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Doh! Ruined expensive cartridge

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Posted on January 7, 2021 at 17:32:24
schlagelk
Audiophile

Posts: 85
Location: Midwest
Joined: December 22, 2003
 I pulled an ultimate bonehead move a few weeks ago.

Got a Clearaudio Virtuoso Ebony V2 cartridge this past summer which I love, and didn't even have 100 hours on it yet. One night listened to one side of one record, since solitary listening time is hard to come by these days if you know what I mean. Went to put the plastic guard back on it and I had it backwards like a dumbass. I could tell something was not right, so I tried playing another record and it wouldn't even track.

Brought my TT in and cartridge is indeed ruined, bent, so have to get another one - with this cartridge Clearaudio can't replace the stylus so they have to replace the whole cartridge but they give an allowance - $570 instead of $1000 for a new one but still an expensive lesson.

How many people has this happened to? I have wrecked a stylus before but never anything like this.

 

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RE: Doh! Ruined expensive cartridge, posted on January 7, 2021 at 18:20:33
flood2
Audiophile

Posts: 2558
Joined: January 11, 2011
 It happens.....
Mine all caused during the alignment process. In one incident, my angle-poise lamp desk mount clamp came loose resulting in the lamp crashing down on top of the cartridge completly mashing the cantilever into the jig.
Another time when aligning an AT150MLX, when setting the linear offset jig alignment pin on the pivot point, my finger clipped the counterweight which "bounced" the arm causing it to fly across the jig plate which caught the stylus as it flew past - took the microline tip clean off the boron cantilever.
Regards Anthony

"Beauty is Truth, Truth Beauty.." Keats

 

RE: Doh! Ruined expensive cartridge, posted on January 7, 2021 at 18:40:47
Joe Backer
Audiophile

Posts: 1033
Joined: July 10, 2011
 Ruined a brand new just mounted Lyra Delos in basically the same manor as you with the stylus guard. That was it for me. Just too much to risk.... but I have to say I've found a bunch of better cartridges that are cheaper or easily rebuildable, so it wasn't a complete waste!

 

RE: Doh! Ruined expensive cartridge, posted on January 7, 2021 at 19:42:41
SgreenP@MSN.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3537
Joined: April 23, 2007
 Why would you install the guard when its not being moved, etc.

 

RE: Doh! Ruined expensive cartridge, posted on January 7, 2021 at 20:43:44
Goober58
Audiophile

Posts: 5576
Joined: November 15, 2016
 My wife decided to dust my TT and busted my XX2.

Not so expensive but cleaned the gunk out of a Grado Signature 8 and messed up a Sumiko Blue Point nuding it (they were very fine wires).

 

I bent a cantilever 90 degrees on a Dynavector 10 X 4., posted on January 7, 2021 at 20:45:01
alaskahiatt
Audiophile

Posts: 7501
Joined: December 9, 2000
Contributor
  Since: November 1, 2005
 I had stored a Technics headshell with a Dynavector 10 X 4 in a strong cardboard tube while working on a Technics SL-1700 MKII turntable. When I removed the headshell from the tube, the headshell moved downwards and caught the cantilever. After much swearing and a rise in temperature, I called the retipper in Seattle. After receiving the cartridge, the retipper said the cost of repair would be the same as a new cartridge. He kept the cartridge and probably did make some money off of it.

Last week, I removed a headshell and Grado F3+ cartridge from a Kenwood 2055 table and brushed by some boxes that resulted in dropping the headshell. The result was a kink in the cantilever and slight bend. With a pair of long needle nose pliers and an unsteady hand, I managed to return the cantilever to a straight position.

It's amazing that in a fraction of a second, a lot of money and a lot of hopes go down the drain.

In my case the new Dynavector cost $400 in Hong Kong, but the Grado and Kenwood table were free. The Grado stylus looked excellent under a stereo microscope, but it would take a more powerful microscope and proper lighting to see if it was worn.

I am predicting a lot of posts in this thread.

 

Me, multiple times. Lesson not learned. nt, posted on January 7, 2021 at 21:49:18
viridian
 Nt

 

Did the same with a Grado, but I have been researching re-potting., posted on January 8, 2021 at 00:26:20
alaskahiatt
Audiophile

Posts: 7501
Joined: December 9, 2000
Contributor
  Since: November 1, 2005
 Of course, I may have broken the fine coil wires in the Grado anyway.

 

RE: Did the same with a Grado, but I have been researching re-potting., posted on January 8, 2021 at 00:36:10
Goober58
Audiophile

Posts: 5576
Joined: November 15, 2016
 Good luck with the repotting. I don't recall any wires changing the stylus on the Grado - I'm sure they were there though. The Sig 8 was a couple hundred bucks back in the 80s when I was in college and for me that was painful.

On the Blue Point I tried to take the body off the cartridge. I wasn't the only one who didn't like the cartridge much but others claimed it was much better if you could get the body off with breaking the wires. I failed.

 

Happened to me recently too., posted on January 8, 2021 at 04:18:55
ghost of olddude55
Audiophile

Posts: 32538
Joined: July 14, 2017
 Tone arm on the AR XA got away from me, bent a stylus with less than 100 hours on it.
But at least the cartridge had a user-replaceable unit.



The blissful counterstroke-a considerable new message.

 

RE: Doh! Ruined expensive cartridge, posted on January 8, 2021 at 05:15:43
DDzStereo
Audiophile

Posts: 206
Location: North of Toronto, Ontario
Joined: July 1, 2009
 Agreed, I never put the guard on between sessions

 

RE: Doh! Ruined expensive cartridge, posted on January 8, 2021 at 05:44:25
tortjohn@yahoo.com
Audiophile

Posts: 204
Location: MA USA
Joined: March 28, 2018
 Why not send it to Soundsmith or other cartridge rebuilding service for repair. I had a Sumiko Evo 3 that the whole cantilever was broken off and it came back sounding good as new.
Joto

 

Just about everyone has done this at one time or another., posted on January 8, 2021 at 05:48:47
Opus 33 1/3
Audiophile

Posts: 4184
Location: D.C. Area
Joined: February 19, 2014
 I buggered the cantilever on a brand new audio Technica OC9/MLII MC cart, but I got lucky. For some unknown reason, AT replaced it free of charge after I called them.

I wish that was my only cartridge boo-boo, but it ain't. Carry on, soldier.





Opus 33 1/3

 

I never use the plastic guard on a mounted cartridge...//nt, posted on January 8, 2021 at 06:26:14
MaxwellP
Audiophile

Posts: 1622
Location: New York
Joined: September 19, 2007
 Nt

 

RE: I never use the plastic guard on a mounted cartridge...//nt, posted on January 8, 2021 at 06:39:26
schlagelk
Audiophile

Posts: 85
Location: Midwest
Joined: December 22, 2003
 I won't be doing that again either

 

RE: Doh! Ruined expensive cartridge, posted on January 8, 2021 at 07:22:36
Tom
Audiophile

Posts: 2081
Location: Arizona
Joined: February 27, 2000
Contributor
  Since: March 16, 2002
 With a little work, you can diy/replace the stylus with an AT95E. I've done this with my Virtuoso Wood.

 

RE: Doh! Ruined expensive cartridge, posted on January 8, 2021 at 07:33:10
miner42
Audiophile

Posts: 473
Location: Texas
Joined: April 28, 2007
 I am willing to bet Steve Leung with VAS could have rebuilt the cartridge for you. I am using him to rebuild my Ortofon Cadenza Black

 

RE: Many, if not most guards, have a not easily seen front and rear, posted on January 8, 2021 at 07:37:09
B. Scarpia
 I put a black Sharpie dot on mine to indicate the front and like others, never use the guard except after removing the cartridge.

Always holding the cartridge body with thumb and forefinger only is the rule no matter how much putting a finger on the underside behind the cantilever may call to you.

If at all possible, remove the entire arm from the table and clamp it in a Pana-Vise before mounting/re-mounting. Adjust overhang only after returning the arm to the table with the screws just loose enough so that effort is required (other hand on the arm to protect the bearing) to move the cartridge with thumb and forefinger.

 

RE: I never use the plastic guard on a mounted cartridge...//nt, posted on January 8, 2021 at 10:08:32
Mick Wolfe
Audiophile

Posts: 3364
Location: AZ
Joined: October 10, 1999
Contributor
  Since: September 4, 2000
 +1. I only use the guard when storing or repackaging the cartridge in the case of a sale or re-tip.

 

Sharpie dot, posted on January 8, 2021 at 10:13:14
marc g.
Audiophile

Posts: 3330
Location: New Orleans
Joined: October 14, 1999
 I've done the same! I do use the guard when the table is not in use but I think it's time to stop that practice - before my luck runs out.

voolston - audiophile by day, music lover by night!

 

'audiophile by day, music lover by night' , posted on January 8, 2021 at 10:17:29
The Killer Piglet
Audiophile

Posts: 4780
Location: FL
Joined: January 2, 2002
 Ha! Indeed.

KP

 

There are only two types of audiophiles..., posted on January 8, 2021 at 13:47:27
teenage diplomat
Audiophile

Posts: 896
Location: burke, va usa
Joined: February 3, 2001
 ...those who have ruined an expensive cartridge...and those who will.

 

RE: There are only two types of audiophiles..., posted on January 8, 2021 at 13:52:59
John Elison
Audiophile

Posts: 23900
Location: Central Kentucky
Joined: December 20, 2000
Contributor
  Since: January 29, 2004
 I've been pretty fortunate over the years. I've ruined only two that I can remember. My first was a Shure V15 Type II when I was 22-years old. The next one was an AT-OC9ML/II several years ago.

I'm pretty careful nowadays. However, "Shit Happens!"

Best regards,
John Elison

 

:-) NT, posted on January 8, 2021 at 14:48:44
marc g.
Audiophile

Posts: 3330
Location: New Orleans
Joined: October 14, 1999
 .
voolston - audiophile by day, music lover by night!

 

RE: There are only two types of audiophiles..., posted on January 8, 2021 at 15:03:34
teenage diplomat
Audiophile

Posts: 896
Location: burke, va usa
Joined: February 3, 2001
 Hi John,

So far (knock on wood) I'm a "those who will" kinda guy. But I have to admit that I sweated bullets the two times I mounted the AT ART1000. The fear that I would trash that cartridge was daunting, let me tell you! Whoever thought that it was OK not to include tapped holes for the mounting screws was just plain nuts.

 

RE: Doh! Ruined expensive cartridge, posted on January 9, 2021 at 14:30:31
Yeti42
Audiophile

Posts: 161
Location: Berkshire
Joined: July 12, 2010
 I bent the cantilever of my first MC, a Goldring Eroica L, it never happened with any cheap MM I'd had before. I'd been off work with a busted leg and not spending so could replace it with a Dynavector 17D2. 20 years later, now with a 17D3 I left the stylus in a lead out groove and went on holiday for two weeks.

 

RE: There are only two types of audiophiles..., posted on January 9, 2021 at 18:02:01
John Elison
Audiophile

Posts: 23900
Location: Central Kentucky
Joined: December 20, 2000
Contributor
  Since: January 29, 2004
 I thought the AT-ART1000 had tapped holes. My AT-ART7 doesn't, but I don't seem to have a problem with it. I've owned only a couple of cartridges during my lifetime that had tapped holes, so I'm pretty used to nuts and bolts. I've never ruined a cartridge while mounting it. I snagged the stylus of my Shure on a sweater sleeve and I ruined my OC9ML/II while installing the stylus guard. ;-)

Best regards,
John Elison

 

Same here years' back, caught the needle with dustcloth. nt, posted on January 9, 2021 at 18:17:04
jdaniel@jps.net
 .

 

RETIP, posted on January 10, 2021 at 13:27:01
creativepart
Audiophile

Posts: 1898
Location: Spring Branch, Texas
Joined: March 1, 2004
 When our house cleaner did me a favor by "cleaning" my office that I never let her clean and she dusted my TT and snapped my stylus off I called SoundSmith and for about $400 had a better stylus and better cantilever installed. It improved the cartridge over stock massively.

 

RE: Doh! Ruined expensive cartridge, posted on January 11, 2021 at 06:50:37
Munkie_NL
Audiophile

Posts: 4859
Location: Netherlands
Joined: August 24, 2003
 I once ruined a Shure V15 original stylus. Bad day at the office. The other day i took my modded Lenco down from the attic, big DIY plinth, Decca arm, Shure M97 vintage with NOS EJ stylus. I had to put the stylus in the cartridge. Sweat on my forehead. One wrong move and...

"The torture never stops"

Greetings Freek.

 

RE: There are only two types of audiophiles..., posted on April 24, 2021 at 08:21:41
schlagelk
Audiophile

Posts: 85
Location: Midwest
Joined: December 22, 2003
 Never thanked you for this but thanks it made me feel slightly better about my dumbassery

 

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