Stylus and Cantilever Cleaning - DAP Blue Stik


I recently had a good cartridge rebuilt by Soundsmith.  Their documentation included how to clean the stylus and cantilever using a material known as "Blue Stik."  The use of any adhesive on these delicate motor parts was terrifying, but I had to trust Soundsmith on their recommendation.

I tested the material precisely as described by Soundsmith.  The cantilever was not torn away from the cartridge, the stylus remained in place.  The "before and after" results indicated that the cleaning wa successful.  

I bought an extra package of the material and took it to the home of a high-end equipment manufacturer (a skeptic) to test on his reference table / cartridge.  I promised to replace his cartridge if anything went wrong.  Using the opening tracks on "Empire of the Sun" as a "before and after" reference we used the Blue Stik on a coin to clean his stylus and cantilever.  There as a dark color deposited on the Blue Stik wad from the stylus.  The difference between before the cleaning and after was immediate and obvious.  There was significant improvement.

I can't speak for EVERY cartridge, cantilever and stylus, but on the Soundsmith rebuilt cartridge and the [sorry, I am sworn to secrecy] reference cartridge, the Blue Stik did a masterful and clearly audible job of stylus and cantilever cleaning.    


bpoletti

Showing 1 response by jperry

The test with your friend proved the most important point, which is:

You need to regularly clean the stylus on your cartridge if you want good sound from records.