SHURE Vintage Cartridge-Pioneer PL560

M

McGator225

New Member
Ok, y'all sound like a nest of gurus who are highly skilled/informed folks so hopefully some kind informed soul from this forum can help a damsel in distress. I have a Pioneer PL560 Turntable w/Shure Cartridge that needs a stylus needle, but I am uncertain of the model# of the Shure Catridge. The unit was purchased in December 1978, so I am guessing it is likely a V15IV, V15V, or V15VxMR, but how do I know which?? The cartridge is light yellow, stamped SHURE in black, w/black rotating visor shield. As you can tell I am bascially totally lost here w/o a clue. Where, if at all, would they likely imprint a model # so I know where to look? Thusfar, I have safely pulled off/out the front detachable piece, but no numbers visible. Further disassembly will require tools ::yikes::: really hate to go there if in fact there is not likely to be any numbers anyway. Any ideas? A reply by email @ jmclevis@aol.com would be most helpful, thank you:)
 
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It won't be any of those as they all will have the model clearly marked on the front. Also, the V15V's were not in existance then, and I am not certain the IV was either.

I think that all of the Shure V15 series, even down to the first ones, had the model marked on the front.

Dick Schneiders
 
wow, now I am a little confused. Dick's post doesn't seem to reconcile with information at a SHURE website (more information below). If the website is correct, it seems to show the V15s may go back quite a ways, even showing a reference to 1964. Maybe I am missing something with it all but, am definitely totally confused now. Not quarrelling with the accuracy issueat all. My only interest is finding a needle for my Shure stylus, but first I need to know how to accurately find out the model number that I have. Again, mine is imprinted with SHURE in black letters on the pull out piece...no numbers on the pullout piece. Is it adviseable for me to start unscrewing and detaching things with the cartridge to look for numbers?

FYI, the website provides a chart, which states, in part, the following. If it is inaccurate information on the website then perhaps someone who knows how to express that might want to let the website know so that non~gurus like me aren't getting misinformed;)

http://www.shure.com/phono/phono_shure_history.html

1964 V15 Stereo Dynetic High Fidelity Phonograph Cartridge
15 degree vertical tracking angle
symmetrical bi-radial elliptical stylus (.0002" x .0009")
subjected to exacting quality control and inspection measures unique in the industry

1966 V15 Type II
first analog-computer-designed superior tracking cartridge
introduced "Trackability": ability to maintain contact between stylus and record groove at minimum tracking force throughout audio spectrum
flip-action, built-in stylus guard

1970 V15 Type II Improved
upgraded stylus
flatter frequency response

1973 V15 Type III
new laminated pole piece
uniformly flat, unaccented, uncolored frequency response
25% reduction of effective stylus mass

1978 V15 Type IV
hyperelliptical nude stylus tip resulting in optimized tip-groove contact area
viscous-damped Dynamic Stabilizer overcomes record warp and electrostatically neutralizes record surface

1982 V15 Type V
ultra-thin-wall beryllium (MICROWALL Be) stylus shank
MASAR-polished tip to reduce friction
packaged with Duo-Point Alignment gauge to minimize lateral tracking angle error

1983 V15 Type V-MR
Micro-Ridge stylus tip emulates shape of cutting stylus for unsurpassed trackability, particularly in high frequency range

1997 V15VxMR
warmer and more musical than ever
Stereophile Magazine's Analog Source of the Year runner up in 1997.
(Note: the category winner was a turntable.) December 1997
 
For others who may also be trying to research information on SHURE cartridges, the following website http://www.needledoctor.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.72/.f has an actual pictorial page showing many SHURE stylii, most, if not all, seem to show SHURE imprinted on the front. For the life of me I don't see any numbers on the actual stylii themselves, but the website states the model number under each picture...problem is none of the pictures show my SHURE cartridge:( Some of the cartridges shown are discontinued cartridges so it doesn't seem that the reason mine is not shown is because it is likely discontinued. I think this particular site is one where you can still order stylus needles even for discontinued cartridges so it should still be shown...but isn't. I was hoping based on physical description that someone reading these posts might have a clue or an idea about what might be up with it all. I'll keep checking back here in hopes someone does. Thank y'all so much for trying to help me out.
 
Shure M95ED

It is most likely a Shure M95ED. Yellow stylus with black flipdown guard. I am assuming the cart body is black. About the right period. FYI The Shure V15 series has been around since the mid 60's the type 3 came out in about 1973 the type 4 came out in 78 . The type 5 series began in 82.
 
Sorry, I wasn't very clear.

I tried to say that the V15 Type V's were not around back in 1978, and that the V15 Type IV's might not have been around that far back. I then found out that the IV's did begin in 1978. However, all V15 series cartridges, from the first one through the V15VxMR that was just discontinued, have the V designation on them and the model number somewhere. Yours is almost certainly not one of the V15 series.

I did look at some sites after reading you first post, and I agree with the other poster. It is probably one of the M95 series.

The removeable stylus assembly will not usually have any model information on it. However, the cartridge body itself usually does have something on the outside somewhere. The best way is, as you have tried to do, to match up the removeable stylus assembly with a picture on one of the several web sites that sell the replacement styli.

Can you post a picture of the cartridge and stylus assembly?

Dick Schneiders
 
Thank you to everyone who is replying; greatly appreciate your support and help!!
Ok, I went to the websites y'all recommended, as well as others I found, and this what I have learned so far.

It does appear(???) that my SHURE cartridge is a M95ED. I finally found an online actual graphic of the M95ED at a website in the UK, The Diamond Stylus Co. Ltd. @ http://www.diamondstylus.co.uk/acatalog/Diamond_Stylus__Shure_118.html ---took a photo of my cartridge in the same position and it appears(???) to be a match. Not sure how to post pictures in this forum since I am new to it as of yesterday. Have it all summarized in an email sent to myself though and can forward that upon request. My email is jmclevis@aol.com. Would greatly appreciate it if anyone can review it to see whether you agree or disagree that I am on track here with identification, thanks.

After cartridge identification confirmation the next hurdle is deciding what to do. The M95ED is discontinued. However, it seems that GENERIC needles @$29.95 can be purchased through GARAGE-A-RECORDS @ http://www.garage-a-records.com/shurestylus.html. It appears it was replaced by the N95ED, and according to Microphone Solutions.com @ http://music1online.com/shurn95edrep.html the N95ED has subsequently been discontinued as well(???), but is still obtainable through various sites. However, Microphone Solutions recommends 2 current replacement options; conveniently sold on their website; SHURE M92E $30 (versatile performance) and SHURE M97E $89 (high performance) +plus shipping.

So, my question(s) are of course the recommendation(s) of y'all--the gurus on this stuff. Is the Garage-A-Records "generic" needle gonna be like I can either use it in my Pioneer PL560 or my Singer Sewing Machine; i.e., damage my records??? OR, should I just replace the cartridge with a current compatible match, and is the M92E or M97E, in your opinion, a compatible match??? ---AND, if replacement is the route to go, is there an altogether better performance cartridge I should be looking at for my Pioneer PL560??? In other words, I am not in a rut stuck on staying with the M95ED lineage at all---open to all recommendations. However, as we all know, newer is not necessarily better, and sometimes even worse...so I am wondering what to expect regarding performance of my M95ED versus the replacement options?? Thank you once again for all of your help....look forward to your replies:)
 
...well dangggggg...now, I truly remain confused....in further research this morning I found website http://www.stereoneedles.com/Shure.html and it shows a better and ACTUAL picture of the N95ED ($36.95 +shipping)---which appears to look exactly like what I have. The UK website http://www.diamondstylus.co.uk/acatalog/Diamond_Stylus__Shure_118.html that I referenced in my earlier post only showed a graphic representation on their website, not an actual picture, of the M95ED---but their graphic looks like what I have as well, though the color in the graphic appears a more intense yellow. I had just figured the color difference was likely attributable to it being a graphic representation as opposed to an actual photo. I am assuming the M95ED and N95ED must look alike then?? Thank y'all for having soooooo much patience with me as I navigate through this. I sincerely appreciate all the help and recommendations that y'all can kindly provide, thank you.

Sincerely Appreciative,
Jo Ann
 
Buy a Grado Black for around $30.00 new. It will sound just great on your Pioneer, it will be new, and it will not be an outsourced needle.

Do you listen to a lot of records? Do you still buy new records? Do you buy used records? Keep that in mind when factoring how much you want to spend for a replacement needle that is not manufactured by Shure anymore but by some cheaper knock-off oof shore company. Grado still manufacture their own carts and needles.
 
n95ed

The N95ed is the replacement stylus only. The M95ed is the original model of the cartridge and stylus. (body and N95ed stylus = M95ed)
 
grab it

The M95ed is a fine cartridge. Stereo needles still has the stylus. Once they are gone there will be no more
 
SHURE Cartridge Model Number????

ok, I am going to try and post a picture of my cartridge to see if anyone can help identify it. In the meantime I have unscrewed the cartridge from the tonearm, without disconnecting the wires, to examine it for numbers and details. It has SHURE Made In USA embossed in it, on the top part of the nose piece it has a gold foil flying S that resembles a morph-type bird or plane like symbol, on the lower part of the nose piece it has a red [COLOR=Red[B]]"R1" [/B] [/COLOR] ink stamped onto it, on one side of the cartridge it has a small silver label with black lettering that says PREMIER, and on the the other side it has a twin silver label with black lettering that says SHURE.
 

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