[Hantra]

All:

I got a Sumiko Blue Point with the table I bought, and it sounds good, but I am not sure how to tell if it is a good cartridge.  The guy I bought it from really didn't know how many hours were on it.  

So, how can I tell?  What are the telltale signs that it needs to be replaced?

Does a cartridge need to be replaced, or is a retip sufficient?

Thanks,

B

[mamsterla]

The best way to  tell is to bring the cartridge to a dealer with a stereoscopic microscope.  They examine the shape of the tip to see if it is regular or has chips, etc.  The tip needs to be changed if there are cracks or chips.  Another issue with age is if the elastomer from the suspension is tired and if it looks like the cantilever is suspended correctly.

Hope that helps...