[hyrkan]

I recently bought a Lenco B55 as my first semi-serious turntable. The seller in the auctioning site claimed that the included cartridge is "Shure, probably M71" and that it is in good shape. But looking at this thing when it arrived, I highly doubt this:

https://imgur.com/a/7RqYITH

1. If I could identify what this actually is, it would be easier to push back on this guy and probably force some after the fact discount. Any suggestions? There are no markings, no text, nothing.

2. Are the holes above the cartridge intended for screwing in a nut and bolt to get at least some stable vertical positioning? The construction kind of suggests that.

I have to say that I like the TT itself and the deal is still... okayish? I intended to eventually replace the cart anyway. It's lovely that the Lenco has zero electronics, everything's manual, serviceable and understandable with some mechanical skills.

 

[buke9]

While I’m no expert on TT’s that cartridge is a bit different than what I have seen but as I’ve said I’m no expert. The carts I have has two holes to mount to the headshell with a nut and bolt and that one seems to just snap in which is quite different than those I’ve seen but haven’t seen a lot of them. You could also contact @Todd of Todd the Vinyl Junkie as he would have more experience in this matter.

 

[megabigeye]

After a bit of Googling, it looks like a Shure (JICO?) N75B/II stylus on a Lenco N-20 cartridge.

 

[hyrkan]

Thanks to both of you!

The carts I have has two holes to mount to the headshell with a nut and bolt and that one seems to just snap in which is quite different than those I’ve seen but haven’t seen a lot of them.

Yeah, it's not standard. But the snapping is very unstable and I suspect there must be some way of mitigating this.

After a bit of Googling, it looks like a Shure (JICO?) N75B/II stylus on a Lenco N-20 cartridge.

I think these are good guesses. It definitely looks like this Lenco cart. But it seems that Shure styli have a visible round bump/"hill" on the right side from the needle itself (as on the photo you linked and others). My stylus is slightly concave on both sides. I don't have a good camera for making photos from so close, but it's like two lines making a larger triangle together with the triangular opening in the golden part housing the stylus.

Maybe I could try to dispute him with this, but I will continue my research.

 

[megabigeye]

A generic "Shure" N70B, perhaps? Or maybe N91ED? The linked 91 looks a little too green, but others are less green.

Also, it looks like "Shure" here is the style, rather than the brand. Hence JICO and generic brand Shure products. So it's likely that your seller meant "Shure style" rather than "Shure brand."

 

[tomb]

1. It looks sure looks like a Shure of some sort.
2. There are plenty of Shure styli that don't have a bump.
3. The most important thing is that I've never seen an angle on a cantilever like that … unless it was bent. It is angled down waaaaay too much. I'd go after the seller for that, instead of anything else.
4. You would probably do well to purchase a new headshell. Even if you get a cartridge with proper mounting hardware, the entire headshell looks sort of dodgy to me.

Good luck!

 

[hyrkan]

Okay, so after @megabigeye's new suggestions I'm mostly convinced that it probably can be some Shure, although I can't match its looks exactly with these photos or others I tried to find on the net.

I had asked the seller specifically about the cartridge, but it was over the phone, and he said that it is "by Shure the company" (it sounds more natural in our language). But now this is hard to prove. There is a lesson learned here, I should have gotten this written by email. Welp.

3. The most important thing is that I've never seen an angle on a cantilever like that … unless it was bent. It is angled down waaaaay too much. I'd go after the seller for that, instead of anything else.
4. You would probably do well to purchase a new headshell. Even if you get a cartridge with proper mounting hardware, the entire headshell looks sort of dodgy to me.!

Thanks for the tip about the cantilever. The cartridge sounded very bad even after solving other possible problems and this raised my suspicions. Now only after experiments with positioning and the stylus (which may have involved some surgical pliers, shhhh oh the outrage ) I managed to get some soundstage and half-decent sound. Will try to get some info on proper mounting elsewhere.

As to the headshell, it's the stock one for this model. Early 1970s may look dodgy nowadays But yeah, I thought of replacing it also.

 

[tomb]

Okay, so after @megabigeye's new suggestions I'm mostly convinced that it probably can be some Shure, although I can't match its looks exactly with these photos or others I tried to find on the net.

I had asked the seller specifically about the cartridge, but it was over the phone, and he said that it is "by Shure the company" (it sounds more natural in our language). But now this is hard to prove. There is a lesson learned here, I should have gotten this written by email. Welp.


Thanks for the tip about the cantilever. The cartridge sounded very bad even after solving other possible problems and this raised my suspicions. Now only after experiments with positioning and the stylus (which may have involved some surgical pliers, shhhh oh the outrage ) I managed to get some soundstage and half-decent sound. Will try to get some info on proper mounting elsewhere.

As to the headshell, it's the stock one for this model. Early 1970s may look dodgy nowadays But yeah, I thought of replacing it also.

I don't know much about your purchase, but when buying used equipment, you expect some shortcomings. Saying that it was a Shure cartridge does not sound out of bounds to me. Also as you note, the headshell pretty much looks like crap, but it's not like there was deception in that. Headshells are not that expensive, either. You can get them for as little as $5-$6 and a very high-quality one for $25.

However, that bent cantilever is a show-stopper. If your seller tried to pass that off as OK, then you are definitely due some sort of refund.

 

[hyrkan]

I am completely fine with the headshell purchasewise because I knew it was there. (I also kind of like the looks, they fit the whole oldschool TT, only the inflexible mounting is a slight issue). As to the cartridge, I allow for the possibility that this was all a misunderstanding -- but I expected something else, maybe the communication was unclear between and the seller. As I said, a chance to become a little wiser.

However, that bent cantilever is a show-stopper. If your seller tried to pass that off as OK, then you are definitely due some sort of refund.

I will try to pursue that angle.