Koetsu Urushi

If you have a warranty, send it back to Koetsu, if not, I agree with the above poster...send it to Soundsmith.

I own and like a Koetsu Urushi. I bought two of them in Tokyo direct from a local dealer (one extra for a friend). Neither had a cantilever ("stylus shaft" in your parlance) that was "straight", by which I presume you mean parallel to the sides of the cartridge body. One was so far askew that I sent it back for an exchange. The replacement was done right. I think their quality control is not so great, but they have good intentions. Problem is whether you can get yours fixed by them without your having a local representation in Tokyo. (I went through my Tokyo dealer when I made my exchange.)

After spending almost $4,000 for two repairs, they are telling me the turn table was set up wrong and offering no help or responsibility. I had the table set up by a pro tech at the best shop in Portland Oregon. Melvin in Singapore is more than happy to take the money, but can even admit there could ever be the posibility a flaw in the workmanship of the sacred Koetsu company. Big waste of time and money. My advise is stay stateside with repairs, rather than waste time with Koetsu.

I am not sure about the MC carts but well reg. the MM kind that bent cantilevers can be corrected by Axel (www.schallplattennadeln.de). That is to say if the suspension is the cause. He corrected my AT 180 and Astatic MF 200 already (+/-40 Euro).

Do the following:
- Open your Window
- Grab the Koetsu
- Throw it out
- Close the Window
- Relax
- Feel good
- Make yourself a nice cup of Tea, open Audiogon and look for
something serious

or

When you have an Audiophile in your area, you really hate, deep from the
heart, give it to him as a Present.
But he has to listen to it day by day for minimum 2 years :-)