[plaf26]

Dumb question  :  Am new to this circle, so stop me if this has been brought up before.  Have been reading about the Soundsmith Strain Guage cartridge.  Why couldn't you take any old crystal or ceramic piezo cartridge (Sonotone, Ronette, Astatic, etc.) apply a small phantom voltage to it, and turn it into a strain guage?  You'd have the advantage of a turnover microgroove/78 needle into the bargain! 

[stonedeaf]

ceramic and strain gauge aren't the same thing. not a workable idea.

[plaf26]

I'm trying to figure out why not?  They both employ pieces of crystal or ceramic flexed by the motion of the needle.  In one case they act as signal generators; in the other as variable resistors.  What keeps them from being interchangeable?  Just askin'.