Can anyone identify this cartridge for me
- Thread starter Lowfi
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Have you tried removing the cartridge from the sled to see if there is any identifying information on the top surface?
I don't think any Shure cartridges were made in Japan. Maybe it is something that was marketed by a stylus distributor. Someone ought to know what it looks like.
lini
just me...
No, definitely not. That would rather belong to all those A&R C77/E77/P77/P78 & various Garrott Brother siblings, mabe by Excel.
Greetings from Munich!
Manfred / lini
Hi Manfred. Thankyou for your reply. I think you are right it definitely looks like it belongs to one of the A&R or Garrott Brother versions. I was just reading about the history of the E77 and the P77 and it mentions around 1986 that a black magnesium version was introduced. It was described as cold to the touch and had the texture of matt black painted aluminium. When I take a closer look at the lower section of the cartridge it is metal when I thought it was plastic. So maybe its a magnesium version of the E77 or P77?
lini
just me...
Sorry, but no, it isn't. Because the magnesium would rather have been used for the mounting frame, as it would make sense for that. And iirc, in case of those A&Rs the magnesium mounting frame variant was the one with the less slanted/more perpendicular front, the somewhat triangularish, closed "ears" around the screw holes and without the decorative grooves.
Whereas a typical MM or MI cartridge practically always has a metal shell around the generator (regardless of the colour finish), typically made of an alloy with high permeability (like permalloy, mu-metal...). That's due to the operating principle. I.e., while MCs work with a comparatively strong magnetic field and a comparatively insensitive sensor (= coil-set), typical MMs and MIs work with a comparatively weak magnetic field and comparatively highly sensitive sensor, so that suitable shielding against other (electro-)magnetic fields is required.
So what you're referring to as "lower section" simply is the generator shell - other than silver most usually seen with a gold or black finish (unless it would be hidden/completely surrounded anyway - like for example in case of the Ortofon OMs/SuperOMs, in case of which one has to pull off the needle to reveal the generator shell), while other finishes would be pretty rare, although not completely unknown (like for example in case of the Nagaoka/JewelTone JT-120).
Greetings from Munich!
Manfred / lini
lini
just me...
I don't see the problem. I.e., just because this particular exemplar has a plastic mounting frame and a black generator shell, doesn't mean, that you couldn't get a new needle for it.
Greetings from Munich!
Manfred / lini
cafe latte
Addicted Member
Why, this is a good cartridge. It is used in the Sumiko Pearl and the other Sumiko versions apart the Amethyst which is the same but the low output version like the LP gear, it is also used in the Garrott Brothers cartridges amongst others so there are many sources of stylus out there.
Chris
lini
just me...
ID should already be sufficient. But for verification you could post another side view without the currently installed needle as well as a bottom view. And maybe an inside view of the currently installed needle, which to me would look like a replacement needle for the Excel ME-35 (or one of its OEM variants, like for example the Acos M-6 - although the M-6 originally also had a white needle just like the ME-35).
Well, and if you'd like to try a cheap needle for a start, you could for example try the S700ER replacement needle for the Excel QD-700E offered by Thevoiceofmusic(.com) for US$ 19.
Greetings from Munich!
Manfred / lini
cafe latte
Addicted Member
Black diamond have a stylus for excel, any of the lp gear vessel stylus will fit, jico do a stylus, Garrott Brothers stylus will fit, so many options
Took me a while but I think I finally understand. I think what you are saying is the main body of various brands of cartridges models have been made by Excel and because of this the stylus made for all these brands models will work in my cartridge. Meaning I have quite a few options. (And yes the stylus on my cartridge does look like the replacement needle for the Excel ME-35.)
Thankyou Manfred and Chris I appreciate your help big time.
Greg from Australia.
Thankyou Manfred and Chris I appreciate your help big time.
Greg from Australia.
lini
just me...
You're welcome, Greg - and yes, now you've got it. So now the interesting question would be, which quality level you'd be striving for or respectively how much you'd be willing to spend.
Greetings from Munich!
Manfred / lini
Yes Manfred. That is the interesting question. I don't like having too many choices. Initially I am thinking of getting a needle from The Voice of Music, most likely the S700E as you suggested. Can I ask would the S45-E and 614-DE-N also be options from The Voice of Music.
Greg
Greg
