Sumiko Blackbird Soundsmith Rebuild Level?

Hello Peter, and thanks for your response.

I just received the SAE1000E that you did the level 2 rebuild upon. It sounds very, very nicely and I'm wondering if I should consider the level 3 with the Blackbird since it is a higher quality cartridge, from the accounts I've seen?

I did not know that you can do the boron cants. That might also seem to be a good option with the contact line stylus. I'll send you a message on your site to get the details....

Thanks to the others for providing insight, and regrets to Tablejockey....ouch! Or rather, I know just how that feels!

That is good to know Peter!

We can install Boron with ultra-low mass nude Contact Line. That should provide near undiscernable performance from the original, except with better inner groove performance. Althought it is not on our website, we do stock a large numebr of varied cantilever materials and nude styli.

Peter Ledermann/Soundsmith

I had a Blackbird rebuilt with the SS.
With the level 3, I found the cart nicer than it already is.

In my system,(tubed) the 'bird had a very detailed upper which at times, approached too much.

With the rebuild, seemed a tad smoother in a good way. Overall, worth the price and turn around was just over a month.

6 months later was a different story

Unfortunately, disaster struck again and I'm now considering a LO MC or a SS cart.

Anovak ... check some of the comments on the Andy Kim (Chong) thread I started some time back. Many folks have good things to say about Andy.

Try contacting Andy at www.phonocartridgeretipping.com.

He may be able to help you. I have used his services before, not for your specific problem though, and been very happy with his work and the pricing.

Thanks all, I wanted to get as close to the original as possible.

I called Sumiko who told me they can only offer $200 in a kind of trade-in program....they don't do rebuilds nor do they have a program where they might take in a damaged one and give you a better break on the new replacement. All the company does now is work with their "dealer network," which means that's where you get the $200 off but even at that, I'd be spending close to $2,000 ($1,100 + $900) by the time I'm done.... Anyone know of a service that uses the elipticals and boron?

I agree with Wntrmute2....let Soundsmith make the decision.

That is a tough one as the original has an elliptical stylus mounted on a boron cantilever. The SS ones are mounted on ruby and the $250 & $350 ones are line contact of one sort or another. Good stuff I'm sure but may sound different than stock. When I sent Peter mine with a bent cantilever he was able to straighten it; thereby passing through the horns of that dilemma. I'm listening to it as I type this. I was going to rely on his recommendations.