Replacing Stylus

[Squishman]

Tomorrow, a replacement stylus for my Ortofon Blue arrives. I guesstimate I have 600+ hours on the original. It still sounds very good. They'll supposedly go 800-1000 hours. When the new one arrives, do you think a good idea might be to play a track and listen closely, then immediately change to the new one and play the same track again. If I cannot detect any difference, put the original back in for another 100 or so hours? And then do that again until I get closer to 1000 hours? Or would that be too much wear and tear on the records? Is it only wear and tear if you can audibly hear that? I am kind of frugal that way I guess. I get the last drop from a tube of toothpaste, even though you can buy a tube for a couple bucks. Not sure if that's frugality. A guy on the radio (Joe Soucheray, if you are familiar) calls that "a last-dropper", which apparently is what I am.

 

[Mikado463]

you have the new one bought and arriving soon, install, pour a beverage sit back and enjoy. Put your old one in the rear view mirror ...........

 

[BFreidah]

A pocket microscope is handy in these situations in order to make a visual, not audible comparison.

 

[Squishman]

A pocket microscope is handy in these situations in order to make a visual, not audible comparison.

I do have one. I'll see what I can see.

 

[lovinthehd]

Yeah I'd go with a microscope rather than ears.

 

[Squishman]

I was able to view it with my pocket microscope. Thx for that great idea @BFreidah. I don't have a removable headshell, so I removed the stylus to get a good look. I did look it up on the google machine what a worn stylist would look like. This seems to have chisel characteristics unfortunately. I'll look at the new one to compare since I am no expert at interpreting what I am seeing.

 

[TLS Guy]

I was able to view it with my pocket microscope. Thx for that great idea @BFreidah. I don't have a removable headshell, so I removed the stylus to get a good look. I did look it up on the google machine what a worn stylist would look like. This seems to have chisel characteristics unfortunately. I'll look at the new one to compare since I am no expert at interpreting what I am seeing.

A good quality Stylus like the one on your Ortofon should last 2000 hours and not 800.

 

[lovinthehd]

Ortofon's take https://ortofon.com/blogs/news/when-to-replace-the-stylus-of-your-phono-cartridge

You been doing any scratching, Squishman?

 

[Squishman]

Ortofon's take https://ortofon.com/blogs/news/when-to-replace-the-stylus-of-your-phono-cartridge

You been doing any scratching, Squishman?

ha

 

[highfigh]

Tomorrow, a replacement stylus for my Ortofon Blue arrives. I guesstimate I have 600+ hours on the original. It still sounds very good. They'll supposedly go 800-1000 hours. When the new one arrives, do you think a good idea might be to play a track and listen closely, then immediately change to the new one and play the same track again. If I cannot detect any difference, put the original back in for another 100 or so hours? And then do that again until I get closer to 1000 hours? Or would that be too much wear and tear on the records? Is it only wear and tear if you can audibly hear that? I am kind of frugal that way I guess. I get the last drop from a tube of toothpaste, even though you can buy a tube for a couple bucks. Not sure if that's frugality. A guy on the radio (Joe Soucheray, if you are familiar) calls that "a last-dropper", which apparently is what I am.

600-1000 hours can be OK if the vinyl is extremely clean. I thought my stylus would have been badly worn but didn't have a microscope, so I stopped using my turntable and the stylus isn't removable. Eventually, I found a B&O turntable at Goodwill that I decided to clean up and flip, but the stylus tip was gone. Later that day, I decided to check another GW location to see if my luck would let me find something else that was useful. As I drove to that area (on the way to my next destination), I thought "It sure would be good to find another turntable" and after seeing none, I turned to leave and found a microscope on top of a cart at the end cap. Best $13 I have spent. I checked the stylus on my cartridge and it wasn't worn although I never logged the time of use.

Maybe someone in your area has a microscope (audio stores had them before CDs).

 

[highfigh]

Ortofon's take https://ortofon.com/blogs/news/when-to-replace-the-stylus-of-your-phono-cartridge

You been doing any scratching, Squishman?

Grand Master Squish?

 

[Squishman]

600-1000 hours can be OK if the vinyl is extremely clean. I thought my stylus would have been badly worn but didn't have a microscope, so I stopped using my turntable and the stylus isn't removable. Eventually, I found a B&O turntable at Goodwill that I decided to clean up and flip, but the stylus tip was gone. Later that day, I decided to check another GW location to see if my luck would let me find something else that was useful. As I drove to that area (on the way to my next destination), I thought "It sure would be good to find another turntable" and after seeing none, I turned to leave and found a microscope on top of a cart at the end cap. Best $13 I have spent. I checked the stylus on my cartridge and it wasn't worn although I never logged the time of use.

Maybe someone in your area has a microscope (audio stores had them before CDs).

I have a 40x pocket microscope. It's basically for coin collecting. I'll be comparing with the new one when it comes today but the current one is sharp and I understand if there was any significant wear it would be fairly blunted I think. What TLS guy said is very encouraging.

 

[highfigh]

I have a 40x pocket microscope. It's basically for coin collecting. I'll be comparing with the new one when it comes today but the current one is sharp and I understand if there was any significant wear it would be fairly blunted I think. What TLS guy said is very encouraging.

They don't become blunt, the contact points where it rides on the groove wear and become flat, as the photo shows.

 

[TLS Guy]

600-1000 hours can be OK if the vinyl is extremely clean. I thought my stylus would have been badly worn but didn't have a microscope, so I stopped using my turntable and the stylus isn't removable. Eventually, I found a B&O turntable at Goodwill that I decided to clean up and flip, but the stylus tip was gone. Later that day, I decided to check another GW location to see if my luck would let me find something else that was useful. As I drove to that area (on the way to my next destination), I thought "It sure would be good to find another turntable" and after seeing none, I turned to leave and found a microscope on top of a cart at the end cap. Best $13 I have spent. I checked the stylus on my cartridge and it wasn't worn although I never logged the time of use.

Maybe someone in your area has a microscope (audio stores had them before CDs).

I have two, and one is an operating microscope which is ideal for looking at styli

 

[Squishman]

So they both look the same. I put the new one in. And the original will be a back-up years down the road! Thx for the help!
Right now, I am recording my new Mofi Santana album.

 

[highfigh]

I have two, and one is an operating microscope which is ideal for looking at styli

The one we had at the stereo store was nothing special, but it magnified sufficiently to see the tip well. I was amazed to find the one I bought- Uses batteries and both lights worked, as well as the dimmer.

One of the reasons I don't like the fact that most of the better B&M stereo & AV stores have closed is that people who still use their turntable can't take a cartridge in and find out if it's still in good condition. Another problem is that almost nobody knows how to adjust the position of the cartridge, nor do they understand anything about it. Go to Best Buy for this? Not a chance!

 

[Squishman]

The one we had at the stereo store was nothing special, but it magnified sufficiently to see the tip well. I was amazed to find the one I bought- Uses batteries and both lights worked, as well as the dimmer.

One of the reasons I don't like the fact that most of the better B&M stereo & AV stores have closed is that people who still use their turntable can't take a cartridge in and find out if it's still in good condition. Another problem is that almost nobody knows how to adjust the position of the cartridge, nor do they understand anything about it. Go to Best Buy for this? Not a chance!

That reminds me that back in the '60s, convenience stores had a tube tester and basically any given tube you might need.

 

[Mikado463]

That reminds me that back in the '60s, convenience stores had a tube tester and basically any given tube you might need.

I don't remember many 'convenience' stores back then but the Rexall drug store for sure had them, the vertical / horizontal hold was always the first to go

 

[Squishman]

I don't remember many 'convenience' stores back then but the Rexall drug store for sure had them, the vertical / horizontal hold was always the first to go

Of course you're right about them being in drug stores. Convenience stores were probably not real common but we did have one. I remember Eight Days a Week by The Beatles was playing on the radio at the time and a huge candy bar was 5 cents. I remember the name of the candy bar was called "Big Time".

 

[lovinthehd]

Not a lot of difference between a drug store and a convenience store outside of the pharmacy part all too often. I do remember going with my grandfather to go test tubes...and think his favorite was indeed in a drug store.