Completed MI/MM/HOMC Cartridge for Temporary Duty (i.e. Cheap😉)

[Tlarwa]

Sending my Soundsmith Zephyr Mk II MI cartridge in to Soundsmith for a needed rebuild. Looking for a decent “bridge” cartridge to get me by until it comes back. I don‘t have MC capabilities currently, so MM, MI or HOMC it is. Wouldn’t mind trying something different, but would like to keep it under $250. This will become my back-up cartridge once the Zephyr comes back, The table is a VPI Classic 1. I know some of you are sitting on small stockpiles, so hopefully someone Is willing to let one go. I’d be really interested to trade for some good jazz vinyl … check out my listing here. Some nice stuff is still available. Thanks!

 

[Tlarwa]

Mods, this is a cross post with the Emporium forum. Please remove if not allowed. Just trying to get more visibility.

Sending my Soundsmith Zephyr Mk II MI cartridge in to Soundsmith for a needed rebuild. Looking for a decent “bridge” cartridge to get me by until it comes back. I do. It have MC capabilities currently, so MM, MI or HOMC it is. Wouldn’t mind trying something different, but would like to keep it under $250. This will become my back-up cartridge once the Zephyr comes back, The table is a VPI Classic 1. I know some of you are sitting on small stockpiles, so hopefully someone Is willing to let one go. I’d be really interested to trade for some good jazz vinyl … check out my listing here. Some nice stiff is still available. Thanks!

 

[airdronian]

I might have something.... pm incoming.

 

[Shelby1420]

x2 here….

 

[Wntrmute2]

Just spit-balling here and I love Soundsmith. Steve at VAS does a beautiful retip that takes two weeks or so. I've heard a number of his jobs on some very fine carts and was impressed. @jmathers just had a Cadenza Black done and he reports really good things. Might be an option as SS seems to have a a very long wait time. That said, I'll be sending my Paua back to Peter when the time comes.

 

[jblnut]

Got an Ortofon Kontrapunkt that belonged to Steve at VAS that is sitting idle here. Would sell for what I paid (550) in case your budget is flexible.

 

[Shelby1420]

Just spit-balling here and I love Soundsmith. Steve at VAS does a beautiful retip that takes two weeks or so. I've heard a number of his jobs on some very fine carts and was impressed. @jmathers just had a Cadenza Black done and he reports really good things. Might be an option as SS seems to have a a very long wait time. That said, I'll be sending my Paua back to Peter when the time comes.

I will 💯 give a second thumbs up to Steve at VAS!!!! Lovely work done quick!!!

 

[Tlarwa]

Just spit-balling here and I love Soundsmith. Steve at VAS does a beautiful retip that takes two weeks or so. I've heard a number of his jobs on some very fine carts and was impressed. @jmathers just had a Cadenza Black done and he reports really good things. Might be an option as SS seems to have a a very long wait time. That said, I'll be sending my Paua back to Peter when the time comes.

Reading their website, if you are getting a SS cartridge rebuilt it’s 1-4 weeks. For other brands it’s probably much longer. Plus, it’s $299 for a cantilever/retip, and I’m pretty sure VAS is more. I had a cartridge rebuilt by Andy Kim once too, which was good. Not sure what his lead times are though. I think I’ll stick with Peter if the lead time is reasonable.

 

[S0und Dragon]

Sorry bud but this may be a bit too far over the line. It is a wtb and needs to be in the emporium.

 

[Tlarwa]

Got an Ortofon Kontrapunkt that belonged to Steve at VAS that is sitting idle here. Would sell for what I paid (550) in case your budget is flexible.

Thanks for the offer, but I can’t run MC right now.

 

[Tlarwa]

Sorry bud but this may be a bit too far over the line. It is a wtb and needs to be in the emporium.

No worries … that’s why I made the comment. Thanks for deleting it. My WTB ad seems to be getting plenty of visibility!

 

[Wntrmute2]

During the height of the Pandemic, Peter & Co. took about 4 months to retip my Paua. He said he had a huge backlog due to being forced to close for a while. I have no reason to doubt him, but thought you might want to know. Again, I will send my Paua back to him for service but I won't be expecting only a month wait.

 

[Tlarwa]

During the height of the Pandemic, Peter & Co. took about 4 months to retip my Paua. He said he had a huge backlog due to being forced to close for a while. I have no reason to doubt him, but thought you might want to know. Again, I will send my Paua back to him for service but I won't be expecting only a month wait.

Well, guess I better find a second cartridge that I can potentially live with for a while 😉. And I have the streamer, so I won’t be without music. Although if that happens it will probably mean I end up spending more $$ upgrading the digital front end again. It’s never ending…

 

[Wntrmute2]

I'd fire off an email, or better yet, call them and see what the lead time is.

 

[Tlarwa]

I'd fire off an email, or better yet, call them and see what the lead time is.

Just heard back from Peter. 8-12 weeks, currently.

 

[prime minister]

Just heard back from Peter. 8-12 weeks, currently.

Sounds about right.

 

[Tlarwa]

Pulled the trigger on a lightly used (30 hours) Nagaoka MP-500. More than I was planning to spend, but I’ve always wanted to try this cartridge. Hope to get it running Sunday.

 

[JohnVF]

Pulled the trigger on a lightly used (30 hours) Nagaoka MP-500. More than I was planning to spend, but I’ve always wanted to try this cartridge. Hope to get it running Sunday.

It’s a very nice cartridge, I have one. Very easy to get along with and tracks really well. Congrats

 

[Tlarwa]

Still going to send the Zephyr in for a retip, but this should make the lead time a lot easier to digest. And I’ll also have a nice back up now.