Worldwide List of Phono Cartridge Retippers and Rebuilders
We recently noticed a pretty useful and exciting list from our friends at Audio Nirvana. This list consists of the currently known cartridge retippers/rebuilders. It is an active and NOT a complete list and will be updated. We recommend you join the conversation on the Audio Nirvana Forum to stay up to date as the list continues to grow!
Expert Stylus Repair (Wyndham Hodgson) are UK based and offer complete rebuilds. Contrary to what ive read the lead times aren't too lengthy, I don't think I've waited more than 45-60 days from mailing my cart to the UK and having it back in the US of A. These are the guys to send your Linn Troika, classic Supex (Koetsu) and literally anything other cart retippers/rebuilders wont touch. Northwest Analogue are UK based and offer extensive rebuild services including rewinding coils, etc. I have not used them but heard one of their rebuilt Koetsus and it was excellent, the craftsmanship looked top-notch too. Andy Kim aka The Needle Clinic. Andy has repaired a Koetsu Rosewood (missing cantilever) and Linn Karma for me. Turnaround was quick and the price fair, both carts went on to new owners and are still running strong. Holistic is in the Netherlands and has a great rep, I don't have direct experience but another collector-friend I know has two carts done by them and loves the result. Peter Ledermann, best known and recommended retipper in the US. Peter is a fountain of knowledge on all things audio, id love to someday visit his lab and soak it all in. Steve Leung of VAS NOVA fame. see Bill Harts other post and review at The Vinyl Press Garrott Bros. are Australian based and also mfr MC carts. They're well known for modifying DECCA carts back in the day. I owned one of their modded carts but not used their rebuild/retip service AJ Van den Hul - his reputation precedes him, one of the best retippers. ive owned a retiped Koetsu, VdH and Benz carts that AJ did and they all performed as expected. Goldring is UK based and a well known mfr of MC and MM carts. They also repair/retip other makes. Ana Mighty is based in France and offer repair and retipping services. Len Gregory aka The Cartridgeman is in the UK, they have their own bespoke line of carts and offer retipping rservies. John Wright aka J. Wright Audio Services, UK based DECCA cartridge guru. Perhaps the first place to look to rebuild your DECCA Roberto Torlai is in Italy and a cartridge builder as well as re-builder, I never used him but his reputation is well established. JFS Tonabnehmer German based retipper, known for B&O carts but they work on all brands. West-tech are a US based rebuilders of vintage American carts. Jilco and Namiki are among a few suppliers of styli and cartridge components in Japan and aren't retippers per se, however I have a cart that was purportedly retipped by Namiki. Japanese cos. tend to be mercurial and not easy to establish a relationship with. even my ex who was fluent in Japanese got the brush off when she made inquiries on my behalf.
