Has anyone had a laser replaced in a Audio Research CD-3 MKII

George :     I can see you are not in the US, so it wouldn't be good to call...Anything you can tell me about this laser changing would be of great help.....One of the things you could tell me is a Laser made by Philips, but a New Old Stock better than a new  replacement laser made by someone else .......W

If you want to pay extra, get the genuine Philips ones, I've used the clones and never had a problem with them.

Like I said before are you this guy? If so then you can do it

" If you have patience, are handy using tools and have a bit of electrical skills, you can do it your self, in a couple of hours."

If not then pay someone who is. Not at AR rates

Cheers George

George:     You have been a lot of help on this........I am the tube amplifier builder in Idaho..........Thanks    W

autospec: 
Guessing you're way ahead of the curve on proper workstation grounding & hopefully the laser will also include a precaution note but they can be finicky buggers if you're not careful, especially for the desoldering. 

I am the tube amplifier builder in Idaho..........Thanks W

If you’ve built amps then you’ll be fine, just take pics before each dismantling step, so you then know what went where, there no adjusting, measuring, calibrating to be done, basically "plug and go". 

Cheers George