COUNTERPOINT HYBRID PHONO STAGE UPGRADE

This is my first post, but I am well acquainted with this forum. I have recently imported a SA 5000 from a member and I am very impressed with the build quality, and performance of the line stage. It is a vast improvement over my modified SA 3. I have both service and owner's manuals, and the documentation is equally impressive, and worth the asking price.
I intend to do some of the Alta Vista upgrades, and would like to remove the JFET and inductor from the cathode circuit of the phono 1st gain stage as a starting point, and replace with a resistor, using the low gain common-cathode triode option for MM cartridge only.
I have no philosophical objection to hybrid circuitry, and I guess that Mike Elliot would have used the ARC SP11/15 as a reference for his own designs. Tube purists may have scoffed at the hybrid ARC products, but the people who make a living out of reviewing them, raved about it.
However, the Alta Vista upgrades for the SA 5000 and SA 9 involves removing the SS buffers and cathode JFETs, and associated circuitry. Any assistance in providing feedback and guidance on tackling these mods would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.