Posted this on the TT thread but thought I would seek the help of fellow Mcaddicts if you don't mind.

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In his infinite wisdom, my father in law came up to me a while back and said " your record reached the end so I replaced the arm in its holder :yikes:

Rushing over to my tt, I saw the stylus bent some 30% to one side, no doubt due to some pressure being applied when moving the arm.:yes:

Can anyone advise me the best way to straighten out the stylus? It is a Grado Master Reference MI cartridge and the stylus I believe can not be replaced.:no:

I am worried it will snap. I guess it is not good for my LPs to play it in its current state?:scratch2:

Any help and step by step idiot diagrams would be most appreciated!:yes:

howie

you have my permission to kick your father in law in the groin :yes::yes::yes::D

you have my permission to kick your father in law in the groin :yes::yes::yes::D

He's in his late 70's and STILL doesn't know he did anything! :tears:

I hadn't the heart to tell him :no:

howie,

I feel for you.....and I probably would have done the same thing, now if it was one of my children probably a different story :) I am not sure what to tell you about the stylus maybe a call to grado and tell them your situation maybe they have an understanding customer service after all they put the stylus on their in the first place.

What's the deductable on your homeowner's insurance?

I feel for you Howie...
people can do stupid things sometimes...

anyways...
is the cantilever bented, or is it bent completely? (that the cantilever comes out of the pole bented?) if it's completely bent, you could try to nudge it back to it's original position VERY SOFTLY, don't try to grab the cantilever, just slightly nudge it...

this is a last resort of course. first ask him to refund the damage or ask grado wether they will replace it for free...

Good luck,
Bert.

Howie, contact Grado - bending cantilevers is not anything to play with and that's a TOTL cartridge.

Bottom of this page:
http://www.gradolabs.com/frameset_main.htm
All Reference series cartridges are 1/2" mount. 78 RPM styli are not available with the Reference series. All re-tipping on the Reference series will be done by Grado.

At least it can be re-tipped by Grado. :sigh:



Carl

Howie,

Sorry to hear that. I'll bet wife will not complain if you buy a replacement...

LN

Bottom of this page:
http://www.gradolabs.com/frameset_main.htm

At least it can be re-tipped by Grado.

If I were the OP I would be pleased to hear this, but does re-tipping really include a new cantilever?

Let's not dream: the shank of that stylus in it's current condition is shot. Unless somebody knows of a process to repair a broken egg in a practical fashion...?

:pity:

Really sorry to hear that Howie. I did it to a $400 cart a year or so ago and it's not a good feeling. I am not qualified to answer, but taking a pic and asking the guys at "Vinyl Asylum" would be worth your while.

The one thing I would NOT do is to play ANY records you like with the stylus in this state.

ForzaRoma

Ok thanks chaps. Looks like I should take a few photos, contact grado, vinyl asylum and say a few hail Marys all at the same time!:tears:

That means no vinyl for Christmas!!:tears::tears::tears:

He's in his late 70's and STILL doesn't know he did anything! :tears:

I hadn't the heart to tell him :no:

I've been thinking about this for a few days. If you haven't told your wife about this, you need to.

You need to find a gentle way to let your F-I-L know that he can't "help" you out like this in the future or he'll damage your 'record player' again. Your F-I-L is going to feel bad about this when he's told. Your wife may have some thoughts about how to best tell him, but I'm guessing that you don't want to make a big deal of this with him -at least that's my interpretation based on the fact that you "didn't have the heart to tell him."

Ok thanks chaps. Looks like I should take a few photos, contact grado, vinyl asylum and say a few hail Marys all at the same time!:tears:

That means no vinyl for Christmas!!:tears::tears::tears:

no spare lying around for situations like this??

I've been thinking about this for a few days. If you haven't told your wife about this, you need to.

You need to find a gentle way to let your F-I-L know that he can't "help" you out like this in the future or he'll damage your 'record player' again. Your F-I-L is going to feel bad about this when he's told. Your wife may have some thoughts about how to best tell him, but I'm guessing that you don't want to make a big deal of this with him -at least that's my interpretation based on the fact that you "didn't have the heart to tell him."

Well, FIL lives in another country so may be I can spare him the anguish completely. :scratch2:

no spare lying around for situations like this??

This was my first own TT and Cartridge :tears:

Now I have a great excuse to get a MC. Phono Amp or C500 or C1000 or.......:banana:

howiebrou...not making a fuss and all... you are a very nice guy and a credit/ reminder to everyone here... hoping you have the best of luck in 2008 family is thicker than stereo

howiebrou...not making a fuss and all... you are a very nice guy and a credit/ reminder to everyone here... hoping you have the best of luck in 2008 family is thicker than stereo

Thank you! Let's hope "blood is thicker than water" brings me a new cartridge! :naughty:

Btw, the stylus finally snapped off, so I have a very nice wooden boat!

If Grado cannot fix it Sound-Smith can re-build it with a new cantilever. It may even improve the sound. I had a Denon 103 rebuilt with a ruby cantilever. I completely broke off the original.

http://www.sound-smith.com/retip/

If Grado cannot fix it Sound-Smith can re-build it with a new cantilever. It may even improve the sound. I had a Denon 103 rebuilt with a ruby cantilever. I completely broke off the original.

http://www.sound-smith.com/retip/

Thanks. Have emailed them. :thmbsp:

I know Soundsmith has a long turn-around time. I would like to hear a report back on the sound after the repair. I love that Grado sound and wonder what a non-Grado cantilever and stylus do to the sound. Also it might track better.The ruby cantilever was an improvement over the stock Denon 103.