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How and when to check stylus condition.

Looking for a litte practical advise about checking the condition of my stylus. My cartridge is a Sound Smith VPI Zephyr. The TT is a VPI classic w/ Classic 3 wand. I'm pretty sure I have well over a thousand hours on the stylus, maybe close to 2000 hours. My analogue section sounds great, but I wonder if the stylus is worn. As an aside, it was a bitch to set the carty up on my Classic, but once tuned in, it sings. Anyway can check the sylus without having to take everything apart? Who can check it and how is it done?
bifwynne
detlof
1,899 posts
 
If you system sounds great, why bother.
What you could do however is to listen to a record which you use a lot. Check the higher frequencies for anomalities and the bottom end. If both seem ok, the sound does not seem frayed you are still all right. Also, if you use an LP which is exceptionallly quiet regarding background noise and it does get more noisy, a faulty stylus is plowing up the grooves. If however the Lp is still quiet, you are fine and can stop fretting.. for now.
rodman99999
6,160 posts
 
Here's a 21st Century answer: (http://www.jr.com/veho/pe/VEH_VMS001/) You should be able to position the 'scope, and view the front/sides of your stylus, without dismounting the cartridge(still the best way though).
glenfihi
525 posts
 
Rodman, what a cool device. Always one for the if it ain't broke don't fix it camp, but this is cheap insurance against heading off damage to records.
bifwynne OP
2,206 posts
 
Sent the carty back to Sound Smith. Spoke to Peter Ledermann. He cautioned that it is likely the carty may need a "re-tread" with that many hours. As mentioned above, playing the carty with a worn out stylus can damage my LPs. Will report back on what Peter finds.
rodman99999
6,160 posts
 
Hello Glen- An OCD analog buff can even journal the wear on his stylus, by saving pics of it to a computer file. It's also nice to know if the stylus is properly aligned on the cantilever of a new cart. How about visually observing the stylus, in the groove of a record(SRA & azimuth, for yucks). Nifty gizmo! BTW- It's on sale, right now, for $45.00.
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