Signet TK1N Stylus with Collapsed Suspension - Retip/Repair or Replace

[MCM_Fan]

I just picked up a vintage Signet TK5E cartridge last night. It came with the original Signet TKN1 stylus (0.2 x 0.7, nude, square shank). Unfortunately, the suspension has gone soft. Even with the VTF set at 1.0g, the plastic body of the stylus rubs on the surface of the record being played.

This seems to be a fairly well regarded vintage cartridge (I also have a Signet TK10ML, which I love). My research shows that the TK5E (not to be confused with the TK5Ea) is also compatible with several Audio Technika styli. I am currently running it with a NOS Audio Technica ATS12 (0.4 x 0.7 bonded elliptical) tracking at 1.75g. It looks a little weird, but it sounds pretty decent, however, from what I've read, this cartridge is worthy of a better stylus. The ATN12XE (0.3 x 0.7 nude elliptical) is a mid-priced option and the ATS12S/ATN12S (Shibata) are available NOS for about $200, as is a NOS Signet TKN1

I have no idea of the condition of the tip on this TKN1. Should I send it off to a retipper to get an estimate for a repair/retip? Should I just go with a NOS Audio Technica stylus? If so, which one? Would the ATN12XE be a noticeable improvement over the ATS12 I am currently running, or should I save up for a NOS Shibata or other "better" NOS Audio Technica stylus?

 

[lini]

MCM_F: If you haven't yet, you might want to try, whether you can shove the cantilever assembly farther into the plastic holder after opening the so-called compliance adjustment screw - and then lock it again. That might work, unless the flexible filament between the frontal and the rear par of the cantilever assembly has actually ripped, which I'd deem rather unlikely, though - more usually just the damper ring has shrinked a bit, so that the intended tension isn't there anymore. Another method would be to cut out a little U-shaped piece of thin, but stiff plastic foil and shove that with the closed side up between the plastic holder and the damper ring.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

 

[MCM_Fan]

Manfred / @lini , that is a very good suggestion. However, I think you have more confidence in my eyesight and manual dexterity than I do! What you say makes perfect sense. I may try sending the stylus off to someone more skilled and let them have a crack at it. It's unusable as is. So, really nothing to lose.

In the mean time, I am enjoying this Signet TK5E with the $26 NOS ATS12 I recently purchased. I really enjoy the tonal quality of this combination. Very solid, punchy bass and lower midrange, with none of the thin, harsh, overly bright sound some ascribe to many of the newer AT carts. Which, honestly, is not a problem with the carts, it's due to improper loading. Many of the newer AT carts require very low capacitive loading for a flat frequency response. It seems like many vintage cartridges, including this Signet, were more tolerant of higher capactive loading.

The question is: how much do I want to invest into this TK5E? It just sort of fell into my lap (came on a turntable I purchased) and I do have other cartridges that are just as nice, or better. I was anticipating a JICO SAS for my Shure V15 Type V-MR as my next major stylus purchase, and maybe that is still the best way to go. Since I do like the sound of this Signet TK5E with the ATS12 stylus, maybe getting a NOS ATN12XE would be a nice upgrade at a reasonable price. But first, I'll look into salvaging the original TK1N stylus. Thanks for your input!

 

[pyoung272]

MCM,

Where did you get your $26 NOS ATS12? I am asking as I have the same Signet cartridge and am looking for a replacement stylus.

 

[MCM_Fan]

MCM,

Where did you get your $26 NOS ATS12? I am asking as I have the same Signet cartridge and am looking for a replacement stylus.

I won it on eBay. Gary at The Voice of Music has it in stock for a little more. Look for part number 200-DET. Normally I buy my NOS styli from Gary, but stumbled across a good deal on one on eBay.

 

[MCM_Fan]

MCM_F: If you haven't yet, you might want to try, whether you can shove the cantilever assembly farther into the plastic holder after opening the so-called compliance adjustment screw - and then lock it again. That might work, unless the flexible filament between the frontal and the rear par of the cantilever assembly has actually ripped, which I'd deem rather unlikely, though - more usually just the damper ring has shrinked a bit, so that the intended tension isn't there anymore. Another method would be to cut out a little U-shaped piece of thin, but stiff plastic foil and shove that with the closed side up between the plastic holder and the damper ring.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

Manfred / @lini , I finally worked up the nerve to attempt this. It was actually much less daunting that anticipated. The surgery was a success! The patient lives:

Tracking beautifully and sounding amazing at 1.2g.

 

[Grbluen]

Outstanding!

 

[lini]

(...) The surgery was a success! The patient lives: (...)

Nice. Congrats!

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

P.S.: Which method did you choose, btw?

 

[MCM_Fan]

Nice. Congrats!

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

P.S.: Which method did you choose, btw?

I used the first method you described. Upon further examination, the cantilever assembly had slid forward and there was a tiny gap between the rubber damping ring and the plastic grip. I loosened the compliance setting screw, removed the cantiver assembly, reinserted it and made sure the damping ring was snugged up against the plastic grip and re-tightened the screw.

Someone on vinylengine posted photos of transplanting the cantilever assembly from an Audio Technica AT13Ea into a Signet grip. Once I saw the simplicity of the design of the cantilever assembly, it was a piece of cake to do this minor surgery. I think this Signet is a keeper and given the scarcity of NOS Signet styli, I will keep my eyes open for reasonably priced Audio Technica styli to serve as potential future donors.

Here's a link to his thread.

 

[lini]

(...) Once I saw the simplicity of the design of the cantilever assembly, (...)

Nice, isn't it? And even nicer, that AT hasn't created many obstacles by choosing many different diameters for the rear parts of these cantilever assemblies and the corresponding openings in the plasic holders. Granted, the AT22 to AT25 & Signet TK9/10/100 as well as the AT-ML1x0(/OCC) family are slightly different in that regard, but otherwise cantilever assembly transplantation doesn't require much work, so that a lot of AT's dual/V-magnet MM families can profit from that. Over here, for example, in the meantime Dual users make use of it to upgrade the Dual-ATs DMS240/242E to better cartridges than these originally were. Of course I couldn't foresee all that, when I started to spread the information about the design of these AT needles roundabout twelve years ago - but in hindsight it probably wasn't one of my worst ideas, that I did that.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

 

[MCM_Fan]

Nice, isn't it? And even nicer, that AT hasn't created many obstacles by choosing many different diameters for the rear parts of these cantilever assemblies and the corresponding openings in the plasic holders. Granted, the AT22 to AT25 & Signet TK9/10/100 as well as the AT-ML1x0(/OCC) family are slightly different in that regard, but otherwise cantilever assembly transplantation doesn't require much work, so that a lot of AT's dual/V-magnet MM families can profit from that. Over here, for example, in the meantime Dual users make use of it to upgrade the Dual-ATs DMS240/242E to better cartridges than these originally were. Of course I couldn't foresee all that, when I started to spread the information about the design of these AT needles roundabout twelve years ago - but in hindsight it probably wasn't one of my worst ideas, that I did that.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

In addition to other NOS Audio Technica styli, would the new VM95 styli be compatible with my Signet TKN1 grip/cartridge? If so, that would open up options in affordable new nude elliptical and micro line donors. I also assume 3rd party styli like the LPGear VividLine and Bliss hyper ellipticals would also be viable donors. If so, I probably won't have to worry about access to replacement styli for this TK5E in my lifetime.

I really like the sound of my Signet TK10ML, but dread the day the stylus wears out. Running this TK5E on my back up table gives me a similar sound signature (with only a bit less fine detail) with affordable replacement stylus options. This is my second 0.2 x 0.7 mil square shank elliptical on a tapered cantilever from AT/Signet (the other being an AT132EP) and in both cases, I have found them to be a significant upgrade in sound quality compared to the standard 0.3 x 0.7 mil and 0.4 x 0.7 mil bonded ellipticals. In addition to the sharper diamond, I think the lower tip mass of the nude diamond and the tapered aluminum cantilever has a lot to do with the improved sound quality. On this TK5E, when switching from the 0.4 x 0.7 mil ATS12 to the original TK1N, the difference was immediately noticeable and not subtle.