I have a bent cantilever on my Zu DL-103 which is my backup cartridge. I was either going to send it to Soundsmith or buy a new one from Zu. What do y'all think?
Soundsmith is a Denon dealer and does extensive modifications to them. If you just want a new alum cantilever, you can get a tapered one with a nude elliptical (an upgrade IMO) for $150. If you want a ruby/LC or OCLC (micro type), they're 250 and 350 respectively. Soundsmith does nice work. He put a new OCLC tip on my Genesis 1000. Because that one has a boron tube cantilever, he just changed the tip.
http://www.sound-smith.com/denon/index.htmlI believe Soundsmith also rebuilds/repairs some carts, but it would probably depend on the cart and the problem. If someone needs a rebuild, carts can be sent to VDH. In the US, you have to go through a VDH dealer, or the distributor if no local dealer.
There's a new retipping service in Washington state. I've heard they do good work. You'll find their ad on US Audiomart in the cartridge classifieds.
I wouldn't characterize Peter Lederman's work as slapping on a generic cantilever. Maybe his selection of cantilevers/tips isn't extensive, but many 103 users have tried ruby cantilevers and are pleased with results. I don't really know if you'd trade off any musicality for the added resolution, but that's another question. A more rigid cantilever usually makes a hugh difference if it compliments the voicing of the cart. In this case I think it would be much more detailed and probably slightly more forward. If that doesn't appeal to you, maybe you should stick with aluminum.
neo