Grado with broken stylus with white dots. What is it?

[Lorenzo47]

I was recently given a black bodied Grado with silver metal backside. It has a large G on the front with "Grado" below it. The stylus assembly has a broken cantilever with two white dots on it. I can find no other markings on the body. I've tried to find some info on what model it could be with little luck. My 8MZ stylus fits it fine. The body is in excellent condition, it almost looks like it's never been mounted.

 

[Lorenzo47]

I wasn't too clear with my first post. Is there a way to determine exactly what model cartridge this is? I haven't found any markings on the body. If in fact the broken stylus assembly is the original I can find no model with white dots.

 

[Stanton681EEES]

Two things. At the back of the cartridge body there should be a date like 4 87 or 3 85 etc............. Also what color is the body? These will help in finding out what Grado this is.

 

[Hajidub]

Or a simple photo would clarify the whole thing.

 

[marcmorin]

I was recently given a black bodied Grado with silver metal backside. It has a large G on the front with "Grado" below it. The stylus assembly has a broken cantilever with two white dots on it. I can find no other markings on the body. I've tried to find some info on what model it could be with little luck. My 8MZ stylus fits it fine. The body is in excellent condition, it almost looks like it's never been mounted.

Is this body the long one with two small round ears for mounting? if so, you have a "G" which is the model below the G-1/G2. two white dots would have been equiv to the GF-1 stylus, although those were marked with blue dots. The styli were listed as "special grado type" pretty much what Shure called "hyperbolic"

 

[Lorenzo47]

Thanks for your reply Marc. Actually, the body is the same shape as my ZF2 with the exception of the markings on the front. A big G with Grado below in white paint letters. When I was given the cartridge the cantilever was broken but there were white dots on the stylus. The gentleman that gave it to me knew nothing about it but he knew that I still listened to vinyl.

 

[Lorenzo47]

Two things. At the back of the cartridge body there should be a date like 4 87 or 3 85 etc............. Also what color is the body? These will help in finding out what Grado this is.

It doesn't appear to have a date code but it's hard to tell since it's currently mounted in a headshell. I have a ZF2 that has a date code and a ZF3 that doesn't. The plastic is black with silver metal. I will un-mount it and take some pictures as well.

 

[marcmorin]

Thanks for your reply Marc. Actually, the body is the same shape as my ZF2 with the exception of the markings on the front. A big G with Grado below in white paint letters. When I was given the cartridge the cantilever was broken but there were white dots on the stylus. The gentleman that gave it to me knew nothing about it but he knew that I still listened to vinyl.

sounds like somebody painted it. As I've only seen them 1, not painted, 2 painted chrome like the coil cover,3, painted gold like the coil cover. Grado did have carts on the foreign markets labeled different than the American market. Usually in 3 levels representing entry level, mid level, top level. The top level would have the gold coil cover.
If the paint on the dots is correct. it would indicate the original stylus an X or Z F-2/1 Coil readings from the X series should be 480-500 ohm range, Z series would be 460 ohm range.

 

[Lorenzo47]

The paint might be a chrome/silver after all. In sunlight it looks more silver. I'll check the coils when I get the chance.