NOS Ortofon VMS 30 MkII

Assuming the unit has been kept in a reasonably normal environment temperature and humidity and pollutants wise, the only part that can simply deteriorate from age alone is the elatomeric (synthetic rubber) suspension. Unfortunately elastomers weren't as durable 20 years ago as they are now, so it's sort of a crap shoot whether a given unit will be OK. It might work for awhile only to collapse, or it might not collapse but have become so hardened from age that it doesn't have the compliance (springiness) necessary for proper tracking/tracing of the grooves. If it doesn't give satisfactory performance, it can be rebuilt. The question is would it be worth it . . . . . .

I've brought several old cartridges back from the dead by applying a tiny amount of "Re-Grip" to the suspension with a toothpick. This rubber revitalizer(ordinarily used on tape deck pinch roller and other hardened rubber parts) is available from www.turntablebasics.com and should probably be considered a last resort, but I've used it with great success on ancient cartridge styli from ADC and Sonus. Good luck, Dave

OK, Thanks. I'll try "Re-Grip" if it becomes necessary.

I have an old VMS 20 Mk11 Ortofon that so far has not shown any problems.I believe the problem of deterioration from age is more acute with moving coil cartridges than with this moving magnet/iron type.I would not worry about it actually and Ortofon still have a replacement stylus available for this model,even though it is the same now for the VMS 20 and 30 models.