DIY cartridge re-tip. I did It! (photo) - mosin

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DIY cartridge re-tip. I did It! (photo)

Posted by mosin (M) on December 17, 2005 at 13:46:15

You may remember the thread where we discussed how cartridges are re-tipped. Also, I was inquiring about various small files, particularly root canal files. Anyway, I bought a Grace F9E cartridge with a fatally bent cantilever for $30. Later on, I bought an NOS Empire 875XLT. The Empire has its own story. It is a "P" mount cartridge which explains why I got it for $11, but it also was made after Ernst Benz acquired Empire. It is not the typical Empire design, but it is far overbuilt for what you might expect from a "P" mount cartridge. The cantilever is a tapered one with a nude mounted tip. Its construction is exquisite by any standard. It is a sleeper for sure, assuming one has a "P" mount tonearm that sounds reasonably well, and that is assuming a great deal. The nice part about the cartridge for my purposes is that the cantilever was made so that removing it from the assembly is extremely easy. The difficult part of the transplant involves the magnet structure. In the case of the Empire, the magnet consists of magnetic material that fills part of the cantilever. That's the stub, and explains why the cantilever assembly is easily removed from the plastic part. It is also where the root canal file came in handy because I used it to dig out the magnet. Then, without a great deal of difficulty, I was able to glue the Empire cantilever over the Grace stub with lacquer, AKA fingernail polish. Lining it all up was a breeze, too.

I can inspect at only 30X, so I can't tell for certain which type of tip it is, but it is a nice one. If anyone happens to have a sheet on the Empire 875XLT, I would appreciate it. The cartridge sounds great, so far. It may be the equal of an original Grace 9E, but only extended listening will tell.

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Topic - DIY cartridge re-tip. I did It! (photo) - mosin 13:46:15 12/17/05 (18)

Totally impressed - powermatic 21:32:23 12/18/05 (0)

Re: DIY cartridge re-tip - J.D. 12:57:24 12/18/05 (0)

Re: DIY cartridge re-tip. I did It! (photo) - kenster 03:34:57 12/18/05 (0)

WOW! Pretty amazing feat! SO now you have an F9B! - Ray-o-Stat 18:26:53 12/17/05 (1)

Re: WOW! Pretty amazing feat! SO now you have an F9B! - mosin 21:39:44 12/17/05 (0)

Excellent job - Mark Kelly 17:54:17 12/17/05 (7)

Re: Excellent job - mosin 21:47:40 12/17/05 (6)

Acrylates? - Mark Kelly 22:10:55 12/17/05 (2)

Right. - mosin 22:23:45 12/17/05 (1)

I forgot...of course. - mosin 22:38:01 12/17/05 (0)

I forgot - mosin 22:03:01 12/17/05 (2)

Looks pretty similar. - Mark Kelly 22:53:57 12/17/05 (1)

Re: Looks pretty similar. - mosin 23:16:09 12/17/05 (0)

Hurumph! - KT88 14:50:44 12/17/05 (1)

Re: Hurumph! - mosin 21:41:18 12/17/05 (0)

Great Photo and congratulations on the successful transplant. - tubesforever 13:50:54 12/17/05 (2)

Re: Great Photo and congratulations on the successful transplant. - mosin 21:51:26 12/17/05 (0)

I use a Grace with a Garrott line contact - Mark Kelly 17:40:16 12/17/05 (0)

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