A suggestion for MM/MC cartridge manufacturers

My problem was not during installing the cartridge, it was during aligning it. It was at the stage where you have the place the stylus onto a pin hole in the protractor and then arrange the straightness. If there was a dummy stylus to do that, it would have been much easier and not cause costly mistakes.

Okay so that would be step #11. Its always one, you just never know which one, so I list em all. Please go back and check.

Step 11, place a Q-tip under the cartridge. Fiddle with it a bit and get it to where its just right to hold the stylus above the record exactly where you want it. Done right it will prevent exactly the sort of damage you experienced.

Oh dang, left one out. Forgot to mention tape the platter so it doesn't move and screw everything up.

Then also before trying this again do yourself a favor, get the MoFi Geo-disk. This thing makes alignment a snap. The only "problem" is the alignment dot is kind of big. But this is only a problem for all the anal types out there who think every millimicron makes a difference. Sorry, but it just does not. Sorry also, you toasted a cart trying to do something wasn't even necessary.

Next time remember the Q-tip.

My tt is a Linn Sondek with a beefed up Valhalla with Audiomods V arm.

So you can't buy a cartridge pre-installed on the headshell and aligned for your arm. 

With this arm you can only do it yourself, i would recommend Dr.Feickert Protractor, it's flat, so you can't drag the stylus tip. 

And if it's expensive just buy Hi-Fi Test LP and find a free protractor inside. 

My tt is a Linn Sondek with a beefed up Valhalla with Audiomods V arm.

My problem was not during installing the cartridge, it was during aligning it. It was at the stage where you have the place the stylus onto a pin hole in the protractor and then arrange the straightness. If there was a dummy stylus to do that, it would have been much easier and not cause costly mistakes.

stereo5-

cough, cough.....eeere...cough,cough

cakyol-

I feel your frustration. Any real hifi enthusiast has lost $ crashing a nice cart.

There isn’t a need for your request. I’m nearing 60, poor eyesight along with the other aging deficits.

The secret to a DIY cart setup is patience. Slow, deliberate moves around that little clump of expensive audio nonsense.

If one can’t incorporate include this during the process, pay to have it done.

Never had an install disaster, but enough careless maneuvers, while playing a record.

What is your tunrtable and tonearm? 

Good call on the 420. But, I'm thinking it was something more basic.
More than likely one of these:
1. Stylus guard in place
2. Secure tone arm
3. Disconnect turntable
4. Place on clean well lit kitchen table
5. Rubber band around cartridge
6. Remove pins
7. Remove & box cartridge
8. Rubber band new cart in place
9. Screw snug
10. Leads on clips
11. Q-tip under cart body to prevent stylus/cart contact
12. Overhang, zenith, VTF- in that order
13. Repeat/check previous step
13. Secure arm
14. Replace stylus guard & secure arm
15. Reinstall turntable
Was missed. But which, I wonder?

No 420 either.  Wait until the sweet music is playing for that. 

Scotch:)

We know! The only problem is that the adjustments have to be done on a real cartridge. I guess you're talking about practicing set up itself. Thing is, it is a delicate procedure no matter what. No coffee or alcohol!

Actually I take MC back since they dont have replaceable styli.  This would be valid only for MM.

Yep..... It would have been a great idea to have a dummy around.

Aw oh

I sense something got destroyed!