Esco paratrace retip

[fiddlemaker]

My Benz Micro Ace is getting to the point where it needs a new stylus.
I like the Ace and am quite happy to stick with it, but at the trade-in price offered by Esco, an upgrade to the Benz wood seems quite an attractive proposition.

My question is this. Given that (apparently) the only difference between the Ace and the wood is the body material, would I actually get better performance at a lower price by having the Ace re-tipped with an Esco paratrace diamond rather than going for the Wood? Would the "better"(?) paratrace tip be a significant performance upgrade for the Ace?

Anyone have any thoughts or before/after experiences with a paratrace retip?

cheers
john

[Marco]

Hi John,

Why not have a chat with Dom, from NWA? See here: http://www.northwestanalogue.com/

He's an expert on such matters, and so would be sure to give you some good advice, as well as perhaps carrying out the job just as well (and perhaps quicker) than Esco... ;)

Marco.

[NRG]

I had partrace fitted to my Kontrapunkt B by ESCo, they did a sterling job and the KB sounds as good as it did from new, it's a good stylus. The downside; communication was not too great and I was without it for about 4 months...

You can try Dom / Natalie they will give you some impartial advise but last time I spoke to them there was at least a three month turn around, alternatively try Goldring, just had a 103D rebuilt by them, it sounds fantastic and it only took just under three weeks....and they where besy apparently.

[YNWaN]

I've had a couple of Paratrace tips and a friend has had three or four. The problem with ESCo is that they have a huge backlog - the last time I dealt with them in took four months to get my cartridge back. I would also say that I am not convinced the Paratrace has as long a life as it could have. The last time I had one of my cartridges re-tipped I sent it to Goldring who fitted a Geiger S stylus - this time it took less than a week to get my cartridge back and I have also found the Geiger S tip to be significantly kinder to surface noise than the Paratrace was (the cost was exactly the same as other companies that offer similar).

[chelsea]

Another shout for goldring.

[Ammonite Audio]

I've had a couple of Paratrace tips and a friend has had three or four. The problem with ESCo is that they have a huge backlog - the last time I dealt with them in took four months to get my cartridge back. I would also say that I am not convinced the Paratrace has as long a life as it could have. The last time I had one of my cartridges re-tipped I sent it to Goldring who fitted a Geiger S stylus - this time it took less than a week to get my cartridge back and I have also found the Geiger S tip to be significantly kinder to surface noise than the Paratrace was (the cost was exactly the same as other companies that offer similar).

You may be correct here. My Kontrapunkt B has been re-tipped twice by ESCo, after the first Paratrace re-tip suffered from significant wear rather more quickly than the original Ortofon tip.

To the OP - I think I'm correct in saying that the Benz Wood is based on the Glider rather than the Ace, so it is does represent a step up in specification from the Ace. I bought a Wood SL on the ESCo Benz trade-in programme and it's a lovely thing, very easy to recommend.

[sq225917]

Another shout for Gold ring, you really do want this work carried out by someone trained in the art by several different manufacturers, after all would you prefer a dealership car service or a backstreet garage service if they were the same price?

[Ammonite Audio]

It's useful to read so many recommendations for Goldring, but they would not touch my Kontrapunkt B, which ended up going back to ESCo. Maybe this is because of the ruby cantilever?

[YNWaN]

Perhaps - seems a bit odd though as they fitted a ruby cantilever for me.

[Marco]

Another shout for Gold ring, you really do want this work carried out by someone trained in the art by several different manufacturers, after all would you prefer a dealership car service or a backstreet garage service if they were the same price?

That depends on how good the mechanic is (and what relevant experience he has) in the backstreet garage, compared with whoever's been allocated to carry out the service at the dealership...

I have a very good "backstreet garage" that I wholly entrust with my Mercedes, where the level of expertise is excellent and every bit as good as (or if not better) than that at the dealership, and where Mercedes parts are always used, but where a service costs me much less.

I like 'win-wins'! ;)

Marco.

[Andrei]

John
I have the Wood and the Ace - both SL - the Wood is a significant step up. I imagine that the better the rest of your system (table, arm, phono-stage) the more difference you would find.

[fiddlemaker]

Thanks for all the helpful advice.
I think I have made up my mind to "get Wood".