[nnck]

Just a general question for people with a lot of experience with multiple cartridges. I want to replace my old cartridge with something different so I looking around for ideas. I have been leary of most used cartridges I see listed as I'm afraid they could be worn-out or misrepresented, and many times the owners simply dont know how many hours are on them. But if I find a used cartridge that has just been professionally re-tipped by someone like Soundsmith, can I assume this cartridge is as good as new, or at least reasonably close? Isn't the tip the main thing to worry about for wear and tear on these?

Thanks in advance.

[Ericus Rex]

I've done what you're considering several times.  So long as the cartridge is professionally done you are ending up with a brand new cartridge for a fraction of the price.  Now, it likely won't sound exactly the same as a brand new cartridge from the company as your not replacing the cantilever and/or stylus with the exact original.  But that doesn't mean it will sound worse.  They are likely to sound even better than the originals.  I have not experienced one to sound awful after doing this.

[simoon]

When done by Soundsmith, they can be better.

Take a cartridge that originally came with an aluminum or boron cantilever, have it retipped with ruby and a line contact tylus, and you have better than new. As long as the body is in good shape.

[MtnHam]

 I own a Dynavector XV1-S. About 18 months ago, when it had been used approximately 200 hours, I  discovered it had been tweaked; the cantilever was way off center to the left, and it sounded terrible.  I don't know what happened. The cleaning lady? I was so bummed, I didn't do anything for a long while. Finally, I put my older Koetsu Black back into service and considered my options. Ultimately, I sent it off to Soundsmith. $350 and a month later, I had it back. It's wonderful! The same? Not sure, but it delivers great pleasure- I think everything I loved about it originally is there.

[neobop]

You need to be specific.  Retipping actually means replacing the needle only and you're contemplating needle + cantilever?

Sometimes the suspension collapses.  Likelihood depends on the cartridge. 

If you're changing tip and cantilever, what was the original?  What cart?  It often works out, sometimes an improvement, but not always.  Soundsmith will give good advice, they won't try to "sell" you something you don't need.  It's always a good idea to find out about others with the same cart.

neo

[nnck]

Sorry neobop. I'm not being specific on purpose. I was trying to be very general. Let me explain more my intentions:

I am specifically talking about when I see cartridges for sale in the used market. Most of the used carts I see for sale give me some pause - not sure how worn out they are, not sure if they are being mis-represented, etc. But I occasionally run across one that is used but has just come back from a soundsmith retip (usually, this seems to mean both the cantilever + stylus are replaced). The gist of my question is really if I should consider these carts with a SS retip to be almost good as new, or if I still had reason to be concerned.

[neobop]

Don't mean to be evasive, but the devil lies in the details. 
It's good to have a skeptical outlook about used carts, especially if buying on the auction site.  If a cart really did just come back from SS, it's probably in very good condition.  If there's a problem with a cart, SS sends it back without retip or rebuild. 

If a rebuild (cantilever + tip) is performed, it's often a change from the original.  A ruby cantilever might be "better" than an original aluminum one, but a cart is voiced with the original and switching type will change performance.  Usually it's an improvement, but sometimes it might be a matter of opinion.  If the original is boron, trying to figure the change might be tricky.
That's why I was asking about specifics.  I don't think you have to worry about condition of a cart just back from SS. 

On another thread you asked how delicate ruby cantilever is.  All exotic cantilevers are delicate and a SS ruby is no exception.  They are extremely thin rods made from a single ruby crystal, so it tends to break rather than bend.  These replacement cantilevers have the tips pre-mounted  in the factory (prob Japanese) and they're grafted onto the stump of the original cantilever.  Sometimes the SRA is different than original and user must compensate.  All in all, it's often an improvement or restores orig performance, but it's good to learn from others experience with specific carts.
neo

[roscoeiii]

And let's be sure to distinguish clearly between rebuild (new cantilever and maybe suspension repair) and retip (new tip only). Soundsmith offers both services. And may recommend one over the other. IIRC a retip was recommended for my ZYX 4D, which has a boron cantilever.

As said before, very cart specific. Talk to Soundsmith to get recs on the specific cart you are interested in. Of course if the cantilever is damaged, a rebuild is the only way to go.

[orthobiz]

My other passion is 914 Porsches. I'm always wary of a car for sale that has "fresh paint." I don't know the ins and outs of what can go wrong with a cart that may have been abused.

So I'd stick with a seller who has a good reputation here or on another board. For instance, if I had one for sale (and I don't) you could buy with confidence!

Otherwise, it's that caveat emptor thing.

Paul