Eiron wrote:
jasee wrote:

Les Hemmings wrote:

http://www.batteries-online.co.uk/d/...bers_13871.htm


Original and brand spanking new!


Looks good but I still wonder if it _really_ is made by Ortofon as it
says 'colour may vary from the original' I'd be interested to hear
if/when you get it as I've got a few Ortofon cartridges.

Probably as original as this:
http://www.batteries-online.co.uk/d/...li_22011.h tm



Absolutely! This is so clearly a generic stylus, NOT an original. I
wonder if it even has a Microridge stylus, seriously doubt t at that price.

Les would be well advised to 'phone the supplier and verify the origin.

S.

"Serge Auckland" wrote in message
...
Eiron wrote:
jasee wrote:

Les Hemmings wrote:

http://www.batteries-online.co.uk/d/...bers_13871.htm

Original and brand spanking new!


Looks good but I still wonder if it _really_ is made by Ortofon as it
says 'colour may vary from the original' I'd be interested to hear
if/when you get it as I've got a few Ortofon cartridges.

Probably as original as this:
http://www.batteries-online.co.uk/d/...li_22011.h tm

Absolutely! This is so clearly a generic stylus, NOT an original. I wonder
if it even has a Microridge stylus, seriously doubt t at that price.

Les would be well advised to 'phone the supplier and verify the origin.



I dunno, with all the moaning here I thought it was that **** Sting 'doing a
Dowland'...!!!

No-one in his right mind would expect to get a genuine Shure needle for that
sort of money, other than from a very lucky eBay hit!

Asitappens, I have discussed these Swiss 'generic replacements' with Avril
at Mantra in some detail and she assured me that they were very popular and
I'm sure she said that she had only ever had one returned from a customer
that wasn't too happy with it. This was a year or two back and, at that
time, I *think* I was getting a 'money back if not delighted' from her - but
anyone should check that out for themselves. Sorry to be so vague, but it
was a while back and has since been filed under 'done deal' and forgotten!!

(I have a V15/III here that has only ever had a generic on it in my time and
it don't sound too bad to me and appears to track quite well....!??)

The OP doesn't appear to be too anal about his records - 'lots of albums
that have all been through many parties, lots of hands and much mauling in
the dark'?? - so I would be inclined to say grab a cheap replacement, if
that's all that's available and just get 'em spinning!

Keith G wrote:
"Serge Auckland" wrote in message
...
Eiron wrote:
jasee wrote:

Les Hemmings wrote:
http://www.batteries-online.co.uk/d/...bers_13871.htm

Original and brand spanking new!

Looks good but I still wonder if it _really_ is made by Ortofon as it
says 'colour may vary from the original' I'd be interested to hear
if/when you get it as I've got a few Ortofon cartridges.
Probably as original as this:
http://www.batteries-online.co.uk/d/...li_22011.h tm
Absolutely! This is so clearly a generic stylus, NOT an original. I wonder
if it even has a Microridge stylus, seriously doubt t at that price.

Les would be well advised to 'phone the supplier and verify the origin.



I dunno, with all the moaning here I thought it was that **** Sting 'doing a
Dowland'...!!!

No-one in his right mind would expect to get a genuine Shure needle for that
sort of money, other than from a very lucky eBay hit!

Asitappens, I have discussed these Swiss 'generic replacements' with Avril
at Mantra in some detail and she assured me that they were very popular and
I'm sure she said that she had only ever had one returned from a customer
that wasn't too happy with it. This was a year or two back and, at that
time, I *think* I was getting a 'money back if not delighted' from her - but
anyone should check that out for themselves. Sorry to be so vague, but it
was a while back and has since been filed under 'done deal' and forgotten!!

(I have a V15/III here that has only ever had a generic on it in my time and
it don't sound too bad to me and appears to track quite well....!??)

The OP doesn't appear to be too anal about his records - 'lots of albums
that have all been through many parties, lots of hands and much mauling in
the dark'?? - so I would be inclined to say grab a cheap replacement, if
that's all that's available and just get 'em spinning!



I bought a generic replacement for my V15III from Mantra about 18 months
ago, and it was pretty awful. They took it back against a Shure original
and gave me a full refund which I thought was very decent of them.

I then bought another Shure original just to keep as a spare as they're
not making any more and I still have it, unused.

The generic replacement wouldn't track more than the +12 band on the HFN
test record, and the treble was harsh to say the least. The Shure
original MR stylus was so obviously better.

If you're going to replace a stylus on an old classic cartridge like the
Ortofon, it makes sense to me to pay the extra and get an original
replacement if possible. If all that's available is generic, then it's
a moot point as to whether it's better to have a generic replacement or
a complete new cartridge like the AT95E for about the same price, or go
for an upgrade to something like a Goldring 1000 series.

S.

"Serge Auckland" wrote


The OP doesn't appear to be too anal about his records - 'lots of albums
that have all been through many parties, lots of hands and much mauling
in the dark'?? - so I would be inclined to say grab a cheap replacement,
if that's all that's available and just get 'em spinning!



I bought a generic replacement for my V15III from Mantra about 18 months
ago, and it was pretty awful. They took it back against a Shure original
and gave me a full refund which I thought was very decent of them.


Yes, my dealings with Mantra (Avril) have always been most pleasant.


I then bought another Shure original just to keep as a spare as they're
not making any more and I still have it, unused.


I also have a bunch of unused NOS Shure needles but not for the V15,
unfortunately!



The generic replacement wouldn't track more than the +12 band on the HFN
test record, and the treble was harsh to say the least. The Shure original
MR stylus was so obviously better.


Naturally.


If you're going to replace a stylus on an old classic cartridge like the
Ortofon, it makes sense to me to pay the extra and get an original
replacement if possible. If all that's available is generic, then it's a
moot point as to whether it's better to have a generic replacement or a
complete new cartridge like the AT95E for about the same price, or go for
an upgrade to something like a Goldring 1000 series.


Test discs notwithstanding, I still feel the generics can be useful but I
take your point - a good new, cheap one will probably outperform a less than
perfect old one!
I have a firm belief that what you get *used to* perhaps in your early days
is what is probably going to sound *right* - me, despite a number of MC
carts here and the much-lauded V15/5, I still find the modest M75ED2 always
enjoyable on most types of music..!!

"Keith G" wrote in message
...

"Serge Auckland" wrote

I bought a generic replacement for my V15III from Mantra about 18 months
ago, and it was pretty awful. They took it back against a Shure original
and gave me a full refund which I thought was very decent of them.


Yes, my dealings with Mantra (Avril) have always been most pleasant.


I then bought another Shure original just to keep as a spare as they're
not making any more and I still have it, unused.


I also have a bunch of unused NOS Shure needles but not for the V15,
unfortunately!


Do you remember that JICO SAS stylus for the V15III that I brought over
sometime last year? That made your generic stylus look like a fence post and
did sound better although I've no idea how it compares to an original.
Unfortunately they cost triple what the cartridge itself goes for on ebay,
so you probably have to really like your V15III to get one.

Phil

"PhilN" wrote


Do you remember that JICO SAS stylus for the V15III that I brought over
sometime last year? That made your generic stylus look like a fence post
and did sound better although I've no idea how it compares to an original.
Unfortunately they cost triple what the cartridge itself goes for on ebay,
so you probably have to really like your V15III to get one.



Yes, I certainly do but I can never float one up to the top of the 'Needful
Things' (spending) list!!

(I'm actually using an MC most of the time, atm!)

In article , Keith G
wrote:


I also have a bunch of unused NOS Shure needles but not for the V15,
unfortunately!

I still find the modest M75ED2 always enjoyable on most types of
music..!!

I also found the M75 series to be quite good. Still have one. Are genuine
replacement stylii for these any easier to find than a VN35MR or HE?

Slainte,

Jim

--
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Audio Misc http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/AudioMisc/index.html
Armstrong Audio http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/Audio/armstrong.html
Barbirolli Soc. http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/JBSoc/JBSoc.html

"Jim Lesurf" wrote in message
...
In article , Keith G
wrote:


I also have a bunch of unused NOS Shure needles but not for the V15,
unfortunately!

I still find the modest M75ED2 always enjoyable on most types of
music..!!

I also found the M75 series to be quite good. Still have one. Are genuine
replacement stylii for these any easier to find than a VN35MR or HE?



Yes, considerably so - see this pic:

http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/shures.JPG

....and you'll see I seem to have ended up with 4 x M75ED2s as well as an
M75EJ2 and an M75HE2 as well as a few spare needles for each type, mostly
genuine Shure..!! (The carts *complete* come up on eBay more often than a
stylus on its own and for about the same money, so it's not as daft as it
looks! ;-)

I mentioned earlier/elsewhere that I probably have a dozen or so carts on
the go here - better make that probably *two* dozen or so!! Here's the
Shures again with a few more - there are other carts hiding in various dark
corners and on the several decks that litter the place also!!

http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/more.JPG

:-)

In article , Serge Auckland
wrote:



I bought a generic replacement for my V15III from Mantra about 18 months
ago, and it was pretty awful. They took it back against a Shure
original and gave me a full refund which I thought was very decent of
them.

I then bought another Shure original just to keep as a spare as they're
not making any more and I still have it, unused.


Do you mean that you were able to buy genuine Shure V15/III stylii from
Mantra? Or from someone else? I'd very much like to know where you got
them from as I am wanting one myself!

Slainte,

Jim

--
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Audio Misc http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/AudioMisc/index.html
Armstrong Audio http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/Audio/armstrong.html
Barbirolli Soc. http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/JBSoc/JBSoc.html

Jim Lesurf wrote:
In article , Serge Auckland
wrote:


I bought a generic replacement for my V15III from Mantra about 18 months
ago, and it was pretty awful. They took it back against a Shure
original and gave me a full refund which I thought was very decent of
them.

I then bought another Shure original just to keep as a spare as they're
not making any more and I still have it, unused.


Do you mean that you were able to buy genuine Shure V15/III stylii from
Mantra? Or from someone else? I'd very much like to know where you got
them from as I am wanting one myself!

Slainte,

Jim


I got both originals from Mantra, but I don't think they have any more
stock. I sold one of my V15III and stylus a few months ago when I
acquired a couple more cartridges (MC this time) but I still kept one
complete set (with the unused MR stylus). You can try asking Mantra, or
look at some of the US-based dealers as old stock may more readily turn
up there.

Best of luck

S.