Pickering XSV Owners - JICO vs LPGear vs LPTunes

[Globalksp]

I'm finally getting around to replacing the stylus for my Pickering XSV-3000. I don’t know what stylus came with it when I purchased it second hand, but has a bit of a blue stripe that resembles the Vivid Line.

From my research, the options seem to be the following:
1. $107 LP Gear's Vivid Line

https://www.lpgear.com/product/PICKSXSV3000.html

2. $178 JICO D-4500Q straight from Jico

https://www.jico-stylus.com/product/d4500q/

3. $79.95 "Stylus for Pickering XSV/3000 cartridge" from LP Tunes Apparently a JICO stylus, but which as it's not listed on JICO's site. Waiting for them to reply to my email asking as much.

https://lptunes.com/products/stylus-for-pickering-xsv-3000-cartridge?variant=32766136587

4. $79.95 LP Tunes replacement for Pickering D-4500Q D4500Q stylus Also apparently a JICO stylus, but again waiting for confirmation.

https://lptunes.com/products/lp-tun...ing-d-4500q-d4500q-stylus?variant=32766371851

If you have experience with any of these styli, please chime in!

Thanks!

 

[KentTeffeteller]

The VividLine is a good buy, and a nice performer. A note: Jico is distributed by LPTunes, LPGear is a sister company.

 

[knotscott]

I have a Vividline on an AT-3600L... it sounds really nice for an $80 stylus. Refined and very well behaved. The Pickering cart should be even better. If you could confirm that any of those choices have a nude shank, it'd be worth some extra, but otherwise I'm inclined to think they're all a bonded VL (shibata-like) profile.

 

[Globalksp]

Thanks for the input!

 

[Globalksp]

The VividLine is a good buy, and a nice performer. A note: Jico is distributed by LPTunes, LPGear is a sister company.

Noted! Thank you!

 

[Globalksp]

The VividLine is a good buy, and a nice performer. A note: Jico is distributed by LPTunes, LPGear is a sister company.

So is it safe to assume the styli listed on the LP branded sites are all JICO? I haven’t heard back from customer service whom I emailed last week.

 

[dosmalo]

If you do a search here on the board you’ll find at least a couple of dissenting opinions regarding the VividLine offering.
Of course the choice is ultimately up to you.

 

[Globalksp]

If you do a search here on the board you’ll find at least a couple of dissenting opinions regarding the VividLine offering.
Of course the choice is ultimately up to you.

Will do that search. Thanks.

 

[Globalksp]

I'm finally getting around to replacing the stylus for my Pickering XSV-3000. I don’t know what stylus came with it when I purchased it second hand, but has a bit of a blue stripe that resembles the Vivid Line.

From my research, the options seem to be the following:
1. $107 LP Gear's Vivid Line

https://www.lpgear.com/product/PICKSXSV3000.html

2. $178 JICO D-4500Q straight from Jico

https://www.jico-stylus.com/product/d4500q/

3. $79.95 "Stylus for Pickering XSV/3000 cartridge" from LP Tunes Apparently a JICO stylus, but which as it's not listed on JICO's site. Waiting for them to reply to my email asking as much.

https://lptunes.com/products/stylus-for-pickering-xsv-3000-cartridge?variant=32766136587

4. $79.95 LP Tunes replacement for Pickering D-4500Q D4500Q stylus Also apparently a JICO stylus, but again waiting for confirmation.

https://lptunes.com/products/lp-tun...ing-d-4500q-d4500q-stylus?variant=32766371851

Finally heard back from LP Tunes and here's what they had to say regarding the $79.95 "Stylus for Pickering XSV/3000 cartridge":

Question:
I'm shopping for a replacement stylus for my Pickering XSV-3000 cartridge and landed on this one:
https://lptunes.com/products/stylus-for-pickering-xsv-3000-cartridge?variant=32766136587
I can't seem to find any manufacturer information, but when I filter my search results, this stylus shows up in the JICO Needles/Stylus Collection. Assuming this means this is a JICO stylus, but wanted to write for confirmation before ordering.

Answer:
Thank you for reaching out to us. Yes, this specific stylus is manufactured by JICO. The tracking force would be the same as JICO's current specifications.

Follow Up Question:
Is it possible to confirm that the Pickering XSV-3000 replacement stylus from JICO is a Shibata style?

Follow Up Answer:
It appears that this specific stylus is a Vivid-Line replacement. We sincerely apologize for any confusion.

So yea... still confused.

Seems that the true JICO shibata style is only available direct from JICO?

 

[Globalksp]

The line contacts on the Jico styli whether sold by Jico or LPGear are not true Shibata in a sense, because they are more like the Stereohedron which is a “double,” Shibata. A “real” Shibata has a plow in the rear and a smooth polished face in front. The Stereohedron, ViVidline, Jico Shibata and some others have a plow on both the front and the rear. It has been speculated that this came about solely to sidestep the Shibata patent. Also, the Jico and ViVidline are all bonded as far as I am aware. The only nudes Jico deals with are Namiki Micro Ridge. Their Shibata are not, for example, nude Namiki Shibata III in other words.

I’m not 100% certain on this, but I have owned a number of Jico Shibata as well as LPGear ViVidline and have scoped them. I don’t see any difference between the two on the diamond end. I have not owned every model, certainly, but the ones I have owned were all the same.

Hey Blewpernt, really appreciate the response. Thanks for sharing your experiences and spelling it all out.