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Cartridge rebuilds, whats your opinion?

I've recently won an Origin Live Resolution with Illustrious tonearm on e-bay. Needless to say I am thrilled with it. The seller had a Koetsu Red(Rosewood) fitted which clearly outclassed my Ortofon Kontrapunkt B, good as it is. So it should, it is twice as expensive. I'm tempted by the Koetsu, but the cost is difficult to justify on such a vulnerable item with a limited life span. I could consider it if a rebuild is a viable option. I know Koetsu will do it, but at a considerable cost. Here in the UK, a number of small outfits such as the cartridgeman offer competitive rebuild and retipping and I am sure a similar service is available in the US. Obviously the result will depend on whose doing it, but in general do you guys have any experience of non manufacturer rebuilds? If so, how close to the origonal can the rebuild get? It would be too much to ask to expect a 100%, but near would do. If it was a realistic prospect, I could justify it to myself(probably not the wife, but you can'nt have everything). Thanks, and greetings from across the pond
david12
twl
3,251 posts
 
If it is not rebuilt by Koetsu, it's no longer a Koetsu.
ed_sawyer
588 posts
 
Agreed with TWL. If you are going to have it rebuilt, best to have koetsu redo it. They pretty much fit a whole new unit to the existing wood shell, so it's like getting a whole new cart for 1/2 the price or less (forget the exact costs). Rosewood Sig. is $3500 new, but the rebuild cost is a hell of a lot less than that.

I have a rosewood sig. I got not long ago (used), which I am considering getting rebuilt, it's not cheap (as you mentioned), but you also end up with a $3500 cartridge at the end of the deal for a pretty reasonable price, and could likely get your $ back out of it if you dont' end up liking it.

-Ed
aceto
273 posts
 
So many cartriges, so little time. Why risk it?
Ag insider logo xs@2x
rauliruegas
9,123 posts
 
Dear David: I have experience with the Koetsu rebuild: directly with Koetsu and through another retipping source and I can tell you that the " others " are really people that take care and they really know what they are doing. Any one that wants to do business rebuilding phono cartridges has to be an expert: it is a very hard task and you have to be very skillfully for do that job.
You mentioned cartridgeman, but there you have one of the best rebuilder: Stylus Expert, this boys build the 70% of all the stylus that are using in the phono cartridge industry ( highly recomended ). Other than these you have: Benz Micro and Van Denhul, great ones too. Don't worry about, your Koetsu it will be continue Koetsu.
TWL does not have " live experience " on this subject: he is inexpert, I think he is only " speaking " ( bla, bla, .. ), with out knowledge about it.
Regards and always enjoy the music.
Raul.
twl
3,251 posts
 
Raul, you are quite liberal in your accusations of who has "live experience" with things.

Personally, I've had enough of your inexpert opinions.
I've also had quite enough of your haughty, arrogant attitudes.

You've already proven yourself to be severely lacking, and you continue to do so, as well as continuing to be an arrogant, ill-mannered poster.

Come back when you learn your manners.
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