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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
aceto
273 posts
 
So many cartriges, so little time. Why risk it?
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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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rauliruegas
9,123 posts
 
Dear TWL: Why are you so angry?. If you really had " live experience " on the Koetsu subject, why don't share that " live experience " with David?
Don't speak, put your facts. That's what David needs.
If you don't have " live experience " on the Koetsu subject, then you are inexpert on that subject ( right? ): don't be angry,stay calm and be happy. This thread is not a contest.
Regards and always enjoy the music.
Raul.
twl
3,251 posts
 
FYI, I've worked as the analog set-up guy at audio salons, and have sent many cartridges in for rebuilding, including Koetsu.

The rebuilds from other companies, while they may work well, do not use the same items or exact methods that Koetsu does, and Koetsu will not take a cartridge in for rebuild that has been already rebuilt by somebody else. The Koetsu cartridges that are rebuilt by Koetsu are still Koetsu cartridges. Any other rebuilder yields a "hybrid" which is a Koetsu body, with the other rebuilder's "guts". They do not have the resale value of Koetsu-rebuilt cartridges, do not sound the same, and are not the same.

Anybody who does have "live experience" with this matter, already knows this.
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