macro setting on my camera. Clear as a bell - no stylus. How the hell did I break that? Anyway it is a Charisma Ref1. I emailed them and was told the following: Replacement cartridge $US2,200.00 Rebuild: $US1,200.00 Stylus: $US900.00. Looks like I am going to have to work through those links - thanks Owen, thanks Citreon. Oh, and just for some more fun - My Benz Wood is stuffed as well! Note to self (1) Feel sorry for self. (2) Spend resources on other components than #%*@in& cartridges. It's enough to drive a man to digital.
|
Post by Citroen on Aug 18, 2019 14:55:13 GMT 12
If you knocked off the stylus your insurance might cover the accidental loss.
|
Post by michaelw on Aug 18, 2019 16:17:28 GMT 12
will insurance replace the records stuffed by playing with no stylus ?
|
Post by Citroen on Aug 18, 2019 16:26:13 GMT 12
Accidental damage, so they should but only for the first record, I reckon.
Any after that and then you're to blame for not taking duty of care I suppose.
|
Post by Owen Y on Aug 18, 2019 16:31:54 GMT 12
'consequential losses' - usually not covered in a 'standard' contents policy. But possibly some cover, if you have a 'premium' policy 
|
Post by Citroen on Aug 18, 2019 16:41:56 GMT 12
I'm partial to a nice wooden cartridge body.  Never heard one but it does seem to have a very good rep. I'd be tempted to get the original stylus replacement, to retain the original sound, despite that price.
|
Post by Citroen on Aug 18, 2019 16:43:33 GMT 12
'consequential losses' - usually not covered in a 'standard' contents policy. But possibly some cover, if you have a 'premium' policy Good point. There's always an excuse for not paying out.
|
Pundit
Post by SL1210 on Aug 18, 2019 16:59:51 GMT 12
I'm partial to a nice wooden cartridge body. Never heard one but it does seem to have a very good rep. I'd be tempted to get the original stylus replacement, to retain the original sound, despite that price. Yes, that is the beastie. I don't have all that much to compare it to but it is a step up from the Benz Wood. In terms of wood, I try to go there whenever that is possible. I figure that if musical instruments are made from the stuff then a transducer, or other gear for that matter, can only benefit from the timbre of the timber. I remember noticing how much of an improvement the Benz Wood was over the Benz Ace (plastic body). Anyway the Charisma Ref1 and the Benz Wood are similar price but the Charisma is the better cart.
|
Post by cartridgeguyonline on Aug 18, 2019 17:21:34 GMT 12
Yes those wood bodies do look pretty, but surely the best cartridge body is one that doesnt resonate like a guitar body, unless the designer wanted to add some warmth or coloration to the sound. Those rebuild prices didnt seem to bad, especially as you are guaranteed with ending up with the same thing you had and liked. Be interested to hear how you get on.
|
Post by colinf on Aug 18, 2019 19:23:42 GMT 12
When I switched from a metal tonearm to a wooden one (Siggwan cocobolo wood) the sound was far more open, even though it was a touch more coloured. I don’t mind that. The Wand carbon fibre arm would also have its own characteristic sound. But you could have too much wood in the system if you have a wooden cartridge on a wooden tonearm with a wooden plinth. Although a wooden cartridge on a metal tonearm could have nice synergy. The resonance frequency of a wooden cartridge body would be far higher than that of a guitar or violin (etc.) panel, and be designed to be controlled. All a matter of balance of colourations really. PS You’d know straight away if the stylus was missing, the cartridge wouldn’t track at all and there would be no sound. If it is tracking slightly, you could rather have a big build up of sticky dust on it. It would be better to check it out on a microscope.
AMR-iFi R&D
|
Post by Owen Y on Aug 18, 2019 20:27:49 GMT 12
Ruby cantilever + diamond stylus - means that the stylus is held on probably by glue alone, ie. no hole, slot or such mechanical fixture. Check again visually with a magnifier or camera lens, or even a cellphone that has a magnifier feature, to see if the sytlus dirty, damaged, missing, cantilever end broken, etc.
|
Post by Citroen on Aug 18, 2019 20:34:26 GMT 12
As an aside, I would think that with the abundance of great sounding reasonably priced MC and MM about at present then it would need to be something fairly special to bother with a rebuild ? (NB By reasonably priced im talking in the $1k to $1.5K region....) I have found out the problem. The stylus has come off. I took it outside where there was good light and used the macro setting on my camera. Clear as a bell - no stylus. How the hell did I break that? Anyway it is a Charisma Ref1.
|
Pundit
Post by SL1210 on Oct 7, 2019 19:01:37 GMT 12
Report. Insurance has paid out. ASB Insurance did pay out relatively quickly and actually paid more than I paid for the item in the first place. I was able to provide a record of the purchase as it was still on the Audiogon website. I also took some close-up photos showing the cantilever sans stylus. Actually they dealt with the matter quite quickly given that this is quite an esoteric subject.
Anyway, thanks for the input guys!
|
Post by Citroen on Oct 7, 2019 19:09:17 GMT 12
Good to hear it was a successful result 
|
Post by cartridgeguyonline on Oct 8, 2019 15:32:36 GMT 12
As a matter of interest a local guy here had a wooden bodied Grado rebuilt by Roman Mishin in Moscow. Ive seen and heard the result and it looked to be a very tidy job indeed. I dont know what his pricing is like but might be worth investigating.
|
