Agree with @chakster . Different stylus profiles have different lifespans. Also, the construction quality of a stylus can impact lifespan (crystal structure alignment). The various line contact styles / profiles listed by chaster have a larger contact surface area that spreads the load over the stylus. This increases lifespan. A conical cartridge profile has a very small contact area, actually just a point of contact. These wear very quickly.
BUT NOT TO FEAR!!!
Just because some damage might be done to a record due to a worn conical stylus does NOT mean that your records are totally ruined and unplayable. A new cartridge using a very small line contact stylus or a cart rebuilt by Soundsmith or others using a very small line contact stylus will be tracing the record groove in a different area, typically tracking MUCH DEEPER in the groove. This area may not have been damaged. May not have ever even been touched by a stylus.
I recently had Soundsmith rebuild a cartridge using one of their very small line contact stylus / boron cantilever combinations. When playing some of my collection that was damaged in the early 80s by a worn Shure conical stylus came out clean sounding and like new. No audible damage or distortion. The stylus was obviously tracking a "virgin" part of the groove.
BUT NOT TO FEAR!!!
Just because some damage might be done to a record due to a worn conical stylus does NOT mean that your records are totally ruined and unplayable. A new cartridge using a very small line contact stylus or a cart rebuilt by Soundsmith or others using a very small line contact stylus will be tracing the record groove in a different area, typically tracking MUCH DEEPER in the groove. This area may not have been damaged. May not have ever even been touched by a stylus.
I recently had Soundsmith rebuild a cartridge using one of their very small line contact stylus / boron cantilever combinations. When playing some of my collection that was damaged in the early 80s by a worn Shure conical stylus came out clean sounding and like new. No audible damage or distortion. The stylus was obviously tracking a "virgin" part of the groove.