Stanton cartridges: available but no longer manufactured

[GP49]

Last week I sent an E-mail inquiry to Gibson Guitars, parent company of Stanton Magnetics, to whom customer contacts about
Stanton products are now directed. The message concerned availability of three specific Stanton models which have been reported
as "not available" by certain Stanton dealers:

I've noticed that from several online dealers, certain Stanton cartridges are no longer available, while they do appear on the
Stanton website.

The ones I was concerned about: the 681EEE Mk III, L720EE and 500V.3

Is this due to limited availability at those dealers, or are they no longer available from Stanton itself?

Their reply was:

Gene,

We no longer manufacture cartridges but, we do have stock of the three that you are interested in so any dealer can order them from us.

Gibson Customer Service
1-800-4GIBSON
service@gibson.com

So it would appear that these Stanton cartridges are indeed still available and can be ordered, contrary to what these dealers are saying; but that
all Stanton cartridges currently being catalogued and sold are existing stocks subject to depletion and no longer to be manufactured.

If you want one, get it now.

[lynnot]

And another one bites the dust ....

[bauzace50]

Hi,
Iam extremely sorry to see Stanton models bite the dust. It is probably due to low sales volume for the models which are being discontinued. Too bad.

Regards,
b50

[Coffee Phil]

This is very sad news for us who are into old records. While I myself don't have a Stanton cartridge, knowing that should I need a stylus from Expert Stylus for some historic record I may acquire I could buy the Stanton and be good to go. I am inclined to buy a Stanton 500 now just to have one but I wonder if Expert Stylus will continue to make styli for an orphan cartridge.

Phil

[oldgarrards]

This is very sad news for us who are into old records. While I myself don't have a Stanton cartridge, knowing that should I need a stylus from Expert Stylus for some historic record I may acquire I could buy the Stanton and be good to go. I am inclined to buy a Stanton 500 now just to have one but I wonder if Expert Stylus will continue to make styli for an orphan cartridge.

Phil

After finding out that Stanton is discontinuing the manufacture of all cartridges, I went on eBay and found a lot of brand new Stanton 500V.3's for sale which I'm going to keep for spares. I bought two of them for $68 including shipping. I also purchased a 680E.V3 on eBay for $59 including shipping to also keep on hand as a spare to my Pickering 625DJ and Stanton 681eee. I also purchased an extra 78 stylus for the Stanton 500s.

When the 681eee MKIII was discontinued last fall, I stocked up on enough genuine Stanton and Pickering styluses to last me for many many years.

I just hope Shure doesn't drop their line of cartridges. I have a Shure M97Xe that I'm not exactly thrilled with that I replaced with the Stanton 681eee Mk III several years ago. I'm going to hang on to it just in case I ever need a cartridge and can't get another Pickering/Stanton.

[Coffee Phil]

The price of the Stanton cartridge doesn't scare me but the Expert Stylus offerings are north of $100. As an old retired guy I can't afford the whole Expert Stylus arsenal at one time. I may look on eBay for a Stanton 500 just so I have access to the Expert Stylus offerings should I need one.

For many years my 78 cartridge has been a Shure M44C with an N44-3 stylus. I have been happy with it. If I find that Expert Stylus has an assortment of styli for it I may forget about the Stanton.

Phil

[Coffee Phil]

Is a Stanton 500 pretty much a Stanton 500? I found an old one pretty cheap. The stylus assembly has less plastic on it but I'm wondering if the body is the same.
Specifically I want to know if it will accept the vintage record styli which are offered by Expert Stylus.

Phil

[bauzace50]

Hi,
the cartridge body is the exact same on all Stanton 500, to include identical coils, too. The plastic grip for the intended "500" styli come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and all fit correctly.

I did not know that Expert Stylus offer a variety of "500"styli, and such an offering is not typical of them. Are you really referring to http://www.Pickeringuk.com ? They are different companies.
Regards,
b50

[Coffee Phil]

Hi Bauzace50,

Thanks. With that info, I think I'll go for it. If Expert quits making the Styli I'll only be out about $12 for the old cartridge.

The Pickering site is not the one which I knew. They did not mention Expert. Could it be that their styli are OEM?

Expert Stylus is sold by KAB. They make styli ranging from 1 mill to 4 mill for the Stanton 400 / 500. They are selling the Stanton 400 body for $20 so if I don't win the old 500 which I'm watching I guess I won't be devastated. Here is a link: http://www.kabusa.com/frameset.htm?/

Phil

Hi,
the cartridge body is the exact same on all Stanton 500, to include identical coils, too. The plastic grip for the intended "500" styli come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and all fit correctly.

I did not know that Expert Stylus offer a variety of "500"styli, and such an offering is not typical of them. Are you really referring to http://www.Pickeringuk.com ? They are different companies.
Regards,
b50

[oldgarrards]

Hi,
the cartridge body is the exact same on all Stanton 500, to include identical coils, too. The plastic grip for the intended "500" styli come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and all fit correctly.

I did not know that Expert Stylus offer a variety of "500"styli, and such an offering is not typical of them. Are you really referring to http://www.Pickeringuk.com ? They are different companies.
Regards,
b50

[/quote]

The styluses offered by Pickering UK are genuine Pickering products. They will also fit the Stanton line of cartridges. The Pickering V15 stylus will fit the Stanton 500 cartridges. The Pickering XV15 stylus will fit the Stanton 680 and 681 cartridges.

I have used a Pickering stylus on a Stanton 500 body and a Stanton stylus on a Pickering V15/AT2 body and they both sound great. I have a Stanton 681eee MK III and purchased the Pickering 625E stylus. I haven't tried it yet, but I'm confident it will sound similar if not the same as the OEM stylus in my 681eee.

I'm not sold on generic stylus. A friend on mine purchased a generic 78 stylus for his Stanton 400. He wasn't happy with the sound. I gave him a gently used Stanton D5127 stylus for 78s and we both could hear the difference.

I like the old Pickering trademark.... "For those who can hear the difference." How true.

It's a sad day that these fine line of cartridges are no longer being made.

[bauzace50]

Hi,
the example of my "Dream 500" is the "Red Devil" which was one-of-a-kind built by none other than our own Blue Angel.

That one had a low-mass cantilever, Fritz-Gyger diamond, and low-mass magnet, in a suspension which fit the application. I don't see Stanton coming up with anything close to those specs because the market would probably not purchase sufficient numbers to make it profitable. It is now a single-unit specialist niche Too bad. Stanton seem to be reinventing themselves to survive a changing market.

Regards,
bauzace50

[GibsonGuy]

Hi,

I'm with the Customer Service team at Gibson, I apologize for the misinformation in the response that you received. Do note that Stanton is still making the cartridges below, these can be ordered through any authorized dealer;

500V3
CARTRIDGE INDUSTRY STANDARD

680V3MP4
CARTRIDGE 2PK 680V3/H4S/CASE

DISCV3
CARTRIDGE DISCMASTER

GROOVEV3MP4
CARTRIDGE 2PK GROOVEMASTER

[Ldg]

Very welcome news ! It's one way of making people stock up.........not necessarily a very good way.......

But thanks for putting it straight, and personally I hope they continue and expand in production into the future.

[bauzace50]

Hi,

and this brings to mind the sense of risk the manufacturer probably feels when deciding to tool up and order a large batch of cantilevers with diamond tips, plus specialised coil wires, and dedicated damping/suspension material to withstand years of service or storage without component failure. And the return on that investment depends on the market's response. With the prospect of a change in fashion , and the responsibility for paying wages, maintaining an OSHA-compliant working environment, funding employees medical and retirement plans, and keeping an inventory of spare parts, and servicing facilities with personnel.
It is the territory of manufacturers.
Regards,
b50

PS: and all that precariously balanced structure can fall on the basis of one customer's hastily worded adverse opinion.