What are the differences ?

I didn't send the cartridge to soundsmith because of wear but because while mounting it onto my turntable I destroyed the cantilever . Having said that it was probably time for a retip anyhow as I've been using the cartridge for 12 years . 
I asked soundsmith if changing the material of the cantilever from aluminum to shappire would give me better sound he said no , that it would probably track better but that the cartridge would sound as it used to . 

This is Ortofon Salsa 
Why don't you just buy a better cartridge instead of fixing an old one ? 

First of all I don't have to much money and cartridges nowadays are very expensive . If the Salsa were to be marketed today with inflation it would be over 500 dollars .

 Second the fact that its old doesn't mean it can't raise up to meet expectations in camparison to other cartridges on the market . It really is very good .

I would have to spend a lot more money in order to get a.little better performance . Maybe 800 or more . I hope this explains why I didn't go with another newer cartridge .

You know, I have nothing against OLD cartridges, most of my favorite cartridges are old, but they are not refurbished. 

You can buy perfectly working cartridges for the price you will pay just for the new cantilever/tip to retipper. 

If you can accept only MC cartridges then HANA is the one post people are raving about and some of them are under $500. 

I would buy an MI or MM cartridge instead of spending money on refurbishing Ortofon Salsa. 

Talking about equal expenses, or very close. 

I think that refurbishing is not the only option you can get. 

But a cantilever will make a difference, in your situation you can get a better cantilever for your Salsa. But if you like SoundSmith buy his own MI cartridge or something else.