Will fine tune adjustments with protractor help with "brightness?"

ericsch, If you've got both the Mint protractor and the alignment gauge supplied by Technics, perhaps you can determine whether they both result in identical mm of stylus overhang.  That might settle the issue regarding what alignment algorithm is being used and preferred by Technics.  Or at least it would tell us whether Technics favors Stevenson, assuming that Yip does.

Knollbrent,
  There are probably hundreds of LPs that were created for testing and setting up audio systems. Many of them were made and marketed by Shure, the cartridge company.  Audio Teknika also made several.  I wouldn’t really know where to begin in order to tell you what you should seek. Stereophile made a series of at least five CDs that provide for testing of vocal reproduction, but that’s on CD. One of the best test LPs made in recent decades is the Cardas test LP, but that one doesn’t have human voice.

One thing I learned as a physician, even though I spent most of my professional life doing research, is to listen carefully to the patient's description of his illness.  In this case, the OP is telling us that the character of the sound changes from bright to less bright, over the course of playing a single LP, from outer grooves to inner grooves.  To me, that does not sound like a problem that is primary to the cartridge. Albeit, some other cartridge might be more or less prone to produce the same phenomenon in the OP's current set-up. But first, I would look at alignment.

 Because the character of the sound changes as the cartridge moves from outer to inner grooves, it is reasonable to think that his issue might be ameliorated if he uses a different alignment from that recommended by the factory. However, I also do think it’s reasonable to expect better sound from a better cartridge. An alignment  protractor like the Feickert which offers several options might help matters in this case. Don’t use the Stevenson option.