Broke my clearaudio stylus tradein or look at othe


I just broke my clearaudio virtuoso wood cartridge.I can trade it in and get new one for $570.Is there anything else around that price or a little more I should consider?I had the virtuoso 6 years and really like it.I'm told the maestro doesn't have the warmth of the virtuoso but better detail.Any ideas greatly needed.
playpen
Thanks,yes I bent the cantilever.Another option I didn't think of was trying my B+O MMC2 but I will need the adapter for $50 just to try it.I played it on the Beogram TT but felt it needed a better table to fully realize itself.Then I don't know what condition that stylus is in.I'm not that comfortable sending my cartridge to Germany.My system is Rega planner 3 with mods,bryston B100,paradigm 60v5's and simaudio phono preamp.What is the mK33.3,is that the company name.
Dear Playpen: Your B&O is a top quality performer and IMHO a must to hear on your modified Rega I know you will be surprised as how good is that " tiny " MI cartridge.

+++++ " .I'm not that comfortable sending my cartridge to Germany. " +++++

I can't understand why because that is not big deal: you are not sending your cartridge to Uranus!!!!
I already send to Axel/Germany several cartridges that cost 10 times the Virtuoso or B&O cartridges with out no single problem but me is not the only person ( over the world ) with excelent Axel experiences, so don't worry about and do it a favor to your self.

The Nandric advise is first rate and if something wrong when you test your MMC2 you can send to Axel because things are that Axel is one of the two B&O Official Worldwide cartridge fix sources!

Another great alternative could be this one that you can get for penauts and that you can send to Axel to an up date:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/World-Famous-Astatic-Moving-Flux-Phonograph-Cartridge-MF-Series-Model-MF-300-/320928474738?pt=US_Record_Player_Turntable_Parts&hash=item4ab8d3e672#ht_500wt_1048

this Astatic with Axel up date is a tremendous performer.

So you have in your hands at least these three alternatives that for its not so high price you could take them all!!!!

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.
Regardless of a broken tip or cantilever, If you are feeling brave with this cartridge there are other alternatives:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=88878.0
An even cheaper fix ( though you may view it as temporary) is to buy an Audio-Technical AT-95 replacement stylus (available as elliptical, line contact, and Shibata profiles) then clip the "wings" and replace the stylus assembly yourself. This technique is well documented on several Internet sites. I was skeptical until I tried it myself -replacing a worn Aurum Beta S stylus with the Shibata version AT-95. Surprisingly simple, cheap, and a great improvement over the original.
Have SoundSmith retip with their top line contact diamond w/ruby cantilever. I did so with a Virtuoso Wood and it was a major improvement.