Serious question, I don’t play any scratched records but how can you test your stylus? Or is it best practise to just change it at intervals?
No idea if it is numbered, how could I tell? Has two photo’s (George and Ringo) assume I am missing the other two, and the lyrics poster.
Here’s my rarest vinyl it seems:
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I saw mentioned somewhere, maybe here, maybe not, that you need about 50 hours of playing to bed your stylus in. Don’t know if that is true or not, but given that, would think you would have to be looking at a couple of hundred hours before considering a replacement, assuming you haven’t hit it or damaged it in some other way.
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Yeah cool that’s intersting
I only just got back in to the hobby in late 2016 (when I started the thread), so am far from an expert.
I would encourage @Doggatron to weigh in here, as it sounds like he’s spinning Vinyl more than most.
The very popular Cartridge/Stylus brand I use in Ortofon say that you can get up to 1000 hours without degradation of sound.
Assuming you are cleaning it with an appropriate Stylus brush regularly.
So that’s several hours of listening per week for approx 3 years.
I’d say most people probably change theirs sooner than they need to, usually to upgrade.
Certainly have to be careful with the little buggers.
I lowered mine carelessly once on a 7 inch and missed the record, only to fall on the Acrylic Platter.
Made an awful noise and who knows what damage I caused 
I thought the theory was if you play vinyl with a damaged stylus you then damage the vinyl you play with said damaged stylus.
If that’s true you’d be better off replacing it more often tha if you need to
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Especially if said vinyl costs a few hundred dollars.
Yeah I sort of had to start again from scratch about 4 years ago. I’ve spent a fortune re collecting
I put together a nice hifi after I found some nice heavy marantz walnut speakers for $20 at vinnies by accident . They are super heavy sound great
So my journey began from that. I found a guy in petershem inner west Sydney who had stacks of gear he had collected and repaired and he had some pioneer gear I wanted to get, not because it was particularly good, but it was one I had when I was 18, so mainly sentiment.
I got the amp and tuner I wanted but couldn’t get the matching tape deck or turntable so I mixed the rest. I also wanted to get one of those crappy old tower cabinets with the smoke glass door but couldn’t find one anywhere, so I made one, and minus the glass door because I love the look of those shiny aluminium front plates and knobs and I didn’t want to hide them, but I plus, I don’t have little kids that would jam biscuits or toast in them , so I left mine open and made them the centre of attention in my non TV lounge room.
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Should be in the lower right hand corner
This early one sold for $5300
You’re right about the photos too, came with all 4
My copy is not numbered, but is on white vinyl. I assume it was a re-issue at some point.
It does have the four photos.
Nope, not numbered.
“…well don’t you take it too bad” - TVZ
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Uh, like wow. That looks like an amazing collection. You would have to have close to 2 thousand albums there. If you don’t mind me asking, what is your setup? Are you an audiophile type nerd that invests thousands of dollars for a point 0.13 percent improvement in sound quality, or just love rocking to vinyl?
Well, I love good sound, but hifi has no limit in price. I do unfortunately. Id class myself as a working class audiophile. Theres nothing unachievablely expensive in my setup. Its like any hobby or passion, as in you work, save, sell and research to get your desired results.
I built my system up over the years, upgrading when I could. Im really happy with it and the journey has come to an end as far as upgrades go. So I just have to sit back and grow old with it now.
Amp: Yamaha AS1100
Turntable: Pro ject Xperience SB
Cart: Ortofon Bronze 2M
Phono Stage: Lounge LCR MkII
Speakers: Ascension Summoners
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The five stages of life:
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Tape an album off your mate.
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Decide you really like it so you buy it on vinyl.
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Buy it on CD
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Sell the vinyl at garage sale for $5.
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Buy it on vinyl for $50.
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