Why is the Shelter 501 mono so expensive?

Stanwal, no, what happens is that the cartridge builder is usually overworked with normal orders, and there won't be sufficient open time to insert orders that don't have clear customers for.

Also a dozen cartridges isn't enough for efficient production - you want to be around double that.

Your statement that "mono can be intrinsically cheaper in material" depends on the quality standards of the manufacturer. If the manufacturer is willing to settle for a lower level of quality for the mono cartridges as opposed to the stereo versions, the mono cartridge may be cheaper to make. But if not, and the mono cartridge is made to the same standards of quality as the stereo version, the cost of the smaller-volume mono will be higher.

Incidentally, the biggest problem with the hand-made MC cartridge industry in Japan is not enough builders - everyone that I know is fully booked and working well into overtime. Although the production capacity of an experienced cartridge builder will vary depending on the complexity of the designs that he is asked to build, and some builders can work at a faster pace than others, I'd say that the maximum number of cartridges that an experienced cartridge builder can make in one years' time is around 1000 - 1200 (and that includes everything - rebuilds and repairs as well as new production, and for all brands that he is responsible for). Since that number needs to cover world-wide demand, it doesn't take much sales to saturate the production capacities of a single builder. 4 cartridges sold worldwide a day will do it.

regards, jonathan carr

Davt,
I owned the Shelter II mono for a couple of months. It exhibited a low hum with the 3 high quality phono stages I own. Finally discovered it was a single coil design [not in specifications or description anywhere]. Install instructions were meager. It sounded pretty good even with the hum which was only there during quiet passages. Tried everything to get rid of the hum. Learned of another owner with the same hum problem.
Bottom line. Most of todays phono pre's have grounding designs which will cause hum with single coil mono pickups.
I bought a Lyra Helikon mono which has a two coil design and great instructions. It easily bettered the Shelter in detail, soundstage, realism, tick and pop resistance and dynamics. Quality is excellent.
The Shelter is good too and I would probably would have been happy with it if I could have found a way to eliminate the hum. In my research into the problem, I found not much is known about mono playback component compatibility in the vinly community since very few are sold.
Incidently, I was floored by how much better my mono lp's sounded with the helikon as compared to my very expensive and highly regarded stereo cartridges. To hear a Blue Note original from 1959 with a Helikon mono is an amazing sonic experience.
I don't know if the other expensive stereo cartridges which have been converted to mono output are better than the Lyra. They were originally designed for stereo output and not mono and have been converted to mono through internal wiring changes.
It is easy to find forum input on the Helikon if you dig a little. It appears quite a number have been sold. You can also find some good magazine reviews.
Hope you will benefit from my input.

Thanks for all of the input. I do have some old mono blue notes and others as well as some older rock in mono and am surprised how much I enjoy them, even with my stereo cart. I am going to try and find a mono system to listen to a few of these.

It has nothing to do with "Supply & Demand"
Before Axiss had it, the price for it was 500,--$
(that was at the time when I listened to it)

Perhaps they are just opportunists. Most carts are not expensive to make, although one would think so with their outrageous pricetags ! Remember good old Barnum, everyday they can run with the importers to the bank ! Suckers born to know it.
To think one pays 500 to 10,000.00 unbelieveable and to think I paid thousands for a Koetsu years ago, sure returned that one in a hurry !