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Grado Statement Sonata 1 - bent stylus

Have no idea how it happened, but on attempting to play a record yesterday, I was shocked to discover that the stylus on this expensive cartridge was bent 90 degrees and pointing down vertically at the record.I treat my equipment carefully, and had left the SME arm in its slip-locked retaining clip and put the dust cover down. Examination under magnification showed that the bend appears to be at the point where the stylus meets a black housing. It seems to also be slightly loose at that point. No one touched the turntable between that last playing and my discovery of the weird damage. Are Grado products so idiosyncratic that they break by themselves?
erichk
yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,624 posts
 
Ship it to Grado. If you are lucky they will replace the stylus at
no charge.The other option is buy a new one from the Needle
Doctor,they will give you a trade in credit on your old cartridge.
raymonda
855 posts
 
I think Soundsmith works on Grado's too. So, repair cost can be as cheap as $125 or more, if you want the upgrade. BTW their work is A+++++++.

Hey, you broke it, you just don't know how. It happens.
fourwnds's avatar
fourwnds
277 posts
 
I was thinking of retipping when my grado/s time is up or the kid or the dogs send it to an early death. a soundsmith cantilever/retip at 250 sounds like a real step in a positive direction. i would love to know how it turned out should you go that route. this mystery could end up being a blesssing in disguise. i know its ahassle though and a wait
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