Technics SL-1210GAE Anniversary

The Hana SL is a great cartridge for its price, much better than my Nagaoka MP500.  The Hana SL sounds better than my much more expensive Van Den Hul MC Two special on my Technics SL 1200 MK2.

I appreciate chakster's insights and experience trying older carts, but many of them are hard or impossible to find, while the Hana SL is readily available.  

I have to ask if you've tried one chakster?

Chakster, Have you heard the Nagaoka JT1210?  If so, what were its shortcomings compared to the cartridges you commonly recommend?  If not, how can you dismiss it so casually and forcefully?  Nagaoka has a reputation for producing some great MM cartridges in the past; why not now?

I am one of the first to get one of these in the USA S/N 0180 and yes it does not come with the cartridge

https://www.facebook.com/groups/270918857224424

jtsnead ,would you please tell us about your new TT when you get it ?

Chakster ,what will be your choice of cartridge or the  SL1210 GAE? 

Chakster ,what will be your choice of cartridge or the  SL1210 GAE?

@vinylnostalgic

Audio-Technica AT-ML170 OFC or AT-ML180 OCC

One problem: the AT-ML180 can be over $2k in NOS condition, another expensive one is Grace LEVEL II LC-OFC with Ruby, Sapphire, Beryllium or Boron cantilever (any of those is great).  

The AT-ML170 is best buy in this situation (imo). 

However, my choice for everyday would be Stanton SC-100 WOS (signature model) or Pickering XSV/5000 - those are real killers for very reasonable price. I also like Pioneer PC-1000 mkII, Victor X1IIe, Pickering XSV/4000 ... 

Last year discovered SONY XL-50 MM (with Boron Pipe cantilever and Super Elliptical tip) is inexpensive MM and very nice at lower budget than anything in this list above.  

Any of those must be in perfect condition if you're willing to try.