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Wood body Grado cartridges ?

MisterDK

MisterDK

Addicted Member
Questions for folks who own and have played with the wood body Grado cartridges -

What is it that you like most about your Grado “woody” and have they been reliable with good build quality? Not counting Opus3, which sounded the best to you? Without getting into the most expensive “statement” models, which woody Grados seem to be a good value (aside from Opus3)?

For those who dislike Grado woody cartridges - what did you not like about them? Was the sound not to your liking or build quality poor? Did it fall apart? :)

I want to love their made in USA cartridges but wonder just why they aren’t more popular. Please talk about those Grados…

Thanks for your input.

Duane
 
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MisterDK said:
Questions for folks who own and have played with the wood body Grado cartridges -

What is it that you like most about your Grado “woody” and have they been reliable with good build quality? Not counting Opus3, which sounded the best to you? Without getting into the most expensive “statement” models, which woody Grados seem to be a good value (aside from Opus3)?

For those who dislike Grado woody cartridges - what did you not like about them? Was the sound not to your liking or build quality poor? Did it fall apart? :)

I want to love their made in USA cartridges but wonder just why they aren’t more popular. Please talk about those Grados…

Thanks for your input.

Duane
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They aren't more popular because most people are cheap when it comes to paying money for a cartridge and why the $39 AT's are popular. The fact you can't replace the stylus with a $24 dollar replacement adds to this lack of popularity.

I can't remember ever reading a bad review of any of the wood body Grados.
 
I bought a wood Platinum soon after they first came out. It replaced at AT-150. In fact my extended write-up of my experiences with it turned into my first-ever review in "Listener." It worked beautifully on my Well Tempered Arm, on a Kyocera 700 deck, and on a TD-160 with TP-16 arm. I was sent a Sonata by my editor-in-chief that I mounted in the WTA and auditioned for about a month and found it to be even nicer in its presentation, but then had to send it back. I continued to be very impressed with what the Platinum could deliver for $300 back at that time (late 90s). Sonata superior in absolute terms, but Platinum still very impressive. I kept my Platinum for fifteen years at least and always enjoyed it. I have experience only with those two models and that's now more than twenty years ago. My two centimes.
 
There is an evolution in sound of wood bodied Grado's, the first generation Platinum was very spacious and transparent sounding, but also rather dark in tonal balance. Later generations sound more open, without losing the spacious presentation and soft touch, unagressive sound. As you go higher in price sound becomes firmer, with better dynamic grip, and tracking gets better. Reference and Statement models sound incredibly rich, full and detailed. And then there is the Opus3, which is somewhat different sounding (little more open and "modern" in upper midrange/treble), but still possesses the natural transparency and "wall of sound from the silky black background" character. For some there is no coming back after experiencing wood Grado's, after them most other cartridges can sound slightly harsh and unrefined. But also for some they are simply too soft and cushy, matter of taste of course (and speakers used, which is usually the reflection of the owner's taste in sound, even in midrange, transparent and natural sounding speakers will benefit the most).
 
My first Grado Woody was a Sonata purchased back in 2001 (a friend who bought it from me still has it!), and it sounded great on a Well Tempered TT. Fast forward 20+ years and I'm back to a Grado Woody (Opus 3 with an Ogura stylus/cantilever) and happy as ever!!! Grado's sound like music - smooth, yet detailed and somehow "rich" at the same time. Go figure?
 
They all share the same engine apart thr top two models which have gold coils resulting in higher dc resistance and higher inductance which is not a good thing. Apart this the only difference I am aware of is thr wood used and the stylus. Retipping them you can upgrade the latter. The wood type should not make much difference as all models are well damped especially if the arm they are used on is well damped.
I agree with others the treble is much much better on the 3 series.
Chris
 
IMO the Quality of your collection is directly proportional to the cart cost. No body that invest in good records will buy a cheap cart but you can see the opposite pretty often.
Grados are not easy carts, needs some fine tuning, frustration make to people find those plug and play carts that make any record sound standard.
AG.
 
I have one, have owned it many years and thought it a good cart. I think it is the reference model. it is on a systerm I rarely use and have not used it for a number of years. Never had a problem and enjoyed it when I did use it. I can't say anything stood out as exceptional but I don't recall any negative issues, it has been to many years to recall any details about it. I still sits on that table but in a room I rarely use, on my Yamaha PX 2 table, hooked up to a rack of upper teir SAE amps and preamps, and a pair of Infinity RS-IIb's .
 
Ken Boyd said:
I have one, have owned it many years and thought it a good cart. I think it is the reference model. it is on a systerm I rarely use and have not used it for a number of years. Never had a problem and enjoyed it when I did use it. I can't say anything stood out as exceptional but I don't recall any negative issues, it has been to many years to recall any details about it. I still sits on that table but in a room I rarely use, on my Yamaha PX 2 table, hooked up to a rack of upper teir SAE amps and preamps, and a pair of Infinity RS-IIb's .
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I have an older Statement reference which was close to the top of the woodies at the time. Things have improved greatly since then, the Opus 3 I have admittedly retipped with Boron and nude Micro ridge is far better than my Statement Reference which even considering the cost of a retip was still a much more expensive cartridge.
The old Grado woodies were good but the separation was much less and the highs and bass were not as good as the new 3 series.
Chris
 
Has anyone compared the grado woodies vs the blue or the gold? Is there much difference in the sound if they are using the same engine? The price on the blue is very appealing..
 
There is much difference. It is a myth the engine alone determines the sound. Even the batch or production date of the copper in coils can subtly change the sound. I have many vintage Grado's, they don't even remotely all sound the same, even if they measure almost identical, and I try them using the same stylus.
 
CrSens said:
There is much difference. It is a myth the engine alone determines the sound. Even the batch or production date of the copper in coils can subtly change the sound. I have many vintage Grado's, they don't even remotely all sound the same, even if they measure almost identical, and I try them using the same stylus.
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Not sure I totally agree.. Re the old series 2 blue and gold there is no difference I could find. I swapeed the stylus around (ages ago) and I made recordings back and forth listening for different things each play back. The only difference I could determine between a blue and a gold was the extra damping on the cantilever softened fine detail. On my test recording the twinkly notes were different, but swapping the stylus over swapped the difference over.
Regarding the Opus 3, if you want the low output low inductance version you cant get this in green or Gold so the only way is buy a woody. Even though comparing the high output woody to a gold the extra damping from the wood body and the glue is going to make a difference over the thin plastic and metal of the gold. To some extent the melted in stylus on the woody willalso improve things, that said though Grado stylus are far from loose fitting.
Chris
 
cafe latte said:
Not sure I totally agree.. Re the old series 2 blue and gold there is no difference I could find. I swapeed the stylus around (ages ago) and I made recordings back and forth listening for different things each play back. The only difference I could determine between a blue and a gold was the extra damping on the cantilever softened fine detail. On my test recording the twinkly notes were different, but swapping the stylus over swapped the difference over.
Regarding the Opus 3, if you want the low output low inductance version you cant get this in green or Gold so the only way is buy a woody. Even though comparing the high output woody to a gold the extra damping from the wood body and the glue is going to make a difference over the thin plastic and metal of the gold. To some extent the melted in stylus on the woody willalso improve things, that said though Grado stylus are far from loose fitting.
Chris
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I have several Shure M95 bodies, according to your theory they are supposed to sound the same, but they do not. Using the same stylus.
 
CrSens said:
I have several Shure M95 bodies, according to your theory they are supposed to sound the same, but they do not. Using the same stylus.
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Testing separation on carts of the same brand they differ wildly on some brands. With Grado Opus 3 they all measure almost identical around 38dB. I have heard and tested many many Opus 3 and they all sound the same ie amazing. A credit to Grado.
Chris
 
cafe latte said:
Testing separation on carts of the same brand they differ wildly on some brands. With Grado Opus 3 they all measure almost identical around 38dB. I have heard and tested many many Opus 3 and they all sound the same ie amazing. A credit to Grado.
Chris
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I keep saying I’m going to buy an Opus but haven’t gotten around to it. To the OP’s question…I’ve got one woody, a Sonata 2 I got a good deal on the bay. It is very good but does not better a retipped G1+ or G2+ from Joseph Long. When I do buy and wear out the Opus I’ll send it to you for retip.
 
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