Stylus Retipping Service (phono cartridge) - specialist from Russia, Moscow

Super tedious work! Wow! 35 years old? Like he said, "young man"!

 

I'm surprised too Only 35 years old and somehow I'm already doing this type of repair))))
But I'm happy with my hobby!

 

Yes, that's interesting in itself!

 

I'm just buying it from a different sources: eBay, local audio shops, private sellers and any other different selling places.
Sometimes I can get it with discount, sometimes just for retail price.
I hope some day to get a connection with a factory or somebody who is related to factories, but it's very difficult to get a connection like that...

 

The EMT JSD 6 is an amazing cartridge, music seems like just jumps out of the speakers. I'd say you got quite a deal there, I think they are 4-5$k this side of the pond.

 

Love the photos! Very nice looking work! I'd love to see a video of how this is done, have you ever posted anything like that?

 

Wow, those photos show some great work, nicely done! I'd also love to see a video or a how-to guide of some sort on how you rebuild those beauties. I think my hands are still steady enough, but I'd have no idea how to get started. Experimenting with getting new sounds out of old cartridges is something I'd love to do.

 

Based on the wait times on re-tipping at some of these mentioned places, demand is really high. I'd love to hear more about your service when you feel comfortable about sharing. Thanks for sharing the photos of your current work. Looks great!

 

Yes, I was wondering the same thing- where do you get the cantilevers for repair?

 

Great work. Not too thrilled about all the cheaper AT parts on expensive cartridges, but hey - if that's what your customers want...

 

Thanks a lot!
Exactly - this what my customers sometimes want.
They don't want to spend a lot of money and just want to return a dead cartridge to a life with a cheap stylus.

 

Nothing special, I'm using typical places (eBay, local audio shops etc.)

 

Thank you!
A little bit later I will share some "secrets" of re-tipping process.
Different ways of connection, internal and external adapters, weight reducing of aluminum cantilever, cantilever damping and all of that!

 

Thanks!!!
I'm always thinking about shooting video and YouTube channel opening, but I just dont have enough time right now to run it.
But I'm only 35 years old now, so I still got a time to make it happen in foreseeable future.

 

Thanks for details! I cant wait to hear this cartridge.
I remember how I was amazed by the sound of KOETSU and Van Den Hul cartridges (if talking about very expensive range of cartridges).
I hope EMT sound will be comparable or even better...

 

My new work.
Nothing special and it was not so difficult to make it, but anyway - here's another one look of re-tipping (how can this be done)

Audio-Techica - AT33PTG/II
Stylus - unknown elliptical

 

Yamaha MC-1S/1X - one of the most interesting cartridges I have ever heard, in terms of sound reproduction!
That was top of the line MC cartridge from Yamaha (according to information from the net).
And technical construct of this cartridge is completely different if compare it to typical MC cartridges.
Retail price was not so high, but sound from this cartridge - is something special!
Technical specs - is also very special.

I've got 3 pcs in my personal collection (Yamaha MC-1X mono-shell, MC-1S re-tipped with boron JICO S.A.S. cantilever and MC-1S with original cantilever, but I re-tipped only diamond - I installed there "Micro-Line" shape diamond from Audio-Technica).

Features of sound of this cartridge:
- neutrality, balanced frequency range
- amazing liveliness of sound
- feel of phase linearity
- amazing separation of instruments
- airness

I've got a lot of other cartridges and I've heard many expensive cartridges, but Yamaha MC-1X/1S is still number one for me!
But this is my personal opinion.

 

Yamaha - MC-1S
Stylus - JICO S.A.S.

 

It's stuff like this that really makes me wish there were still major companies pouring research and development money into advancing state of the art analog!

 

New work...

Denon - DL-304
Stylus - DL-304






And going to re-tipp few more cartridges during next week:
-VDH - Black Beauty
-Linn - Troika
-Sumiko - Blue Point Special Evo III
-Saec - C2
-EMT - JSD-6

 

New work...

Sumiko - Blue Point Special Evo III
Stylus - Blue Point Special Evo



Saec - C2
Stylus - C2

 

Benz Micro - Silver
Stylus - Silver




Grado - Reference 1
Stylus - ATN-120E



And right now working on (for clients):
Van Den Hul - Colibri
Denon - 304
Denon - 301
Audio Technica - F2
Yamaha - MC3
Linn - Troika

*I bought Fidelity Research - FR7 for myself, with broken cantilever, but overall condition is like new.
Going to re-tipp it with gold plated boron with Micro-Line tip (Audio Technica ATN-150MLX).
Also I've got Technics EPC-305MC MK2 with broken cantilever.
It was TOP of the line model. Going to re-tipp it with something special too (definitely it's going to be Micro-Line or S.A.S.)
And my favorite Yamaha MC-1S just without tip (diamond), but cantilever itself is not broken.
Also going to install Micro-Line tip on this cartridge.

 

Very interesting work! I wish you much success. The world needs more retipping services especially with the renewed interest in vinyl. I just received my Benz LP back from SoundSmith following its second retipping, and it's like getting a brand new cartridge only for much less money.

 

I learned something new here.

1) I have always thought of a retipping service was something that owners of MC cartridges used to replace their needles, since they can not be changed out by the owner, like the owner of a MM type of cartridge can do.

2) Since certain types of cantilever materials are becoming hard to get or non-existent as new, I can see the benefit of having even a MM cantilever retipped.

3) I was not ever aware before, that you could use needles designed for one type of cartridge and have them adapted onto other types of cartridges.

Having the Ortofon 2M with both the Bronze and the Black stylus, I understand how nice it is that the stylus can be easily swapped out in order to upgrade/change the SS, but that is with a product that is from the same company and is manufactured to do exactly that.

Very NICE work!

 

I'm glad you like the MC-1s...I have two original pieces (one worn in and one barely used) and they are pretty amazing in the inner groove. I also have two Yamaha MC-100's. The all original one with the Beryllium cantilever is amazing in the inner groove but the second is a retip or prototype with an Aluminum cantilever and it's too slow and ringing for such a heavy body. I have to say I really prefer either Beryllium or Boron as Aluminum either sounds too bright or edgy by comparison. Another great Yamaha to look out for is the MC-2000 with a diamond coated Beryllium cantilever but they don't come up often.