Tell about your experience with your old Audio-Technica SL-1200s..

I was using the LP Gear Zupreme head shell because I wanted to adjust the azimuth - problem with that is you can't use the Technics stylus alignment tool because of the way the end is configured.  Anyway, I just couldn't get my Hana SL dialed in, so I changed it to a replacement Technics head shell, and everything fell into place.  The Hana only weighs 5 grams, so maybe that had something to do with it.

Dear biker, I am amazed that you could walk into a GoodWill and find more than one or two LPs out of a hundred or more that are still playable on a decent system. And those one or two are likely to be Lawrence Welk or the like in my experience.

My SL 1200 MK2 came with a cartridge on an Ortofon SH-4 headshell and I bought another and tried a generic headshell.  I haven't tried a Technics headshell.  I've been using the lighter (10 gram) version of the Zupreme. 

85 bucks seemed like a lot to spend for a headshell, but when I looked at it the other way and asked myself why I was connecting cartridges that cost hundreds or thousands of dollars to wires in a cheap headshell, it was worth giving one a try. 

The Zupreme is engineered for rigidity and lack of resonance (according to their marketing material) and more importantly, appears to use much higher quality wires.  I'm not a big "cable guy", but with those small signals, I believe wires do matter.  I'm not an engineer or an electrical engineer, so take all that with a grain of salt. 

My cartridges do sound better on the Zupreme headshells.  

@bikerbw I think you're referring to the Technics overhang gauge when you say "alignment tool"?  It's not that hard to hold the overhang gauge next to the cart and eyeball it and get it reasonably close. 

The only cart I still have on an Ortofon headshell is my Hana SL.  I have a Zupreme waiting for it, I just haven't changed it over yet.  I'll see how it goes and if I remember, I'll report back.  Right now I'm really enjoying the Soundsmith Aida II, so it may stay on the turntable for a while.

As far as the Goodwill LPs - yeah, you won’t find much if anything good if they’ve already been put on the racks. The only way you have a chance is grab them when they’ve been wheeled out from the back and are sitting around, waiting for someone to put them on the racks.  The serious people watch for the carts to come out and pounce on them.  

I tried to get the Zupreme to work, but never could get it dialed in. It sounds so much better now with a silver Technics head shell that I’m afraid to touch anything until I figure out why. I spend a good amount trying to get all of the adjustments right.