Cartridge repair by Moscow based Roman??

If Peter Ledermann at SoundSmith can’t repair your cartridge why do you think someone in Russia will do that ? It is not even a company, but a private individual who has no access to the parts and inventory that SoundSmith has, because no one in Russia have such a long experience and strong reputation in re-tipping as SoundSmith (they are also produce cartridges).

I have no idea who it is, but i remember a Russian guy commented on my listing and aggressively offered me his service, it was such a weird conversation, because he slagged off re-tippers like Axel in Germany who was much older than him. I even demonstrate him Axel’s job in several images by request, because some of my Technics cartridges were rebuild by Axel. However, Russian guy told me i’m a liar, because i sent him a Jico SAS replacement along with Axel's replacements. A person in your link above has mentioned Axel in his post, his message is from 2017, but Axel is retired long time ago, he was already retired in 2017. I’m not sure a person i’m talking about is the same guy, but that guy i used to talk once definitely had some mental problems. I was selling broken AT cartridge, but he jumped in and offered me a re-build, i told him i’m not interested in re-build and this is why i’m selling my cartridge as it is, i also explained that if i will ever need a re-tipping service it will be a SoundSmith because of his experience and reputation, but definitely NOT an unknown guy in Russia doing this job somewhere in the dark corner of his living room or garage.

My advice for you is to send your cartridge to this company in UK:

Expert Stylus & Cartridge Co

Send your request to:
info @ expertstylus.co.uk

Deal with reputable companies, not with some unknown private vendors!

P.S. Why don’t you just buy a new (better) cartridge ?

Chakster, you have no idea how good Roman is or how much access to parts he has. He might be a wizard with a microscope. Assumptions are the mother of all fuck ups.

Cool, what Soundsmith is telling you is your cartridge is unfortunately junk. Junk is junk. Buy yourself a new one. Frankly I would never have a cartridge re tipped. Actually, I have never worn out a stylus usually the little wires inside work harden and break first. Getting a new cartridge is always a happy occasion. 

Hmm. The specific comment from Peter at Soundsmith was that due to the type of construction inside the cartridge, there would be no guarantee that a difficult repair could be perfectly executed. They did not consider it useful even to look at pictures.

Regarding buying a new cartridge, that option is always there. I will go in for a DL 103R most likely, which is a step down from where I was, but after feeling tentative after the loss of a cartridge, I don't feel like replacing it like for like just immediately.

I will check out expertstylus first. Let me see if they are as negative as Soundsmith was.

@cool_jeeves

What is the cartridge you’re talking about ?

There is no guarantee from anyone in this world, so what Peter said is a standard, you ship it to him for inspection (no pictures), then he could work on it, if you’re lucky it will be repaired and inspection fee will be used towards the repair fee. Peter is one of the best in the world, if he can’t fix it then no one will fix it (imo).

I want to tell you for sure that you will have to ship your cartridge to Expert Stylus or SoundSmith or whatever company, no one will inspect it by pictures, except for some amateurs pretending to be a good re-tippers.

P.S. Denon 103 R ? I wouldn't recommend it, the stylus tip is conical and life span of such stylus is 300 hrs then you will have to re-tip it or buy another sample (which is better that re-tip). 

Great post by Chakster. I agree totally, for whatever that’s worth.