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Can I straighten an off-center twisted cantilever?


Time for a confession: I played exactly three (3) cuts before trying to fine tune my tonearm's alignment. I lost concentration for an instant. The arm slid across the TT's mat, de-centering and twisting --but not breaking-- the cantilever. The cantilever arm itself is still very straight.

This is a Dynavector 20X-L with low hours, for which I paid $300. What is my best path?

There is a jeweler who will loan me his fine pliers, large scale magnification and a vice. Is there any wisdom in trying to realign the cantilever? (beside this incident I'm very good with my hands) Is there anything to lose? I've emailed Soundsmith to explain the situation but had no response.

If I return the cartridge to Dynavector can they return it to original spec? Is it worthwhile? I know Soundsmith is one option, but an audio buddy said the cartridge will never be original specification after a re-tip or cantilever replacement. Is or should that be a concern?

Since my TT is just operative for the first time, I don't know what I'm missing, and wouldn't mind a couple of months without it. When autumn comes (I'm in the northeast: we're not sure Spring is coming) I would really like to be able to listen to my vinyl.

Thanks very much for your shared thoughts and experience.

David
cdk84
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
Folks spin the stylus, and turn it back. it is not a biggy. I have read of successful repairs several times on thesites. If you want, some expert can do it for you for $50. or you can just do it yourself for free.
All you do is grab hold of the shaft and TURN it gently. it is just going to rotate back. it is no magic. It turned to sidways pretty easy hey. Well it will go back just as.
Getting it level is the tricky part, but that is just patience.
almandog
117 posts
 
Don't try to straighten it!!!!!!!
It will break off !!!!!
I was in the same situation as Cdk84 just described, and with a Dynavector 20XH. I tried to straighten it afrer it was bent and the cantilever broke off in my hand. I then sent it to Soundsmith to be repaired. It took to long so I bought another one in the mean time. I like the Dynavector 20X cartridges on my VPI Classic.
ebm
5,165 posts
 
NO RIP!!!!
pops
1,847 posts
 
Cdk - don't try it, chalk it up as a mistake and send er back to be fixed properly! Bummer...
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
To the 'nay sayers': what is the problem with attempting to turn it back? it is useless as is, and the attempt, even if it does break something (which it will not IMO) would do no worse than leave it useless. Any sensible person would at least give it a shot. is your 'advice' just humor? Trolling? Just wondering what the thinking behind "don't do it' is?
From my understandin of the issue: which is the stylus is rotated in the housing, and not bent in any way: the stylus just needs to be rotated back to the correct position. At wost is has bent the internal coils, which would leave it with distorted sound. Then is gets shipped to Soundsmith and fixed, same price.
IF the catilever were bent: attempting to straighten, it breaks off, send to Soundsmith for new retip same cost.
So the 'don't do it'? where is that coming from? Explain please.
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