Calling All (Any) Cartridge Alignment Experts in Western North Carolina

waltersalas OP

I do not recommend the Mint. I have been down that road. It is very difficult to see the parallax implemented by Yip with his mirrored protractors and worse, it does nothing to guide you to proper azimuth or SRA or VTA. And, even if those shortcomings were ignored, the Mint relies on accurate specification of P-S. Good luck with that. I guarantee you a stiff neck, bleary eyeballs, and frustration if you use the Mint. 
As for Schubert, I would love to know "1/4 inch off according to what?" Schubert must have been too cheap to pay for Brian's travel time and his work could easily have gone "off" in transit. Further, Brian is for all intents and purposes using an oscilloscope by using a software system that implements the same methodology in more sophisticated form.
There is so much misinformation on this forum that my head wants to explode. I need to find a better forum with better informed denizens. 

This is why a USB microscope (with a small stand attachment) is so helpful. Once you have the alignment and focus of the microscope set, it’s very easy to confirm alignment of the cantilever and physical azimuth. Plus there’s no stiff neck, bleary eyeballs or frustration. Sure, using a ‘scope may yield “better” results, but for the love of all things holy, don’t let really, really good be the enemy of great.

I used one of those too. Good luck getting the scope in the position you need to check parallax (Yip’s clever method). The plinth usually manages to get in the way. The gooseneck stands are simply not long enough or stable enough. And again, what about VTF, VTA, SRA, and azimuth? The Mint does nothing for those parameters.
And way too many make the mistake with the Mint of relying upon the manufacturer’s stated P-S. And yes, VPI is the worst-that I know of-for being sloppy or disregarding their own spec.
I echo the recommendation of a SmartTractor along with a very accurate VTF gauge (Riverstone).

I have nothing at all against Yip/Mint. 
I always say this;
There are so many variables-it all depends. 
A conical stylus needs a tenth of the exactitude of a replicant/fine line.
There are many other ways to compromise one's analogue based system beyond alignment and set up issues. 
When I chime in, it is only to be constructive. I hate to see people make the same mistakes I have made. 
The OP says he went all-in which is naturally relative. Certainly the phono stage and cartridge he mentioned are pretty damned good. Overkill even imho for this deck but....It sounds like he is going with the Mint. Let us see who is right and who is wrong when he reports back.