Thomas Schick Graphite Headshell

[MartinT]

I've been trying out the antithesis of the UWE ebony headshell I purchased recently: a Thomas Schick graphite headshell. This gorgeous hunk of high rigidity fabrication is right up my Dynavector arm's street as far as visual matching is concerned, but I wondered how it would sound compared with the DV metal and UWE wooden headshells in my collection. Francois told me to expect something special, so I finally found the time to carefully transfer my Shelter over and get the alignment precisely right. The Schick is somewhat heavier than the UWE, but I didn't need to switch counterweights. I also took advantage of the Shelter's captive threaded holes to use another set of bolts to hold things firm and spread the load without over-tightening them. Arm height, azimuth and tracking weight all set (1.9g) and I was ready to listen.

So, to the sound. It's different. Not like the UWE plus or minus, but actually different in presentation. There is simply HORDES of detail and leading edge transients. It's like someone cleaned my soundstage with Windolene. There is not a vestige of euphony or warmth (which those who know me know that I dislike) nor is there any harshness or sibilance. I could call it stark but that might sound unmusical, and music is what it definitely allows through. Neutral, then, but with a level of resolution I've not heard before. It frankly amazes me that it extracts levels of performance I didn't think the Shelter had in it. There is also very low surface noise, always a clue to things working well when it comes to turntables. This presentation needs me to reset my expectations of some well loved records, and I intend doing just that. More notes later.

My thanks to Francois of Cala Mighty Sound (calamean) for the kind loan. I'm not at all sure that he'll be getting it back.


TSchick Headshell by martinwtaylor, on Flickr

[Marco]

Looks the biz, Martin! It seems to be a more sonically synergistic match for you arm then than the UWE Ebony shell was?

I presume that the Schick is heavier? Aside from other contributory factors towards the above, I suspect that the added mass is also significant.

So are you keeping both headshells or letting one go, once you're sure which one is best?

Marco.

[MartinT]

I presume that the Schick is heavier?

It's a little heavier - as stated in my post

So are you keeping both headshells or letting one go, once you're sure which one is best?

I hear a progression - the UWE ebony is better overall than the Dynavector metal (which is itself better than a Sumiko metal). It's smooth and organic and non-harsh and brings out a surprising amount of detail through not obscuring it with resonances. The Schick takes this further by being incredibly detailed, lays bare the sound and is also non-harsh. Combined with the Shelter, it's a detail-meister of the first order and highly dynamic with no colouration that I can detect.

I will likely keep both as the UWE might be a good match for, say, a Lyra should I ever wish to try one.

[anubisgrau]

thanks for sharing your thoughts, i doubt there's a many of those who had a chance to hear it. i kinda dislike the looks (a vertical tail) but i have no reservations about how this would sound...

[thebeathunters]

i'v been a fan of UWE various productions for Denon DL103 carts. i have an ebony headshell + Midas body on a Lenco L75 and panzerholz head+body on Thomas' 12" tonearm+SP10.
they're both absolutely gorgeous and so easy to live with. but this Schick graphite headshell is very tempting... time to run my 2nd SP10 maybe?

[MartinT]

I like it so much I've bought it

[MCRU]

€250 seems a good buy to me? it looks the biz too, I have a new silver wired jelco arriving soon, may give it a try with that

[Wakefield Turntables]

Is that a rehoused Denon 103 I see on that headshell?

[MCRU]

Is that a rehoused Denon 103 I see on that headshell?

no idea dude just copied the image off a website (oh dear will I get into trouble hope not)

[Wakefield Turntables]

Yeah it probably is then.