If you had a Benz cartridge would you let someone

I did not lightly make my decision to not use the Benz factory to refurb my cartridge. I would have preferred to have done what I always did in the past, simply exchange my cartridge for a current Ruby. The two previous times I did this the cost was $1,000 and a one week turnaround. The exchange program now costs $2,400 and my authorized Benz dealer cannot give me a delivery time. The amount of time stated for a factory retip is absurd. Soundsmith has a very solid reputation. That coupled with their reasonable cost and okay turnaround time convinced me. I also did not just send it to them. I took the time to personally deliver the cartridge to their facility, inspect the place and talk directly to the people involved. I drove away with the impression that my cartridge was in caring and expert hands.

At present Benz uses MR (micro ridge) styli but in the
past the Gyger S. Well Van den Hul designed 3 styli for
Gyger: Gyger 1, II and S. What is called 'Van den Hul'
styli are actually Gyger styli. He probably made such an
agreement with Gyger as he deed with Benz (for parts).
The styli are sold with the cantilever as a combo. So no
wonder Bill was satisfied with Van den Hul retip.

I sent my Benz LP to Soundsmith for a retip only, i.e. on the existing cantilever. SS did N excellent job and the Benz sounds like new again.

Salectric, I was curious as to whether your retipped Benz sounds about the same, just different, or better with the stylus shape used by SS.

Tony, I am not sure I understand your question. My Benz received a new tip at Soundsmith. The tip was supposed to be as close as possible to the one it came with. Since I had used the cartridge for 3 years prior to the retipping, I can't be totally sure but it seemed to me the retipped Benz sounded the same as when it was new.

Tony&Selectric, What we call 'retip' is usually exchange of the whole cantilever/ stylus combo. The old one is pulled out the new one glued instead. That is btw how supplier provide manufacturer and reapair services: cantilever with stylus already fitted. To glue a new stylus in the original cantilever seems to be much more difficult job. So this 'real' retip should be also more expensive. But for Soundsmith in Salectric case would be necessary to have Gyger S styli for the retip. Otherwise 'the same sound' is not probable.