EVG Styli

[boreas]

I was curious about these EVG styli since I had seen an Amazon listing or them that included a photo of an N75ED/T2 generic taken right from JICO's web site. So, I contacted one of the sellers listed by Amazon, Needles Depot in Canada, and asked if the styli they were selling were in fact JICOs. Their response was that the needles they sell were "made" by Normarh in Canada. Normarh is just a repackager so I was none the wiser for contacting Needles Depot.

Then, Googling an EVG part number, I pulled up information about Russell Industries in New York. Turns out that Russell is EVG, or really they bought EVG along with Empire Scientific and PRB. Russell sells styli under all three of these old line brand names. At least some of them, maybe all, are imported from JICO by Russell and then repackaged. I suppose that explains the photo on Amazon.

Russell will sell direct. Like TurntableNeedles, LPGear and others, they sell the JICOs for a little less than JICO themselves do, $29.95 for the N75ED/T2, but they charge shipping so there's no real reason to buy from them.

So anyway, at least in some cases, EVG styli are just repackaged JICOs. Anyone who was curious about these, like I was, now has a little more info.

John

 

[beatcomber]

There is an EVG stylus for the M91ED included in my cartridge shoot-out. IIRC the package says it was made in Switzerland. It's good, but I don't think it's JICO good.

I'm pretty sure it's the same as the Pfansteihls, etc.

 

[flavio81]

Their response was that the needles they sell were "made" by Normarh in Canada. Normarh is just a repackager so I was none the wiser for contacting Needles Depot.

The Normarh needles sold here (Peru) are explicitely made in Colombia, not Canada. (Not "colUmbia" either). And they are the worst thing you can fit in your cartridge...

I thought that Normarh was a Colombia-specific brand!

 

[Doug G.]

See, the aftermarket stylus situation isn't any clearer nowadays than it was back in the day.



Doug

 

[boreas]

There is an EVG stylus for the M91ED included in my cartridge shoot-out.

I noticed that. It's one of the reasons I got back onto trying to find out where EVG styli came from.

IIRC the package says it was made in Switzerland. It's good, but I don't think it's JICO good.

I'm pretty sure it's the same as the Pfansteihls, etc.

I figured, before I started looking into it, that they were the same Swiss ones that Pfanstiehl sells. Now I see it's not so clear-cut. It looks like EVG may be selling Swiss and Japanese styli interchangeably, under the same numbers and at the same price.

If that's the case it would make me reluctant to pay ~$30.00 for an EVG when that might be buying a Swiss-made stylus I can get for $15.00 in a Pfanstiehl box.

Of course, I think Ed Saunders get his Shure styli made in Switzerland and they're apparently not the same as Pfanstiehls.

John

 

[ChairSpud]

Interesting, you had better luck than I did when researching EVG. In 2009 and 2010 I bought several AVG packaged stylus from Needledaddy on eBay, turned out they were genuine ADC and not aftermarket, wonder if they could have been old EVG stock?

Dave/ChairSpud

 

[boreas]

Interesting, you had better luck than I did when researching EVG. In 2009 and 2010 I bought several AVG packaged stylus from Needledaddy on eBay, turned out they were genuine ADC and not aftermarket, wonder if they could have been old EVG stock?

Dave/ChairSpud

Ah, I forgot that part of my conversation with Russell Industries. Yes, apparently they do sell genuine styli, including NOS when and as available (but I think only from the OEM supplier). I suppose I shoved that fact to the back of my mind since the stylus I'm looking for, an N75ED/T2, wasn't available from them.

John

 

[ChairSpud]

Boreas, thanks is always nice to discover another source for replacement stylus. I'd like to try the SAS for my M75 but the price is more than I'm willing to pay, especially while the existing Shure stylus is in great shape.

Dave/ChairSpud

 

[beatcomber]

I found the packaging for my EVG and I was wrong about the Switzerland thing, the package does not state the country of origin.

Of course, I think Ed Saunders get his Shure styli made in Switzerland and they're apparently not the same as Pfanstiehls.

I've never seen any evidence that they are not the same other than some vague meaningless statement on Ed's site about the diamonds being hand-selected (by WHOM??). The generic M91ED replacements found on eBay for $14 are pretty good, and Ed Saunders' $29.95 "custom" styli are also considered good; how are they different??

From a business perspective, I find it hard to believe that a small firm like Ed's (apparently a 2-person operation) does enough business to justify ordering enough custom-made styli from a manufacturer to maintain their reasonably low price point.

And what is all this nonsense?:
"Early in 2007 Ed was approached by a larger corporation who wanted to purchase the Ed Saunders name and company. Although Ed initially, flatly refused, he ultimately agreed to sell a 50% stake in the successful, International business he had single handedly built from the ground up. The resulting partnership was a train wreck. By January 1, 2010, not only had Ed suffered a tremendous financial loss, his spirit was broken. I changed that. I was no expert! I only owned two records and they hung on my wall as decorations. Ed is an expert, though, with knowledge that spans decades in the recorded music industry. I guess you could say I am the muscle and Ed is the brain. Together we have kept the tradition alive."

 

[ecluser]

The Normarh needles ...are the worst thing you can fit in your cartridge...

Absolutely true!

 

[boreas]

I found the packaging for my EVG and I was wrong about the Switzerland thing, the package does not state the country of origin.

Hmmm, is there a blue dot half way up the cantilever? If so, I think that would make it a JICO.

I've never seen any evidence that they are not the same other than some vague meaningless statement on Ed's site about the diamonds being hand-selected (by WHOM??).

Well, I said "apparently". I was basing it solely on Ed's claims about which I've always had reservations.

The generic M91ED replacements found on eBay for $14 are pretty good, and Ed Saunders' $29.95 "custom" styli are also considered good; how are they different??

How indeed?

And what is all this nonsense?:
"Early in 2007 Ed was approached by a larger corporation who wanted to purchase the Ed Saunders name and company. Although Ed initially, flatly refused, he ultimately agreed to sell a 50% stake in the successful, International business he had single handedly built from the ground up. The resulting partnership was a train wreck. By January 1, 2010, not only had Ed suffered a tremendous financial loss, his spirit was broken. I changed that. I was no expert! I only owned two records and they hung on my wall as decorations. Ed is an expert, though, with knowledge that spans decades in the recorded music industry. I guess you could say I am the muscle and Ed is the brain. Together we have kept the tradition alive."

Yes, decidedly odd.

John

 

[beatcomber]

Hmmm, is there a blue dot half way up the cantilever? If so, I think that would make it a JICO.

No blue dot. FWIW, I don't remember seeing a blue dot on the Stanton 681 Shibata or M91ED SAS I bought from JICO either...

Well, I said "apparently". I was basing it solely on Ed's claims about which I've always had reservations.

My comments were not directed AT you. :thmbsp:
I merely was asking some questions since I often see Ed Saunders' styli being recommended here, and I'm not convinced that they're better/different than the generics being sold elsewhere for half the price.

 

[boreas]

No blue dot. FWIW, I don't remember seeing a blue dot on the Stanton 681 Shibata or M91ED SAS I bought from JICO either...

The one and only JICO I own, for a Shure M95ED, has such a dot and I've noticed it on a lot of photos depicting JICO styli. I was sort of leaning toward the conclusion that they all have that dot but I'm by no means certain.

My comments were not directed AT you. :thmbsp:

No worries, even if they were.

I merely was asking some questions since I often see Ed Saunders' styli being recommended here, and I'm not convinced that they're better/different than the generics being sold elsewhere for half the price.

Personally, as long as I harbor the suspicion that the Ed Saunders styli may just be the Pfanstiehl generics at twice the price I doubt I'll ever spring for one. Too many other options.

At best, I suppose they could be "Calibration Standard" Pfanstiehls, hand selected from the regular production after testing but that's just a WAG.

John

 

[beatcomber]

The one and only JICO I own, for a Shure M95ED, has such a dot and I've noticed it on a lot of photos depicting JICO styli.

Hmmm... I'll take another look tonight!

 

[GrampaDave]

"Calibration Standard" Pfanstiehls

:lmao:

Dave

 

[1tumbleweed]

Wouldn't that be like a "blueprinted" Yugo?

 

[62vauxhall]

Examining new EVG stylus while reading this thread

While reading this thread, I was looking at one of two EVG styli just recieved from carolesneedles.com. They are to go on Shure M91's and were advertised as being made by Jico. Having had good experience with replacements for a V15 III (also Jico) and a Stanton 681 EE (Phansteil) I had no hesitiation ordering from the same source again. These were $11.35 each.

I read about the bluedot on the cantelever, what is the significance? The M91 styli I got have a dot but it looks black. If blue it's a very dark shade.

 

[tubewade]

While reading this thread, I was looking at one of two EVG styli just recieved from carolesneedles.com. They are to go on Shure M91's and were advertised as being made by Jico. Having had good experience with replacements for a V15 III (also Jico) and a Stanton 681 EE (Phansteil) I had no hesitiation ordering from the same source again. These were $11.35 each.

I read about the bluedot on the cantelever, what is the significance? The M91 styli I got have a dot but it looks black. If blue it's a very dark shade.

The dots, whether dark blue or black, are generally believed to indicate a Jico produced stylus. The Swiss made ones have no dots.

 

[totem]

Waiting for mine to get here, also for an M91 but I am on the other side of the boarder. {same vendor}

 

[totem]

Where does the Tonar line of after market stylus fit in with regards to the other players?
I assume on the lower end of the scale?

I did compare an original 681-EEE to its Tonar replacement and the difference was
evident.

Note it seems Tonar is not marketed within N.A. much that I could see.