Grado Signature Model 8 worth re-tip?

Regarding stylus compatibility you can ask Grado direct.

Many of the LP Gear styli are NOT the originals, my advice is to stay away from their products if you don’t know exactly what you are buying.

Grago styli available from authorized Grado dealers, those are originals for sure.

With Grado cartridge you have to contact GRADO , those are MI cartridges with press-fit nude diamonds on special cantilevers.

If you want to buy genuine Grado products look for dealers on their site:
https://gradolabs.com/company/where-to-buy

If your Grado is 8MZ then your stylus is user replaceable, forget about re-tippers!
Buy genuine stylus from Grado.

I have Grado XTZ and it’s great, top of the line MI from Joe Grado. Do not buy from LP gear if it’s not an authorized Grado dealer, check on Grado website, buy genuine stylus from Grado direct or from their authorized dealers.


You can use XTZ stylus on your cartridge too, but it’s more expensive than 8MZ.

Rick, forget about LP Gear when you’re looking for styli for vintage cartridges, their replacement is only a compromise (only if you can’t find the original, they are different).

My advice is to try your Stanton 881s mkII, it must be a great cartridge, if you’re so afraid send it for stylus inspection. Use the original if all is good. It;a a great cartridge, there are at least 3 better models from Stanton, but the 881s was Doug Sax’s monitoring cartridge at his mastering Lab.

Pickering styli are compatible with Stanton, I have genuine D4000 Stereohedron stylus in original box if needed.

I’m currently using Pickering XLZ/7500 and XSV/5000 on one of my tonearms.

ADC XLM is garbage in my opinion, sorry.

Stanton 981 and CS100 WOS are the best, I prefer CS-100 W.O.S. (It was Walter O. Stanton signature model, collectors series 100).

Walter O. Stanton was Norman C. Pickering’s plant manager. Mr. Stanton invented the interchangeable needle grips Pickering used and later purchased Pickering & Company. A sister brand to Stanton.

Look for Pickering XSV/5000 or 7500 if you want equal quality to the best Stanton models.

Equal model to Stanton 881s is Pickering XSV/3000. Pickering XSV/4000 is better and 4500,5000,7500 are ultimate.