KLUDGE@AGCB1.LARC.NASA.GOV (12/19/90)
Two more: The Sumiko Blue Point cartridge is rather dry for my taste. Make sure you audition it before purchasing. It's a good buy for the money if you like that sound, though personally I much preferred the $20 Grado. Eventually I went out and bought an Adcom high output MC cartridge for about $140 (what really clinched it is that I got the guy to throw in a $20 Grado along with it, for a Christmas gift). It's a lot more liquid overall. When the thing finally gets broken in I will make a full report. Either Lyle Cartridges in NY (they advertise in the back of Audio magazine) or Needle in a Haystack Corp. sells steel needles for vintage gramophones. Good quality rolled chrome steel from Czechoslovakia. They both have 1-800 numbers and they are both very reputable firms. Of course, you should be careful never to use a steel needle for more than one side, and never to attempt sharpening it. Which is why you should probably have a lot on hand. --scott