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有名なカートリッジの修理 Famous cartridges reparing Vandelhal ORTOFON

Apr 18, 2022
4 min read

Updated: Aug 6, 2025

I repaired two cartridges at the request of a customer (who is actually a long-time acquaintance).


(Note: We do not repair products from other companies.)


Right side

The vintage SPU had a bent cantilever.

I thought about replacing the whole thing, but

both the tip and cantilever were of a quality that is hard to find these days.

I first tried to straighten it so that it was usable as is,

and if that didn't work, I decided to replace it.

The result was successful.

The sound is that of an SPU. Of course.

Compared to my other SPUs,

the midrange is a cut above the rest.


Left side...

Ortofon? No.

EMT? No.


It was a Vanderhal from the Netherlands. It looks similar.

This one had a missing stylus.


Watching it again,

it seemed that there was no hole drilled in the cantilever, but that a chip had simply been placed and glued on.

So we discussed whether to attach a similar chip or

put another one on top of it, and decided to do it.

If we change our minds, we can remove it.

Since it's designed with a light tracking force, we went with this. It looks a bit... well...


Sound output.

In a word, this is a very well-made SPU.

(Conversely, it's rare to find an SPU that sounds this good.)

The entire frequency range is rich and satisfying.

The midrange is a little less appealing than the SPU above,

but I prefer the richness and fullness of the low frequencies.

However, it has a fairly light tracking force, so handle it with care.


I'll use it as a test and enjoy some music.



お客様(と言っても以前からの知り合いなのですが)からのご要望でカートリッジ2個の修理をしました。

(注:他社製品の修理はお受けしておりません)


右側 ビンテージのSPUはカンチレバー曲がり。 丸ごと交換かと思ったものの、 チップもカンチレバーも 今は手に入らない品質のもの。 まずはこのまま使える状態に矯正を試み、 ダメな場合は交換することにしました。 上手く出来ました。 音はSPUの音。当たり前ですが。 手持ちの他のSPUと比べても 中域が一つ頭抜けて良い。

左側は… オルトフォン? いいえ EMT? いいえ

オランダのバンデルハルでした。似てますね。 こちらは針先が無くなっていました。

ためつがえす眺めてみると、 カンチレバーに穴を開けてはおらず 単にチップを載せて接着していただけのようです。 そこで、同様にチップを貼るか、 他のを被せるかを相談し、被せることに。 もし、やっぱりやめた、となっても外せます。 軽針圧仕様とのこともあり、このようにしました。見た目はちょっと…ね。

音出し。 一言でいえば、大変よく出来たSPU。 (逆に言えばここまで鳴る大当たりのSPUはまずありません) 帯域全体が充実していて良いです。 中域の魅力は上のSPUに一歩譲りますが 低域のたっぷり感などの厚み、たっぷり感は こちらが好みです。 ただかなりの軽針圧で取り扱いは慎重に、です。

テストを兼ねて音楽を楽しみます。





I’ve just finished repear the two cartridges. It’s an order from customers.

The right one; Old Ortofon SPU Disordered shape like a Norse of elephant and the tip was loosened. Though the cantilever and tip are old type. Especially the tip will be need special order. So I dare tried to straighten and glueing. Succeeded!

The left…is Ortofon? EMT? No, Van del Hal made in Netherlands. It had lost the tip. I asked the owner, bond tip or cover another cantilever with tip on it. This model might be designed to bond tip on cantilever and that type trouble might have happened many. So we decided to cover new cantilever on original one. Of course I did a way whether owner want to release the covered one.

Sound Old ortofon plays attractive middle range. Van den Hal plays like a excellent SPU there aren’t so many. Thick and wide. About middle range, old ortofon is better.


I’ve just finished repear the two cartridges. It’s an order from customers.

The right one; Old Ortofon SPU Disordered shape like a Norse of elephant and the tip was loosened. Though the cantilever and tip are old type. Especially the tip will be need special order. So I dare tried to straighten and glueing. Succeeded!

The left…is Ortofon? EMT? No, Van del Hal made in Netherlands. It had lost the tip. I asked the owner, bond tip or cover another cantilever with tip on it. This model might be designed to bond tip on cantilever and that type trouble might have happened many. So we decided to cover new cantilever on original one. Of course I did a way whether owner want to release the covered one.

Sound Old ortofon plays attractive middle range. Van den Hal plays like a excellent SPU there aren’t so many. Thick and wide. About middle range, old ortofon is better.

I’ve just finished repear the two cartridges. It’s an order from customers.

The right one; Old Ortofon SPU Disordered shape like a Norse of elephant and the tip was loosened. Though the cantilever and tip are old type. Especially the tip will be need special order. So I dare tried to straighten and glueing. Succeeded!

The left…is Ortofon? EMT? No, Van del Hal made in Netherlands. It had lost the tip. I asked the owner, bond tip or cover another cantilever with tip on it. This model might be designed to bond tip on cantilever and that type trouble might have happened many. So we decided to cover new cantilever on original one. Of course I did a way whether owner want to release the covered one.

Sound Old ortofon plays attractive middle range. Van den Hal plays like a excellent SPU there aren’t so many. Thick and wide. About middle range, old ortofon is better.

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