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Assistance Identifying an Ikeda Cartridge

Trying to figure out which cartridge I got here, came to me on a Well Tempered Reference turntable.. 

Its an Ikeda with no cantilever, so one of the earlier generation cartridges I believe. It is that gold color that the 9TT is, however where the 9TT logo is there is just a kanji character. 

Vinyl engine has about 6 to choose from, but the pics are black and white and do not show the side of the cartridge where the logo is. 

Anyone got an idea which one this could be? Like I said looks exactly like a 9TT in color, but different logo and no cantilever. 

Thanks!
neonknight
lewm
13,044 posts
 
Ok. Do that.
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 
I own 9 Rex in perfect condition (with VTF of only 1,5 g). My ''Amercan brother'' Don's (Griffith)  Supremo ( Rex in build in headshell)  was without stylus. The new stylus is reripped by
''Expert stylus'' Uk. Expert stylus also provide styli for Decca.
This btw is the only  repair which ''Expertstlus'' can provide. 
neonknight OP
392 posts
 
@nandric 

So Expert will do a stylus repacement, but no other work? I was wondering if the suuspension or other damping materials in the cartridge can be adjusted or refurbished when the cartridge gets serviced. Mine happens to be playing well, but I just wondered what could be done when its time to send it in for service. 
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 
neonknight, I ever started a thread about ''irreparable cartridges''
among which Sony XL series and ZYX which have ''closed 
acrylic bodies''  with no possibility to get acces to the inside of the
cart. I lost this way my Sony XL 88 D. If cantileverless carts were
easy to produce we would have more than just two: Decca and
Ikeda. But I may have some good news if I get permission to
talk about. 

lewm
13,044 posts
 
Neon, it seems you have anxiety about repairing a cartridge that at the moment sounds “glorious”. Unless something has changed since you initiated this thread. If not, why not just relax and enjoy?

Factoid: two years ago while cartridge shopping in Tokyo I saw an Ikeda cartridge for sale that also had a kanji symbol on its side. I can’t say whether it’s the same symbol on your sample, but it’s evidence that the kanji doesn’t necessarily indicate a vintage model. However the cartridge was very expensive, so you can feel good about that.
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