JOSEPH GRADO SIGNATURE SERIES VINTAGE COLLECTION

PLEASE READ ALL THIS CAREFULLY:

For your consideration is one of the finest collection of the venerable and ground breaking phono cartridges by the late audio maven, Joseph Grado.

Here I present you the high end cartridges that started it all: the race for the finest most expensive phono cartridges in which the publication Absolute Sound crowned them with accolades as the finest sounding rating many of them with ***** as State of the Art as far back as 1978.

These series of cartridges were bought by me anywhere from 1976 during a period of more than ten years, opened them tested them and placed back again in their respective containers. They are in absolutely perfect condition. They range from NEW to low usage of less than 5 LP records. So you can see there are thousands of hours still to go on any of them. Styli (diamond) look like new in the microscope. I just checked each of them with a pocket microscope and the tips look beautiful.

I do not have fancy cameras to shoot at the cantilevers so please don’t ask for one. You can see my feedback in Audiogon. I am a devoted music lover and serious audiophile and for many years have continued to be an Audiogon member in
excellent standing.

However It is time to let these go. I have ten original Signature series cartridges for sale. I am growing much older now and cannot enjoy all of them now. These are the cartridges to own and use if you are serious about your music. If you love Classical, acoustic popular or Jazz then you will be in Nirvana. Forget the hype of all the published Moving Coils. They just cannot get the midrange right! These will send you to ecstacy.

The majority of these series were made by Joe Grado himself. I know since I was a good friend with him until he passed away not many years ago . At the time he always sent me the best units. They have been cherry picked by the Master himself. Here is a chance to have a piece of Audio History.

You will never ever find another specimen of the SIGNATURE +5 which retailed for $1000.00 when it first came out back in 1980 - the most expensive cartridge at the time, other than the venerable Koetsu Onyx. I have never ever seen another +5 EVER. It is as rare as can be. Apparently Mr. Grado made them in extremely small quantities. The +4 also was very limited in production.

The tips of these cartridges are either elliptical, true ellipsoid or twin-tips (Grado’s patented two-conicals in one) with extremely low tip mass and small cantilevers.

Many of the cartridges have their own original cases and/or literature enclosed. All you will need to supply are the mounting screws and washers to your headshell or tonearm of choice.

Tonearms that are compatible? I can name many: Graham, VPI, Clearaudio, SME, Grado Signature, Micro Seiki, etc… The cartridges like a medium to high mass tonearm.

Each cartridge weigh around 5 grams each, they track at a range of 1.3 to 1.5 grams with no anti-skating. Their output are from 2 mv to 3.5 mv -- ample for any modern phono stage. Medium compliance. Their superb transient response in part because of little or no damping at the cantilever.

Do I consider these superior to the newer ones done by Grado’s nephew? Let us say that these older ones have a “magic” which will never be duplicated by the newer series. But this is my call. Many old time audiophiles think these Grado Signatures were one of a kind. They are masterpieces. Totally unique and never duplicated.

Kindly note that Joe’s designs were all Moving Iron principles and to be more exact Flux-Bridger.

Their sound?
Effortless, delicate, sweet, gorgeous midrange, non-fatiguing high frequencies with bass and dynamics galore. The better your audio equipment the better these will sound. It makes the majority of today’s MC cartridge sound artificial and bright.

Which one do I like best? I cannot say. Each one has a certain manifestation. Just like a type of vintage Jaguar, Mercedes, Rolls or a type of special wine.. It is like that.

Please no offers. My prices are set in stone since I feel very justified in pricing them due to the scarcity, rarity and condition of all of them. So, here we go with :

THE "WHITE" SIGNATURES (1976-1982)

SIGNATURE 1 (“The Original one”) $200.00 (list price $275)

SIGNATURE 1A $200.00 (list price $275)

SIGNATURE +4 $450.00 (list price $850)

SIGNATURE +5 $500.00 (list price $1000)

SIGNATURE 7 $425.00 (list price $ 500)

THE "BLACK" SIGNATURES (1984-1990)

SIGNATURE 10MR $300.00 (list price $400)

SIGNATURE 10MR with MCZ stylus $300.00 (list price $400)

SIGNATURE MCX $200.00 (list price $300)

SIGNATURE TLZ $425.00 (list price $ 500)

SIGNATURE XTZ $500.00 (list price $750) * Joe’s last cartridge.

If you are interested in any particular model just send me a request and I will get back to you if still available.

Shipping Price within U.S.A. is a set $15 per cartridge.

Overseas shipping depending of the Country : Enquire!

Payment accepted: Check (after it clears), Money Order, Paypal (add 3% fee)