On my self-restored Garrard 401 and DIY plinth, with Dynavector 501 arm (which also sits on a BigRock 2 and Edensound Bear Paw footers, having an arm with a removeable head shell has made things much easier in regards to cartridge swapping. Recommendable.
Also, I forgot to mention the Modwright 9.0 SE phono pre I use, I am still amazed with it years after purchasing it used. I've upgraded the power supply from Modwright, and done some tube rolling, this old unit and I will be together for as long as have left in this world (which I hope to be a long while yet, as I'm enjoying the best listening I've ever had).
You and I share the same cartridge, the Dyna XX2MKII. I finally (after around eight years of steady use), had to send it to Soundsmith for a re-tip. I chose their best option, and it came back a better sounding cartridge than it was new. Just yesterday, I took it out of rotation for my Zu Denon 103R, which has had an ESCCO white sapphire cantilever/Paratrace stylus modification, and was surprised at how well the XX2 held up in comparison. The 103R is an outstanding cartridge, so I would say send the XX2 to Soundsmith and get it re-tipped.
Nice system, Goheelz. We share some similarities in our systems, namely the Dynavector XX2MKII, and a Modwright SWP 9.0 SE phono stage, which is an older unit with a factory-upgraded power supply. I have used it for years now, and it still satisfies. The XX2MKII has been refitted with a Soundsmith sapphire cantilever new stylus, and still sounds great.
My turntable plinth has Edensound Bear Paws sitting on a Brightstar BigRock 2, so we share that as well.
Congratulations on what has to be a very fine sounding system.
Thanks for your kind remarks. My Garrard has had a few changes, I didn't like where I mounted the tonearm, so I made an l-shaped piece of Cocobolo, and inset it into the plinth. I also made some corner insets of the Cocobolo (the plinth is wrapped in Bubinga). The arm has been in Nevada for a couple of weeks getting rewired and checked out. Supposed to be done tomorrow.
I used to have some guitars, my favorite was a William C. Stahl, Milwaukee. It was made in the 30's (at least that was the consensus at the time). It was a steel-string with an open head, square frets and Ebony fretboard, and M-O-P inlay fret markers. There was a herring bone multi-colored inlay 'round the sound hole and front binding, and a stripe down the back of the h-bone, and white ovoid bindings on the front & rear. The sound was very sweet and pure. In December of '72, my house burned to the ground, and the guitar with it.
My next guitar was a Gibson J-55, arch-back, flattop dreadnought, which I had until around 2002, at which time I gave it to my younger son, as my hands weren't in any shape to play it anymore. He loves it, as one of his earliest memories are standing in front of it as I was playing it, and staring into the sound hole.
Sorry about the length of this post, but I still love guitars, even though I don't have any now.
Nice system you've put together, not to mention the other two fine music-makers. We share the same cartridge, I had it in a Scout Signature, now in a Dynavector DV 501 arm and restored Garrard 401. It's a great cartridge, in any case.
I see the one Martin is a Dreadnought size, and the smaller is gorgeous with the mother-of-pearl inlay. Good music all the way around. Enjoy!
