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Need some tips for re tipping a denon Mc cartridge

Carbsandcaps

Carbsandcaps

Super Member
My fully automatic turntable decided it was going to randomly turn itself on and full auto my dl-160 into the label of let it be and shear the stylus in half before I even knew what happened.

So my questions are how much in 2024 does it cost to re-tip a Mc cartridge (about). I also have a DL-304 that needs a tip so maybe be better off spending the money on that one if either.

Has anyone on here ever actually re tipped a cartridge? Just curious what the process is like obviously would need some seriously steady hands.
 
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Cactus Bob said:
I use Joseph for retipping also . . . I had a Denon DL 160 retipped by him not too long ago. He's popular here on AK and does great work.

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I've got one from Groovetickler & one from Joseph & both sound just fine.
I'd get another in a heartbeat.

Edit: I see Joseph is Groovetickler on the Bay.
I thought he was "cartridge-retipper" or something like that. Maybe he changed monikers?
So, I guess both mine are from Joseph.
 
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If you want to entertain yourself, you could try making a Frankencartridge. Cut the cantilever in half and jam on a cantilever with a new stylus. Obviously it won't sound the same, but it may be pretty good, and if the stylus shape is improved, it might even be better in some ways. I did a Denon 310, and it isn't bad.
I believe Joseph Long (groovetickler) started out doing this, though now he does more sophisticated retips.
 
Nat said:
If you want to entertain yourself, you could try making a Frankencartridge. Cut the cantilever in half and jam on a cantilever with a new stylus. Obviously it won't sound the same, but it may be pretty good, and if the stylus shape is improved, it might even be better in some ways. I did a Denon 310, and it isn't bad.
I believe Joseph Long (groovetickler) started out doing this, though now he does more sophisticated retips.
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Where did you get the cantilever? Just any other cartridge?
 
vinylkid58 said:
Maybe it's time for a manual turntable. ;)

jeff
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No thanks I’m spoiled I just want to hit a button and have it play. I think what happened what was my son hit the start lever so when I powered everything up it just started playing. Why I didn’t return at the end of the record I’m not sure.
 
I had a couple of unknown replacement stylus assemblies, and I sacrificed one that looked like it would fit neatly onto the Denon's stump. It is a conical, not anything fancy, but the cartridge plays and sounds fine, even if it probably isn't as good as it was originally (since the cartridge came to me with a broken stylus, I don't have any standard of comparison).
 
Nat said:
I had a couple of unknown replacement stylus assemblies, and I sacrificed one that looked like it would fit neatly onto the Denon's stump. It is a conical, not anything fancy, but the cartridge plays and sounds fine, even if it probably isn't as good as it was originally (since the cartridge came to me with a broken stylus, I don't have any standard of comparison).
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I think I’m going to try it with nothing to lose. How did you cut the new stylus down or did you just put it off? I’m thinking pliers will crush it. Maybe sawing it with a razor blade.
 
I believe I had a very small jeweler's file. You could cut the cantilever with snips and then file it until the tube is clean cut and undistorted. You probably should seal off the innards of the cartridge before doing this.
Both Vinyl Engine and AK had fairly extensive threads on how to do this, and they would be worth reading - while in one sense you don't have anything to lose, mauling the cantilever will make it impossible to do the recantilevering you want to. And you will sort of have to hope for getting the length close enough, while overlapping the tubes sufficiently for adequate strength.
 
There is a lot more to retipping than gluing in a cantilever, getting a cart to make music is different to fixing it.
Not all cartridges have the caantilever at the same angle. For example a Fitz Gyger has the contact patchs at a very different angle to say a Micro ridge so when fitting a stylus this needs to be taken into consideration, you cant just take any donor and glue it on you need to consider rake angle, then you need to align the stylus which you cant just do by eye. The Denon have lovely thin cantilever, fitting a boron is of course better again, but sliding a wide tube cantilever over the stub is a big step back from what it was stock (increased moving mass). Then how long? Longer or shorter changes the compliance which you cant do randomly and then the suspension tieback needs to be adjusted especially if cantilever length is changed. Then separation and channel balance needs testing and further adjustement done if needed. How are coils aligned are they parallel to the pole piece, is the suspension indented, does it neeed rotating, tie back how tight what tools do you have for setting it?
You can glue a stylus onto a cart but it wont sound close to factory. If you want a bit of fun, go ahead, but if you want to fix it my advice is get it retipped properly.
Chris
 
Obviously there is more to retipping than the basic information I supplied, and I assumed that the OP was going to get one cartridge retipped professionally. I was suggesting that he could try on the other one if he wanted an interesting and fun project (and if the result stank, he could still get it retipped afterwards).
I believe Joel started with Frankencartridges, and I suspect other retippers have too - I remember a letter to one of the audio magazines complaining that some fairly well regarded retipping service had returned a cartridge as being retipped when the joint between the two cantilevers was obvious.
I would only suggest DIY retipping for someone who has no plans (or no finances) to actually get a cartridge retipped properly.
 
Nat said:
Obviously there is more to retipping than the basic information I supplied, and I assumed that the OP was going to get one cartridge retipped professionally. I was suggesting that he could try on the other one if he wanted an interesting and fun project (and if the result stank, he could still get it retipped afterwards).
I believe Joel started with Frankencartridges, and I suspect other retippers have too - I remember a letter to one of the audio magazines complaining that some fairly well regarded retipping service had returned a cartridge as being retipped when the joint between the two cantilevers was obvious.
I would only suggest DIY retipping for someone who has no plans (or no finances) to actually get a cartridge retipped properly.
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It can be a fun project, I was just pointing out that there is way way more to it than I ever imagined. When I first went into this I thought it was just about gluing a cantilever on. Years later i know how complex it really is to do it properly.
I see a lot of 103's especially that people glue cantilevers over the broken stub. I think it is so common as the 103 is cheap, common and the tiny cantilever stub allows a cantilever to be slid over.
Fixing properly afterwards is harder as the glue needs drilling out of the stub.
I am not against anyone having a bit of fun and trying a diy retip, I am just pointing out that it is very unlikely to sound correct afterwards.
Chris
 
I would rather save up some monies and buy a new Denon. The 110 is great as are some of the other models;. With a smile and a little persuasion I am sure you can buy new ones for under $400.00. Then you're good to go for another 10 years or 1000 hours which ever comes first. I just ordered a new Dynavector XX-2! $$$$ ouch ouch ouch. To replace my oldest 20 X 2. Which was a lot less expensive back in 2010. Just above $650 with some wheeling and dealing with a list price of $750 as I remember. A friend of mine just bought a 110 last year for under $400 for a 110 Denon and he is very happy. He has an older Technics and I would like to see him upgrade, but I have to agree the sound is very enjoyable. I tried some re-tipping in the past , by several companies, and they could never get my Stanton 881 S or Shure V-15 MK V VR right. They didn't track as well and the frequency response and separation wasn't as good as before. So I stick with OEM stuff. I might get my old Dynvector updated at the factory to have as a spare. I will ask tomorrow.
 
Chris - I think many of the threads on DIY retipping did suggest using white glue to affix the new cantilever end in place - not only might it offer some damping, but water or a bit of ammonia makes it possible to remove it easily.
 
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