Got a Shure V15V Type VxMR "Lying Around" With No Stylus?
even if you don't, read this!
Sometimes you just have to stop what you are doing and do this. I've been listening to a now vintage Shure V15V Type VxMR moving magnet cartridge, long considered "really good", really "linear", really great tracking at 1 gram, really worthy of "respect" but never considered "really exciting" sounding, that now sounds spectacular!
People were dumping these V15s at one time because replacement styli were no longer available. Then the Japanese stylus specialists JICO began making reasonably priced replacement styli and some aficionados thought these better than the originals, while others didn't, but everyone was happy they could get any replacement and keep their V15s "on the road".
Recently JICO sent me three variants of the MORITA series featuring special wooden cantilevers. You can read about them here. It's a fascinating story you can read more about here.
They are named after Kotaro Morita, the artisan who designed them.
The backstory, (which I didn't bother reading until the sound knocked me over) is this:
"In November 2019, Kotaro has introduced his first designed stylus using ‘black’ persimmon wood, which we call it “KUROGAKI”. This plant grows in colder region and normally the fruits are harvested in October. Upon cutting down the tree, the black stripes are widely visible on astringent persimmons but there are no specific reasons behind this. It is believed that black stripes appear on heartwood, which some parts contingently dye in pitch black. Ever since it was used in the masterpiece of carpentry for Shosoin (the treasure house that belongs to Todaiji temple in Nara prefecture), this Kurogaki has been prized as “high-standard noble wood” and also been used in Togu Palace (known as prince’s residence). After several months, Kotaro introduced new model, “USHIKOROSHI”; formally and commonly known as Christmas berry but also having devastating name, which can simply translated as “OX KILLER”.
The name “USHIKOROSHI” is derived from an ancient theory where farmers used this wood to make a nose ring for cows, or as it may sound cruel, they used this to slaughter cows. The wood itself is very strong and stiff, we have access to purchase limited number of quantities that have been selected by connoisseur of wood that had been naturally dried for more than 5 years."
The particular one that just set my ears ablaze is the VN5X USHIKOROSHI NUDE pictured above. It costs $338. If you have a V!5 "lying around" and you can spare $338, get this! Install it! It will blow your sonic mind. Well it did mine.
But even if you don't have a V15 "lying around" you can go on Ebay among other places and get one for another few hundred dollars and when you put them together even if you've spent $600 or $700 in total, I don't know anything that comes close for anywhere near the price. And of course you'll be tracking incredibly well at around 1 gram! If money's not an object try a few different ones in the series.....
Specifications
Description
Wood Cantilever Series
Manufacturer : SHURE
For V15VxMR
100% custom designed by one of the reticent craftsmen, Kotaro Morita.
2nd series of black wooden cantilever, USHIKOROSHI, also known as Christmas berry wood.
Please be very cautious upon handling this product as it is extremely fragile compared to Aluminum, which is generally used for cantilever
NUDE Tip is used for this product:
The entire tip of a NUDE Stylus is composed of diamond, as opposed to bonded tips.
The tip angle and round shape are identical to those of a standard bonded tip, while the diameter size is similar in comparison to the SAS series.
#VN-5x #VN5X
Additional information
Cantilever
Wood – USHIKOROSHI
Cartridge number
V15VxMR
Color
TR-RED
Tip
NUDE Conical Stylus
Tracking Force
0.75 – 1.25 g
Type: Moving Magnet
