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Who can analyze the condition of my old cartridge?


I have inherited a group of four older MC cartridges and would eventually like to sell them off to upgrade my own system.

I'm looking for a business or audio shop that will evaluate them for stylus wear and compliance on the rubber bits. I want to make sure I'm not selling junk. But I'm hesitant to send them to the re-tip shops, as I'm just interested in current condition.

Must be a reputable US company or shop who knows what they're looking at. No local options in West Michigan.

Seems like a lot of people would have this same need. Any suggestions?
montague2
nsgarch's avatar
nsgarch
2,524 posts
 
I heard these work really great for inspecting styli. You just plug it into your PC!
http://digiblue.com/digital_blue/qx5.html
markphd
667 posts
 
You can easily do it yourself with a low powered "toy" microscope or stereoscope. Look at the shape and wear of the stylus tip. Look at whether the cantilver is straight. Look at whether the stylus surround is compliant (i.e. not hard) and whether it is cracked. For an MC cartridge, any further inspection would involve looking at the wires which would probably involve taking it apart as in a retipping. The cost of having somebody do this is probably not worth it unless you are actually doing a retipping.
tiger
313 posts
 
You really can't, without risking destructive testing. After a cartridge is older then ten years, the rubber is shot. Stylus wear is easy to look at, but the tip and shank connection is another crap shoot. Best to sell the lot on ebay, as is.
montague2 OP
3 posts
 

Thanks for the feedback.

The stylus looks good on each cartridge, but don't know how to look for or evaluate wear.

As for the rubber bits, I can look for cracks, but how do you decide if there is a hardening of the rubber?
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