What interests me is that this company has a fairly complete line of
what appear to be good quality replacement styli for modern stereo
cartridges. Considering that Stanton and Shure do NOT make replacement
styli for their premium models anymore, I wonder if anybody is importing
these from JICO. I don't see any indication that there is an
English-friendly website equivalent to the Japanese one, so I can't decipher
much of the technical imformation. But the pictures and the smattering of
English on the site indicates that they have Shibata or quadrahedral
line-contact types available for the Audio Technica and Stanton lines, and
the nearly impossible to find "Micro-Ridge" styli for the Shure models as
indicated by the MR in their model numbers. Decoding the prices in yen for
these models, they aren't cheap but the fact that they are available at all
is a revelation. I'd sure like to find out more about these.
Greg Bogantz
----- Original Message -----
From: "Arvin Casas" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 8:09 PM
Subject: [Phono-L] JICO "Eagle" Steel Needles?
Hi All,
I happened to run across these needles and was curious to see if anybody
had
any experiences with them? These are modern antique phonograph needles
made
in Japan by a precision jewelry manufacturer called JICO. The company,
aside from precision jewelry bits, apparently makes styli for the retro
hi-fi / audiophile market.
In keeping with the recent trend/interest in Japan in antique phonographs
(some may have seen the hobby kits coming out of Japan allowing you to
build
your own "Edison," or other mechanically powered model gramophones), JICO
is making carbon steel acoustic phonograph needles called "Eagle."
http://jico.co.jp/product/
http://shop.jico.co.jp/accessories/
I can't read Japanese, but from what I can decipher via my Google
translation plug-in, these "Eagle" carbon steel needles are designed for
8-10 plays. They even package them in 50's style Japanese tins (modern
graphics, but old style, sliding cover tins).
Has anybody had a chance to try these? I know very well we have
contemporary US and European needle manufacturers, but this is the first
I've seen of some coming out of Asia and not in a "knock-off" or
counterfeit
vein. These are being made via hi-end Japan, not the darkened alleys of
China or India.
If anything, a curious FYI. The quest for multiplay needles, the sequel.
:-)
Arvin
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