by Oliver Amnuayphol
Here's a bit of trivia: What do red roses, Maxim's Hot 100, and phono cartridges all have in common? They're all beautiful creatures, and they all possess a finite lifespan. Sad, I know! So if you weren't aware of that last bit about cartridges, I'm sorry to be the one to have to break it to you: your cart's suspension and stylus will eventually wear out because of normal, everyday use. Unfortunately, it's tough to say exactly when this will happen; variables like stylus/record cleanliness, proper cartridge set up/alignment, and durability of your cartridge's various bits will all be critical in determining its lifespan (estimates typically range anywhere from 1000-5000+ hours). Of course, this is assuming you haven't done anything clumsy to your precious cartridge, like break off the stylus/cantilever assemby while being scratchmaster DJ at your local college house party (if this sounds like you, chances are you're already familiar with worn out cartridges) . Either way, after a certain point your precious pickup head will no longer be fit for use. So, what can you do if/when this happens?
If you're using a moving magnet cartridge, often the answer is quite simple: since most moving magnet
carts have detachable stylus assemblies, get a replacement one and swap the old with the new. Easy Peasy! In fact, for a good chunk of MM carts out there, you can upgrade the stylus to a better performing assembly when replacement time comes. But what if you own a moving coil cartridge? Since the stylus/suspension assembly on MCs is permanently fixed, there are only three options once it's worn: Throw away the cartridge; get a measely sum for it as a trade in towards a much more expensive cartridge; or get it re-tipped. That's right folks: there's actually a way to get your stylus and/or suspension replaced by someone, somewhere who specializes in this sort of microscopic thing. And it can cost as little as $150. Brilliant! And since most of us work for a living and can't afford to keep upgrading our pick up heads every few years, getting your moving coil re-tipped would seem the more cost effective option--especially in light of what some cartridges can cost, with or without trade in value.
So, is re-tipping worth it? Does the cart come back to you good as new? Or better? Or heaven forbid, worse? Beats me. While I've almost exclusively used MCs for the past 15 or so years, I've always taken immaculate care them, cleaning the stylus after every record side. And since I have a few carts in rotation, the cartridges I have now are still in pristine condition: the oldest member of the pickup head family is nearly ten years old, a lovely Ortofon Jubilee--the best cartridge I own. But after years of fairly heavy use, its stylus isn't quite what it used to be, and I'll be darned if I'm going to throw it out or buy an even more mucho expensivo cart anytime soon. Therefore it's time for my first Official Moving Coil Cartridge Re-Tip.
After hearing about their stellar services for years, I promptly contacted The Soundsmith who, in addition
to offering their own cartridges and other sundries, are reputed to offer one of the finest re-tipping services around. Prices for re-tipping usually range from $150 to $450, and the offer a nice variety of stylus and cantilever options. I spoke at length with owner Peter Ledermann, the lone re-tipping technician at the Soundsmith, about my cartridge, needs, and sonic preferences. He was very patient, thorough, and answered all of my questions in detail, helping me to settle on the top of the line, $450 "re-tip only" service that retains my cartridge's super-wicked, high quality boron cantilever but adds a new Optimized Contour Nude Contact Line stylus. Feedback has been very positive on this option, and the stylus profile is reportedly a huge performance improvement over the Jubilee's stock Shibata design. I'll be issuing a full review and verdict once I get my cartridge back, but it may be a while: though I sent in my cart about four weeks ago, due to high demand for the service (and the fact that Ledermann is the sole re-tipper), approximate time frame for a proper re-tip is 10-12 weeks. See you on the other side!
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