Are Grado needles interchangable?

[jrenglish86]

I just bought a Hitachi HT-354 from a guy on craigslist. It came with a Grado cartridge, but it needs a new stylus. I've been reading on the forums here about identifying a Grado, but there's nothing on the cart that tells me anything. It's beige-colored with a G on the front; no colors or anything like that. Can I order whatever Grado stylus I want and stick it in there?

 

[tankdonovan]

I have a Grado cartridge that is beige colored with a GC on the front of it. You can check with Ed Saunders by email at neatojnk@bellsouth.net for info.

His web site is www.ewsaunders.com but it might be easier to email him about replacing the stylus.

TankDonovan

 

[whell]

This chart should help you identify which current replacement stylus will fit your cartridge.

http://www.gradolabs.com/frameset_main.htm

You might post a picture of it and see if we can help identify it. I'm thinking its likely the G+, which you'll see on the chart.

 

[Stanton681EEES]

There should be two DOTs on the stylus assembly. Depending on what color the DOTS are that will tell you which stylus it is.
If you post what color they are I have an older Grado chart and can help you out more.

 

[hakaplan]

Without the old stylus there may be no way of telling what it is. You might just consider scrapping the Grado and getting something else. You can get a decent new cart for not much more (and sometimes less) than a replacement stylus.

 

[BrocLuno]

You can also drop by the Grado web site and get their phone number, just call them. If you describe the body, the folks there will tell you which styli will fit (most of the prestige series, I'll bet?). If it were me (and I been down this road a few times), I'd get a Blue stylus. It's a good all around middle of the road stylus for an older body. You could save a few $ and get a Black stylus, or spend a bit more and get a Red or even a Gold or Silver.

BUT, you don't know what condition the body is in. IF you have a current limited digital VOM, you can check to make sure there are no opens through the coils? If OK, I'd get a small bit of Dux-Seal (from any AC service shop) and the replacement stylus. Make sure there is a small thin layer of black goo at the top of the stylus cavity and it's not hard? If not put a bit of the Dux-Seal on the top of the new stylus assembly and insert. Push slowly and firmly until the goo settles in. Then I'd use a pair of needle nose to rotate the shell wires on the pins with a little contact cleaner to get a fresh contact, remount the headshell and play away.

You'll be hearing the Grado sound. If it's not your cup of tea, get a few spare headshells and mount some other cartridges. You'll find out a couple of things at least. One will be you favorite everyday cartridge. And the others will come out when some LPs don't sound all that great? Everyone should have one Grado in their pile. There are some LPs that just sound better with a Grado. You have one already, just get it working

 

[ETI_5000]

This chart should help you identify which current replacement stylus will fit your cartridge.

http://www.gradolabs.com/frameset_main.htm

You might post a picture of it and see if we can help identify it. I'm thinking its likely the G+, which you'll see on the chart.

No, it's not the G+, which I own, and which has (surprise, surprise!!) G+ on the front. As a matter of fact, all of the models from when I bought it in the 1980's were designated with a "Plus" on them - G2+, G1+, GF1+, etc. Mine's buried deep in a cupboard in a spare room at the moment, so I can't easily get it out and check for you, but I remember that it does have the + on the front. It's also dark brown, not beige.

If you have a look at the Gradolabs picture of their current cartridges, you'll see that they have a G (for Grado?) on the front of all the Prestige series, and anything from a Black to a Gold stylus will fit it, I think, depending on how much you want to spend. The only real differences in the bodies are in the coil wire used - the main differences are the styli, I think, and you can upgrade. As the current models are dark brown. I suspect it may be an earlier model, but Grado don't give much info away, unfortunately.:nono:

However, I can tell you that the styli are interchangeable between certain cartridges. Grado say that my G+, which I bought in the 1980's, uses the Prestige Silver stylus as a near replacement for its original, and it can be upgraded to a Prestige Gold.

You'd probably need to check with them to find out for certain - they may be able to tell you how to distinguish between models for sure.

-Don