re-tipping Dynavector17D?

Chak, All I am suggesting is that a newbie doesn’t get much help from the idea of finding and buying a rare vintage cartridge for his or herself (rare not only in type but also to find one in excellent condition with a good suspension). Maybe it’s better to recommend recent or current production. It’s like saying to a beggar, "I just found this wallet with $1000 in it, lying on the street back there. Why don’t you do the same?" These rare cartridge bargains that you find are after all, rare.

@lewm , do you ever look for cartridges on ebay ? I bought a few Dynavector carts from USA on ebay (NOS) for under $500, this is a normal practice for people of my age to buy everything online. Return and full refund is normal practice on ebay (if everything goes wrong). It is not some sacred ritual or a voodoo cult, or a miracle to find any Dynavector cartridges (17DS Diamond or 23RS Ruby) on ebay. The prices are very low!

KARAT 17D was made in 1981 and then Dynavector made 17D2 and 17DS in 1983-1984, also Karat Nova at the same time. As you know the Karat Nova considered the best.

My 17D2 mkII was introduced in 1988 along with 23RS mkII.

Here is the whole Dynavector story (vintage models).

I don’t know for sure what was the retail price of the 17D3 in the US, when it was current, but I think it was way less than $3000.

The latest DX retail price is about 2000 EURO, i was wrong about $3k, but still too expensive for the OP I believe :))

17DS and 23RS can be found for $400-500 in perfect working condition or even NOS for slightly higher price.

However, the topic is "re-tipping Dynavector 17D"
If it was a question then my answer is NO!

Just another (better) Dynavector model for the price of re-tipping (or very near), this is why 23RS or 17DS have been mentioned. 

  

At least we do agree it is not a great idea to re-tip a 17D series cartridge, if you want to restore its particular original SQ.  Yes, you're right; I am too old and too cynical based on past experience to buy a cartridge off eBay, unless it's from one of the reputable international sellers, like Thakker (from whom I have purchased new cartridges) or one of the Asian gurus.  In my past experience purchasing vacuum tubes and the occasional LP, I have more often than not been very disappointed.  Never have I purchased a used cartridge off eBay, but I did recently purchased a cartridge from a private individual who advertised on another site and swore he was selling an NOS sample.  What he sent was not only obviously not NOS, it was also defective beyond repair.  On top of that, he was a whiner.

Reviving this thread, as I have a Dynavector Karat 17D (original) that I have at a repair person to reconnect a broken wire. That job is done, and he’s offering to do a line contact stylus for $500 or a .2/.7 elliptical for $250. 

Is it even possible to get a new diamond into the square-cut hole where the original diamond was bonded? Would he just be gluing a new diamond to the tip?

I don't know whether it is possible to insert a new diamond in the square cut hole, but it sounds very difficult.

You should ask how he plans to effect the repair. He is the only person that can answer your question about his planned repair methods.

heyitsmedusty... he’s offering to do a line contact stylus for $500 or a .2/.7 elliptical for $250.

Is it even possible to get a new diamond into the square-cut hole where the original diamond was bonded? Would he just be gluing a new diamond to the tip?

He has responded, and he reports that he has done this many times, to great success. He removes the old stylus, and has small enough styli to fit back into the hole (or split, as it sometimes is), and re-bond it. 

I'll report back on how it sounds when I receive it!