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Does it make sense to retip vdH Grasshopper cartridge

I bought vdH Grasshopper cartridge in 1985.  With integrated head shell.
I have retipped twice in the Netherlands.  First time, they sent back the regular version that mounts in a head shell.
Now we are at 3rd time.  The tip fell off, after I used a stylus cleaning liquid. BTW - no warning that cleaning liquids dissolve the glue between cantilever and tip.  Now I am back again for fixing it.
Should I send it in for retip and suspension, close to $ 1,000 or is it time to get something new.

I would really like to stay below $ 1,000.   Turntable Oracle Delphi, tone arm ET-2 linear tracking.
dcaudio
glennewdick's avatar
glennewdick
1,689 posts
 
I'm getting ready to send my VDH MC10 to Netherlands (local dealer) for its 3rd re-tip and suspension. SO yeah do it they are great carts. If you don't want to I'll buy it from you. 
rpw
47 posts
 
What about using Stylast on the stylus?
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
@clearthink 

There are many competent, qualified, expert re-tippers there is no reason to only return it to VDH although that is certainly a credible, valid, legitimate decision, choice, and option there are many others from which to decide, select, and choose.

There are indeed many others who will make a frankenstein from a VdH cartridge for money. 

I am wondering how many MC owners are so naive to send a nice cartridge from one manufacturer to an "expert" somewere else ? How do you know what you will get instead of the original VdH ? 

@dcaudio Definitely send it back to VdH if you want a VdH cartridge. 

Or simply forget it and buy another original cartridge from different manufacturer, maybe you will like it even better. But do not try to make a hybrid of the VdH cartridge and third-party parts adviced by some "experts". 
glennewdick's avatar
glennewdick
1,689 posts
 

  As for Stylast, my VDH manual actually says to use it every side. Stylast is a lubricant not cleaner.

I also agree with chakster, if you send your VDH cart to lets say sound smith you will not get the VDH stylus cut but something different also probably not the same cantilever material. So it wont be a true VDH anymore as the VDH stylus cut is very special indeed and part of the VDH sound. 

jperry
2,450 posts
 
All that said it leads to an interesting discussion since Van Den Hul retips and repairs cartridges from other manufacturers.

Do you think VDH does a disservice to those customers?

How many cantilevers and stylus configurations are really proprietary, in that nobody else has access to those parts?

How many cartridge manufacturers make their own in house styli and cantilevers, as opposed to purchasing from a specialist manufacturing those parts?


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