Grado TLZ ???

Yogiboy, thanks for the reply.
Lew, I am trying to figure out what I really purchased. My body is also silver. The box it came in is labeled Prestige Gold stereo pickup. The stylus on the cartridge is engraved TLZ v as is the replacement. I would like to know if all TLZ's are signature models or is the a non sig TLZ? Also what does the "v" designate? Thanks

I have been using Grado's for 30 years,so here's the scoop!
There was a signature 8 and 10 then they came out with the Z line which was the mcz,tlz,xlz,the v at the end of the number was the mark five version. If you have a gold with a tlz stylus something is rotten in Denmark!

yogiboy, I don't know that I truly have a gold. The box is marked gold, the cartridge itself is marked Grado on the mounting surface, JG on the silver portion of the body and on the front it is marked jg with Grado below it. The cartridge came with the tlz v stylus and a spare. I am just doing my homework. It was not represented in a deceptive manner. I suppose when I mount it and listen I will learn more. Thanks for your input and anything else you could share would be appreciated.
Thanks
Rich

Very simple. You have a Grado "Gold" with a stylus assembly that has been upgraded to that of a "TLZ v"; they are interchangeable. My guess is that performance-wise, you are not quite at the overall level of excellence of a full-fledged TLZ, but fairly close. Output of a Gold is 5mv, output of a TLZ was (if I recall correctly) 1.5mv. Output is determined by the body that you have, so yours outputs 5mv. The TLZ retailed for $500 when new.

I will go and take a look at mine. I still have the original cylinder in which the cartridge was sold, so I can also look at the label on that. Perhaps Yogiboy knows better, but I do think there was a "Signature" version of the TLZ. I never knew or bothered to find out if it was any different from the standard TLZ, nor do I recall whether mine is a Sig or not. Do not know anything about the "v" designation. Most likely, the seller stuck the TLZ in a box intended for the Gold, as you probably have already figured out. The TLZ originally came in the aforementioned solid metal cylinder with removable end caps that were held in place by a fancy elastic band. I think the TLZ has great potential and is head and shoulders better (faster sounding, better bass and treble extension) than the lower models in the Z series. Good choice.