Peter,

A most interesting piece you contributed on “Cartridge Choice.”

As you may recall, I was having a terrible time with my MMC2/8002 concerning a very loud crunching noise that revealed itself in-between tracks. Also high end distortion.

The problem was a very dirty stylus and once addressed, in particular removing the debris right where the sapphire shaft meets the suspension, the noise went completely away.

This was accomplished using a 30X jeweler’s loupe, but that got me looking at my other cartridges. OMG, I have work to do!

My MMC6000 is extremely dirty and I was planning to clean it with an artist’s paint brush and rubbing alcohol.

Is there any better way to clean a dirty cartridge?

Jeff

In the old days, I used to take my cartridges to a manufacturing jeweller who had an ultrasonic bath.  To prevent damage from moving around, I inserted the cartridge into a mini plastic tube (like an IC tube), with netting over the tube ends.

That was one clean cartridge after the bath!

I haven't had that pleasure in the last couple of years, but then again, I use my BeoGram much less today, so the rate of dirt accumulation is much less.

Menahem

The thing you have to be careful of is to not let the cleaning fluid run up the cantiilever and get onto the rubber suspension. I mainly use a brush and check my cartridges under a microscope from time to time. I give the cartridge a brush before each play.

I had a cartridge with accumilated grime which was absolutely disgusting and had set like a hard bitumen. It was so bad that it wouldn't actually track at all, alcohol wouldn't touch it. I used some of my wifes jewellery cleaning solution on a fine paint brush and it came up like new. As Peter has already mentioned - you mustn't let any fluid enter the cartridge body so make sure you gently brush away from the direction of the cartridge and try to even keep away from the cantilever if at all possible to prevent any capilliary action drawing fluid into the cartridge.

Chris.