Wanted: Stylusless Ortofon Mc200u / Mc100u / Mcp200 / Mcp100

by **Japi Roelofs** » 17 Jun 2011 17:04

Edit: when I said 'needle' or 'stylus' I meant generator.
The MC type: stylus is integrated in generator
The Concorde / OM type: stylus slips on metal shank (= generator)

by **dlaloum** » 17 Jun 2011 17:13

Fanta-bloody-tastic!!! =D>

Will try this either tomorrow arvo (afternoon) or Sunday....

Woohooo Old OMB's turning into MC200U's.... $\:D/$

by **Japi Roelofs** » 17 Jun 2011 17:13

"Frankenstein"
Concorde 10 body with MC100 stylus

by **dlaloum** » 17 Jun 2011 17:21

Wonderful - I should be able to create either a p-mount or a 1/2" mount....

Thank You!

by **Japi Roelofs** » 17 Jun 2011 18:44

You're welcome!

Because the CC 10 body is so light, and I don't have the lighter counterweight or additional arm weight to balance it, I couldn't get it to track properly. I forced the needle down on the record with my hand to check if there was sound coming out of it. There was music for sure, but I can't say anything yet about the audio quality.

I'm very interested in your findings so please keep us posted!

cheers,
Japi

by **dlaloum** » 17 Jun 2011 19:06

I just tried with an OMP body (p-mount OM)

The metal covering the coils - the square tube bit, came off - leaving a set of distinctly naked looking coils...

Perhaps this is not viable for the p-mount version!!

Don't know whether I have damaged it or not.

As an aside the CC won't balance on my TT either, not without an alternate counterweight - luckily for me, the JVC QL-Y5F has the same diameter tube as the Technics SL1200 - and the standard SL1200 CW is 97g as opposed to my JVC CW's 110g - switching CW's allowed it to balance. - So there is hope for you - see if you can find an alternate CW...

Unfortunately the CC's shortest "overhang" position is still too long for the JVC (hence this thread) - so I got rid of my CC bodies....
All except the MC200...

Now I need to try the standard OM's - my experience with the OMP makes me a bit wary...

by **Japi Roelofs** » 17 Jun 2011 19:20

Hmm... let's hope you didn't damage it beyond repair.

Maybe, because the P-mount has the gold poles sticking out of the back, it has a different build altogether?
Good luck with the OM... Fingers crossed!

About balancing the Concorde; since I have (way too) many Ortofon cartridges (MC/CC/OM) I'm not going to worry about it... my TT is a Technics SL-1600MK2 which is definitely a keeper!

by **dlaloum** » 17 Jun 2011 19:21

Bad news - it appears that the OM body is a single piece...

They probably came up with the whole generator cartridge idea when they first brought out the concorde - and along with it the MC100 and MC200.

I wonder whether there were any others in the range at the time?

It appears I will have to keep searching for a non concorde MC100/200 body.

Basically it seems that the generator is the same, but with differing back plastic plug bits - in the p-mount the back is the p-mount socket itself, in the 1/2" it is the standard pins.

The concorde on the other hand has that cartridge fitting - as apparently did the MC100/200U/P.

An interesting investigation nevertheless!

Still seeking those cartridges!

by **Japi Roelofs** » 17 Jun 2011 19:28

Maybe you could try an LM body? They were manufactured around the same time as the old Concordes... but I can imagine you don't want to be destroying too many cartridges :shock:

BTW: did you get your MC200 from Speakerbits? I have been looking at those and was very tempted.

by **dlaloum** » 17 Jun 2011 19:44

good call...

I do have a broken LM...

(custom Dual mount version)

And it appears that the Dual version looks just like that Concorde generator cartridge, held in place by a clip...

Take a look at the pikkies here: http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showth ... p?t=319170

Also the add for NOS ULM at
http://www.williamthakker.eu/Dual-ULM-5 ... 239_x2.htm

How long is the CC generator cartridge? - these look to be longer than the MC cartridge - or is it my imagination...

by **dlaloum** » 17 Jun 2011 19:51

Yes it was from Speakerbits.... and I succumbed to temptation.... (they are within a 15min drive from my home)

The MC200 was after all a legendary cartridge....

by **Japi Roelofs** » 17 Jun 2011 20:32

Interesting... didn't even think of those Dual cartridges. Might be something...

I don't know about the length, I just put it back inside the body. Maybe 2 cm?

Speakerbits: I already had an MC200 but I was tempted to get another one just for a backup stylus. I figured this was a last chance to get it NOS. But as I said, I already have too many cartridges so I held myself back.

Well, I'm signing off; Cheap Trick are playing near my hometown tonight! Rock on!

cheers,
Japi

by **bogle111** » 19 Jun 2011 05:44

I may be a bit thick here, but I have an unused MC200U here still in original packaging with manual (It was given to me on a visit 20 plus years ago, didn't have the heart to say I was already using an MC30 ) and it definitely states that the stylus is non replaceable.

From what I can see, the "stylus" you are referring to is actually the complete "motor unit" with stylus. This would make manufacturing sense so that it would then just slide into the different body holders.

Would I be correct in this assumption? If you think it is that good I shall have to give it a try.

I also have an Ortofon Quasar and a Quattro but little is ever spoken of these models, which must have been a bit of a failed line for them.

by **dlaloum** » 19 Jun 2011 05:54

no it is a very middling cartridge - you wouldn't be intersted in getting rid of it would you?

It was 2nd in line to the MC2000

And considered by many to be a reference cartridge.

Yes the entire generator pulls out of the concorde integrated body, and the original instructions call it a "removeable stylus"

Take a look at my photos earlier in the thread as well as Japi's photos...

bye for now

David