Pscialli,
Nice system. The cartridge may be responsible (I'm not familiar with it) but I suspect the weak link in the chain is the entire analog rig. The LP12 was a category leader 23 years ago. It no longer is, and hasn't been for quite some time.
Unfortunately, $2-3K will not buy a (new) table and arm that compare with the level of your other components, or with your Sony/Modwright in particular. Digital has gotten pretty good in the last few years and your experience proves it. I use an unmodded Denon DVD-3910 and its performance is also quite respectable. My analog rig outplays it in every way, but my analog rig has a retail value that is twelve times higher.
You won't have to go quite that far to better your Sony, but I don't think you'll do it for much less than $6K for a table and arm (using new retail prices for the yardstick).
Of course it wouldn't due much harm to try a different cartridge. If it does the trick, great. If it doesn't, it would readily move to a new rig when funds become available. VdH's are well known for dynamic bass. Shelters have full and weighty bass. Dyna's are known for strong bass. The ZYX Airy 3 has bass that goes low and it's more tuneful than most and excellent on big classical. I'm sure there are others that might satisfy.
My rambling thoughts...
Nice system. The cartridge may be responsible (I'm not familiar with it) but I suspect the weak link in the chain is the entire analog rig. The LP12 was a category leader 23 years ago. It no longer is, and hasn't been for quite some time.
Unfortunately, $2-3K will not buy a (new) table and arm that compare with the level of your other components, or with your Sony/Modwright in particular. Digital has gotten pretty good in the last few years and your experience proves it. I use an unmodded Denon DVD-3910 and its performance is also quite respectable. My analog rig outplays it in every way, but my analog rig has a retail value that is twelve times higher.
You won't have to go quite that far to better your Sony, but I don't think you'll do it for much less than $6K for a table and arm (using new retail prices for the yardstick).
Of course it wouldn't due much harm to try a different cartridge. If it does the trick, great. If it doesn't, it would readily move to a new rig when funds become available. VdH's are well known for dynamic bass. Shelters have full and weighty bass. Dyna's are known for strong bass. The ZYX Airy 3 has bass that goes low and it's more tuneful than most and excellent on big classical. I'm sure there are others that might satisfy.
My rambling thoughts...