Sometimes we get lucky

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jdjohn
jdjohn Posts: 3,001
in 2 Channel Audio
Sometimes we get lucky buying aftermarket online, and receive an item that is better than what was expected. That happened to me today. I recently bought a GAS Sleeping Beauty MC cartridge, and received it today. There was no designation in the ad as to which version of the GAS-SB was being sold, but it did indicate minor usage...considered NOS. I took a chance on it, and am very pleased now after examining the stylus under a microscope.

Here are pics of the front, side, and bottom.
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If I am not mistaken, this is a Beryllium cantilever with nude Shibata stylus B) If so, that would make this model the 'GAS Sleeping Beauty B'. This cartridge was made by Coral, and is the equivalent of a Coral 777 - a fairly highly regarded MC cart.

I have a cousin of this cartridge as well, the Coral MC-8. Some small family photos:
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My particular Coral MC-8 passed through the hands of my friend Dmitry over here on VE:
https://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=11431&hilit=coral+mc+8&start=3971
He takes some really beautiful pics. Check out those stylus pics near the bottom of the page. I purchased the cart from yet another comrade in vinyl, also living in Vladivostok.

I love the sound of the Coral MC-8, and will soon be able to listen to the Sleeping Beauty. I'll give her a kiss before playing :D
Okay, pictures are done...time to listen :D
"This may not matter to you, but it does to me for various reasons, many of them illogical or irrational, but the vinyl hobby is not really logical or rational..." - member on Vinyl Engine
"Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the time, I do what I have to." - Cicero, in Gladiator
Regarding collectibles: "It's not who gets it. It's who gets stuck with it." - Jimmy Fallon
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  • jdjohn
    jdjohn Posts: 3,001
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    As usual, all good things must come to an end. The suspension is shot on my Sleeping Beauty :( Time for a repair.
    "This may not matter to you, but it does to me for various reasons, many of them illogical or irrational, but the vinyl hobby is not really logical or rational..." - member on Vinyl Engine
    "Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the time, I do what I have to." - Cicero, in Gladiator
    Regarding collectibles: "It's not who gets it. It's who gets stuck with it." - Jimmy Fallon
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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 10,871
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    Here's proof!!

    https://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/187089/congratulations-russ#latest


    ;)
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  • verb
    verb Posts: 10,176
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    Interesting thread, but I must admit I'm way out of my league here. Cool pics, BTW. Question - How do you repair the suspension? :smile:
    Basement: Polk SDA SRS 1.2tl's, Cary SLP-05 Pre with ultimate upgrade,McIntosh MCD301 CD/SACD player, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Cambridge 851N streamer, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Silnote Morpheus Ref2, Series2 Digital Cables, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Series2 XLR's, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,095
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    verb wrote: »
    Question - How do you repair the suspension? :smile:

    KYB or Monroe Sensatracs would be on the list. Stay away from lowering kits at this point.

    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 9,981
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    I have a Coral 777, rebranded by S.A.E. I had Soundsmith do a level 3 retip. Those Coral 777 are Fantastic cartridges.
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  • jdjohn
    jdjohn Posts: 3,001
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    verb wrote: »
    Interesting thread, but I must admit I'm way out of my league here. Cool pics, BTW. Question - How do you repair the suspension? :smile:
    Send it off to an expert :) The stylus, cantilever, coils, and suspension wire have to be removed. It looks like this:
    q8rfs12xqk6z.jpg
    I think in mine, the black rubber damper behind the coils has deteriorated or turned to goo, so needs to be replaced. I'm sure the repairer will check the suspension wire behind that as well.
    "This may not matter to you, but it does to me for various reasons, many of them illogical or irrational, but the vinyl hobby is not really logical or rational..." - member on Vinyl Engine
    "Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the time, I do what I have to." - Cicero, in Gladiator
    Regarding collectibles: "It's not who gets it. It's who gets stuck with it." - Jimmy Fallon
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  • jdjohn
    jdjohn Posts: 3,001
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    dromunds wrote: »
    I have a Coral 777, rebranded by S.A.E. I had Soundsmith do a level 3 retip. Those Coral 777 are Fantastic cartridges.
    The Adcom XC series are also Coral 777, but I think they are all HOMC.
    "This may not matter to you, but it does to me for various reasons, many of them illogical or irrational, but the vinyl hobby is not really logical or rational..." - member on Vinyl Engine
    "Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the time, I do what I have to." - Cicero, in Gladiator
    Regarding collectibles: "It's not who gets it. It's who gets stuck with it." - Jimmy Fallon
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter