Digital Stylus Force Gauge: Which One??

Many thanks for all your replies. I'm not sure I'd call my Arkiv B a megabuck cartridge considering the prices of Keotsu's and Clearaudios, but it does clear the $ 2K bar by just a hair. I have used the Sure SFG2 for years also, but I want to set my Arkiv at the very top of the recommended range without exceeding it since it is here that it offers the best tracking performance. Although my SFG2 claims I'm already there, I have a sneaky suspicion that I might be off by at least 1/10th of a gram...yet I'm afraid to go beyond. Oh well..at least your replies seem to suggest that the Wally would be the best bet if I decided to go digital....

Better be careful with discussions in the open like this. Herr Ashcroft might think that you're REALLY measuring your 'rocks' with amazing precision, and ban digital stylus gauges as "drug paraphernalia" and raid this website. "I vant za names, und I vant zem NOW!"

I would go in any case for a digital scale with 0.01 g accuracy. You do not need a special "vinyl guru snake oil treated scale", any small pocket gauge will do the job absolute perfectly. Current brands are MyWeigh MX-50 or Palmscale 0,01, which are frequently sold on ebay. Then you have to make a device which brings the measure point level exactly to the record surface level. You can look at Wallys Vinyl Corner at www.simplyblack.net how such a device can be done.

I DO have a use for a digital gauge -- but it's practical for reference rather than set-up purposes. I set the basic VTF using a good'ole Ortofon thingy (or a Shure) and then fine-tune by ear. The increments in the fine-tuning are difficult to measure -- hence the use of the digital readings on mega$$ gauges, to keep reference of the exact force (my arm doesn't offer digital out readings for VTF). So, IMO, I still don't see the need for the digital in your case (i.e. you're sure you need the extra 0,01gram & if so, why not just try some extra force...)
But then again, I'm a sloppy audiophile...

Side notes you may enjoy:
a) I don't actually own a digital, so I have to keep borrowing one whenever I'm in tweak mood (typically winter, summer & when I'm out of tranquilisers).
b) The Ortofon thingy was actually given to me by a Clearaudio person (OK, I own one of their serious$ cartridges...)

Alexc, I am also in sdcampbell's camp. We, at one time, tested the accuracy of the Shure vs: the Winds. The Shure was SPOT ON!
And once again, if you really intend to acheive accuracy based on the numbers, either of the aforementioned tools will work well.

Although, the final sound quality will be fine tuned by making very slight adjustments in tracking weight (within the manufacturers tracking range) at which point these tools will only become secondary and their measurements somewhat irrelevant.

I personally have found that the most significant changes in sound quality are achieved using the VTA. This is assuming that cartridge alignment(tangency)and anti-skate(if you use it)adjustments are correct. But, do keep in mind that VTA changes will in turn, affect the tracking weight. Raising or lowering the VTA adjustment will change the tracking weight as you are in affect changing the weight biasing of the arm.

You may want to consider opening a Roth/IRA with the additional money you will be spending on the Winds, purchase the Shure, and then let your ears be your tool for fine tuning.

Your ears, by far, are the most accurate tools available.