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Any re'cs on a retipper other than Soundsmith?

50.53.150.94
Posted on March 3, 2015 at 21:34:47
ppopp
Audiophile

Posts: 2994
Location: OR
Joined: October 10, 2002
 I will probably use Soundsmith, but I'm curious to see if there is another option or two in the US.
I have a Yamaha MC-1S which I love the sound of, and am keen to give it a new lease of life.

 

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http://www.phonocartridgeretipping.com, posted on March 3, 2015 at 22:10:05
bouncy ball
Audiophile

Posts: 1221
Location: British Columbia
Joined: July 26, 2003
 No direct experience but I have heard that he is also very good.

 

RE: Any re'cs on a retipper other than Soundsmith?, posted on March 4, 2015 at 08:45:13
thebullfrog
Audiophile

Posts: 408
Location: Northern California
Joined: September 11, 2007
 I know variety is the spice of life, however, when you find someone as good as Peter at The Soundsmith, just be happy he is there and use his services. I have no affiliation with Peter except for the fact that he has rebuilt one cartridge and retipped another for me and they both sound exceptional.

Just one guy's opinion.

Good luck!

 

RE: Any re'cs on a retipper other than Soundsmith?, posted on March 4, 2015 at 08:45:43
E.Raven
Audiophile

Posts: 91
Location: northern North Carolina
Joined: November 26, 2005
 I used Andy Kim a couple of years ago to retip my Benz ACE SL and was, and continue to be, extremely satisfied. If you want to contact him I think his e-mail address is still Andy@NeedleClinic.com or for snail mail at Phono Cartridge Retipping, 6335 163rd PL SE, Bellevue, WA 9006.

Good Luck,
ERE

 

I think that is the same as the person linked by bouncy below - nt, posted on March 4, 2015 at 11:56:31
Chet
Audiophile

Posts: 1187
Location: Washington State
Joined: November 15, 2000
 nt

 

RE: http://www.phonocartridgeretipping.com, posted on March 4, 2015 at 11:59:29
Jeff Maxson
Audiophile

Posts: 969
Joined: January 6, 2002
 I've used Andy Kim on 4 different units--one twice 8^(--and have a high opinion of his work. He repaired suspensions, even mended a severed cantilever, in addition to straight retipping. Also he has a boron cantilever option. And wait time is 2-3 weeks.

 

RE: Any re'cs on a retipper other than Soundsmith?, posted on March 4, 2015 at 14:48:21
Des
Audiophile

Posts: 2110
Location: Great Barrier Reef
Joined: August 3, 2000
Contributor
  Since: August 2, 2000
 I'd be careful with Expert Stylus--they ruined two Koetsu's I had--but I must shoulder some of the blame as I did not investigate their methods and techniques before despatch.

Des

 

Andy did one for me..., posted on March 4, 2015 at 16:03:24
user510

The Shelter 501-II I had owned since 2002. And it has been a favorite. Though it needs to be partnered to an arm with enough mass and a good enough bearing to deal with the spurious energy this cartridge produces.
(btw, tracking improves as effective mass increases)

I had Andy "refurbish" the thing a couple of years back. We retained the boron cantilever while installing a new elliptical diamond into it. The suspension donut was replaced with a new one. I can't imagine his labor on this one. The donut I can imagine. The stylus replacement must be excruciating. Cost: $250. Turnaround: 3 weeks.

Now it sounds as good as new. Perhaps better since I've learned, over the years, how to dial the thing in to its best advantage.

That little white spot on the body side is my doing. I put a dab of pine-tar there to better hold the Shelter stylus protector in place.

No need to go shopping for a new cartridge. I'm good for a few more years.

-Steve

 

Do tell...., posted on March 4, 2015 at 17:05:33
kuma
Audiophile

Posts: 10272
Location: IN
Joined: July 8, 2001
 Did they ruin yoru cartridge physically/mechanically or sonically?

 

OK-, posted on March 4, 2015 at 20:37:47
Des
Audiophile

Posts: 2110
Location: Great Barrier Reef
Joined: August 3, 2000
Contributor
  Since: August 2, 2000
 Ok Firstly I agree Expert do good retips hence the many current good reports--in my case I

am relating to Koestu experiences only

The episode was circa mid 80's--I sent the carts for retip to ES

They came back with excellent pricing and-- with shiny new tips!

Upon playing something sounded different -thick/slow and not the expanse I know the carts

were capable of --having owned Rosewoods/Onyxs/etc

Thinking they would break in--after 100 hrs or so I persevered--no improvement in either one

Puzzling and rather despondent--I parceled them up and despatched to Sugano-san -whom I

had the pleasure of meeting on previous trip to Japan

Back came the diagnosis -

In attaching the new styli the Glue used had migrated up the cantilever and caused the cart to

alter it's sonic performance -a combination of the excess matter in the cantilever and the

flexibility inhibited with the extra mass

The Koetsu's were "hamstrung"

I paid Sugano san for the retip and ate humble pie

I gather now the K Singapore contact replace the whole assembly now on servicing

Didn't bother to tell Expert-they still got paid--I gave them the benefit of the doubt that they

had no idea they were compromising the carts--plus Koetsu's were rare then --maybe they

went their usual way seemingly fine with other brands

Water under the bridge-- but I always post a proviso on Retip Posts for folks to check with

them before committing

Des

 

Thanks for the Good story.., posted on March 4, 2015 at 21:59:21
kuma
Audiophile

Posts: 10272
Location: IN
Joined: July 8, 2001
 Altho many happy customers, ES retipped Linn Troika never sounds like the original.

I would assume that any aftermarket retipping will change the original voicing of a cartridge.

 

I will chime in a bit..., posted on March 5, 2015 at 06:10:29
EdAInWestOC
Audiophile

Posts: 6828
Location: Glen Burnie, MD USA
Joined: December 18, 2003
 I have an old Denon DL-103D that has been retipped and had its suspension rebuilt by VdH and Soundsmith. The VdH retip job was a boron cantilever with a VdH type 1 stylus and the Soundsmith multiple retips were the TOTL ruby cantilever with the optimized contact line stylus.

Both VdH and Soundsmith do quality work, but VdH ended up being more expensive for me, and there was no way to get any feedback on the work being done, or after the work was completed. You simply choose your retipping option, send in the cartridge, and your cartridge disappears into VdH, after which it reappears some time later with a new retip and a packing slip that has some summary info as to what was done.

My experience with Soundsmith is very different. I have had multiple opportunities to speak with Peter and he is intelligent, talented and interested in talking about our hobby. He also cares about your satisfaction with his work. That is a difference that is hard to find and worth retaining.

Yes, it takes time to send a cartridge to Peter. His work has received the reputation and popularity that it deserves. That means it will take time for him to do the work and he does not attempt to hide that factor.

I have no doubt that the other person mentioned probably does quality work, and the fact that he offers a boron cantilever option is attractive. Maybe one day I will give him a try but for the time being I am a satisfied SoundSmith customer.

The fact that Peter takes a bit of time should be a reassuring factor to those who are shopping around for a retip service.

Ed

Life is analog...digital is just samples thereof

 

RE: I will chime in a bit..., posted on March 5, 2015 at 07:51:49
griffithds@jaws.bz
Audiophile

Posts: 77
Location: Idaho
Joined: December 22, 2011
 Ed,

Hello. I have read a post by Peter himself that stated Sound Smith does do Boron cantilever replacements. Yes, this surprised me and I had to re-read to verify that it in fact was a posting by Peter. I do not know but and did ask why this fact is not listed on his web site but never got a satisfactory reply. What was most disappointing at the time of this discovery was the fact that I had a Benz Micro Ruby 3S sitting with Axel in Germany for a new cantilever/stylus replacement. I would have much rather have sent it to Peter if I had known he did Boron!
Hopefully this information get out to those of use who wish to stay with boron instead of going to what was thought to be the only option, his Sapphire cantilever replacements.
Regards,
Don Griffith

 

RE: http://www.phonocartridgeretipping.com, posted on March 5, 2015 at 08:13:44
attym
Audiophile

Posts: 263
Joined: March 19, 2008
 I used Andy to fix/replace suspension on a cart that was sagging. Great service, even got a call from him when it went out... and price was right. I would use him again without hesitation. I just used Soundsmith for a ruby retip and besides the wait which was shorter than estimated, its as good as all the reviews say it is. We're lucky to have two great, affordable cart services available to us.

 

RE: Andy did one for me..., posted on March 5, 2015 at 11:10:52
kff
Audiophile

Posts: 1033
Location: SE PA
Joined: October 19, 2006
 Prices seem to have gone up as I was just quoted 250 to just correct the suspension. The needle is new so I asked for just suspension work and got that quote from Andy.

I'm still evaluating what to do with this 501 II as it still plays but rides way too low.

 

RE: Andy did one for me..., posted on March 5, 2015 at 12:10:03
user510
 I guess the thing is to compare between re-tippers. You could consult with Peter at SoundSmith.

I know I did with regard to my 501-II. But I didn't want to just replace the cantilever/stylus and call it done. I wanted a suspension tune-up and to retain the boron cantilever. But Peter wasn't too enthusiastic in his replies and indicated he'd rather not take one of these Shelters out of their hard aluminum cases. And I suspect he's going to charge enough to make one consider purchasing a new Shelter rather than fixing the old one.

Who did the re-tip for you?
Was it a boron/elliptical tip or did you go with one of those ruby/FL tips?

I knew I wasn't going to go the Ruby/Fl way on mine. That cantilever/diamond profile is where the character of the cartridge lives.

-Steve

 

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