Reptiles00
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Cleaning up an old cartridge
wkhanna
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You can buy stylus cleaner from places on-line like

Reptiles00
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Thanks for the reply.
I have some stylus cleaner from Stanton and from a Discwasher D4 set. My first thoughts were to try something stronger, but what would ensure removal of just about anything on the stylus without damaging or leaving something on the stylus I couldn't get off.

I was going to order the Last Stylus cleaner so maybe I'll wait until that shows up in the mail and try that.

Thanks again,
Don

Jan Vigne
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I would not use a cartridge that is over ten years old without a new stylus assembly. Just as the rubber parts on your car dry out over time so do the rubber parts of the stylus suspension. This can lead to the stylus collapsing while playing a disc which turns the stylus into a chisel in the record groove. Buy a new stylus if you're truly interested in hearing what these older cartridges sound like. Carefully clean any oxidation from the cartridge pins on the back of the cartridge body.

Be very careful with stylus cleaners and stay away from any "extra strength" solutions. If you're dealing with a bonded stylus assembly, you can loosen the bonding agent with the stylus cleaning solution.

dcstep
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Soundsmith will retip Stanton and Ortofon. See their site at Soundsmith Site. I've heard nothing but good things about their service. The issue will be, how well do you know these cartridges and is it worth your investment vs. buying something new. If knew and loved them in the past, then that's likely a fine investment, but if you're just guessing, then...

I bought their "The Voice Ebony" moving iron cartridge and find it "stunning."

Dave

Reptiles00
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Thanks Jan and Dave.
I really needed all this input. I'm going to put them aside and if I ever come across the new replacement stylus at a price I can afford then I'll break them back out. As for now I'll stick with the new Grados since I really do enjoy them on the old Dual.

Thanks again,
Don

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