[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!

[James Romeyn]

Interesting question.  Sorry, I don't know the answer.  Why do you suspect that may be the case?

IIRC NOS Panasonic Sg cartridges may be for sale.  Couple years ago NOS replacement needles were available.  You could always find used old cartridge bodies.  I may have extra cartridge bodies. 

I have relatively easy DIY recipe for Sg demodulator employing IC.  Bad news is the IC is discontinued.  Good news is replacement should be available. 

IMO no MM nor MC phono preamp < about $10k msrp can touch the old Panasonic Sg cartridge and demodulator.  For comparison I owned Curl's legendary Vendetta SCP-2 MC stage (fixed line output, C version IIRC) and regularly audition the world's best at CES.  (Must admit the 2011 CES room where played a $250k German TT, $250k Lamm 35W mono blocks with outboard PS, and Wilson Alexandria sounded, well, great, except for the negative bass qualities common to full-range single-column loudspeaker architecture...the Lamm guy was stuffy but the TT guy and his wife were incredibly gracious...no Wilson representatives in the room at that time.)  I'm intrigued by the RIAA stage that applies RIAA EQ in HR digital domain, with both analog and digital outputs...also, since auditioning Aesthetix mono blocks driving Vandersteen 5A Carbon I'm huge Aesthetix fan and might place Jim's hybrid amps and phono atop the "affordable" high end heap...Aesthetix vs. TRL Ncore 600W is a slug fest I'd not want to miss.

Anyway...I'll offer my Sg demodulator schematic free if recipient agrees in writing to complete the box within 60 days of receipt and ship me the completed Sg box for brief AB test with my modded Panasonic Sg demodulator.  The circuit is incredibly simple.  I'll pay all shipping/insurance and return ship within one business day.

There are good reasons for the comments usually associated with Soundsmith's Sg technology.  Unfortunately I forgot the details, but RIAA EQ for Sg has huge inherent advantage over all MM/MC architecture.         

[plaf26]

Thanks for the offer, James, but my work schedule and skill set won't allow me to commit.  Intriguing tho.

As far as where the question came from, I guess it occurred to me when I read about the insides of the Soundsmith.  The old piezo carts acted as generators, strain guage act as variable resistors, but both seem to be constructed out of the same materials, just wired into the preamp circuit differently.  I was looking for a "cheap and cheerful" alternative to the Soundsmith, but I guess that's a different circle    I was not aware of the Panasonic efforts of the past, so I may do some exploring along those lines.  Thanks for the tip.