Ok, ok, ok, you all have convinced me to give conicals a try:
Between this thread,
this one and
this one, how could I resist?
I picked up the pair of Shure SC35C carts at a local Guitar Center while they still had them in stock at a reasonable price. The two Audio Technica AT-3600Ls came from eBay for about 25 bucks shipped - for the pair.
Obviously, the packaging on the Shure is more impressive, but it was designed for retail sales. The AT-3600L is packaged for OEM use on inexpensive new turntables.
My record collection consists of basically three types of albums. Those I bought new in the late 70s and early 80s, used thrift store finds and new vinyl made/purchased within the last three years.
Thankfully, the ones I bought new back in the 70s and 80s were never mishandled or played on poor quality equipment. I started with a Bang & Olufsen Beogram 3400 my freshman year of college and the upper classmen taught me how to handle, store and clean my albums. Most are still in excellent, or better, condition. Although I few have seen a LOT of play and are likely destined to be replaced.
I try to be picky with what I pick up at thrift stores. I have passed on many albums because of poor condition, but I have a few I just couldn't say no to (Rolling Stones 1960s London releases, etc.) even though they were in less than pristine condition.
Until now, I've been using vintage Shure carts (M75 and M91) with JICO made EVG 0.3 x 0.7 mil ellipticals for the thrift store vinyl (I have a second turntable with a Signet TK10ML Microline cart for the new/pristine vinyl). However, after reading so many glowing reports about how well these conicals tend to mask surface noise, I thought I'd give them a try.
Unfortunately, the tables they are going on (Realistic Elac Miracord 45 and Dual 1228) have other issues that need sorted before I put them into service. I'm looking forward to seeing how these new conicals compare to the the vintage Shures with the new inexpensive ellipitcals on my used thrift store vinyl.