tablejockey brings up a very interesting point. Why is a multi kilobuck cartridge using a cheap aluminum cantilever? One could ask another question, what does one really get for one’s money when you buy a multi kilobuck cartridge? I don’t believe that the sum of the parts of any of the cartridges one could name will add to but a mere fraction of the price asked.
The answer probably lies in the expected number of sales, (which is in many cases to be counted on possibly one hand), the cost of distributing the cartridge and the number of ’middle men’ involved in the endeavor. We then add on the typical costs of doing business, ( rent, salaries, taxes etc) and maybe we can begin to see why some of these minimally produced high end cartridges cost what they do. ( Aluminum cantilever or whatever!)
So long as there is even a minimal market for products like this, manufacturer’s will not give a second thought to using whatever part they think will work...at a price savings to them. Which IMHO solely explains the use of a aluminum cantilever on a multi-kilobuck cartridge.
The answer probably lies in the expected number of sales, (which is in many cases to be counted on possibly one hand), the cost of distributing the cartridge and the number of ’middle men’ involved in the endeavor. We then add on the typical costs of doing business, ( rent, salaries, taxes etc) and maybe we can begin to see why some of these minimally produced high end cartridges cost what they do. ( Aluminum cantilever or whatever!)
So long as there is even a minimal market for products like this, manufacturer’s will not give a second thought to using whatever part they think will work...at a price savings to them. Which IMHO solely explains the use of a aluminum cantilever on a multi-kilobuck cartridge.