Scratch 101: WEEKY WEEKY WAAAAAA
I went out with Kek-tonics yesterday to pick up some new needles/headshells @ Guitarcenter in Arlington Heights, IL. I’m finally replacing my pair of Ortofon Concorde Pro S’ and replacing with the Turntablist favorite, the Shure M447’s.
Engineered for scratch DJ’s and turntablists, the M44-7 is designed not to skip under even the most demanding circumstances..
Combining Shure’s unique wide-diameter Type S cantilever with a tracking force of 1.5 to 3.0 grams, the M44-7’s rugged construction is highly durable, but will not unduly wear your vinyl. With a 9.5 mV output, the highest on the market, the M44-7 produces very powerful, resonant sound.
Translation: They don’t skip. ever.
@ Guitarcenter, the service there is ALWAYS shit… it doesn’t really make sense, but you need them more than they need you. If you need a new Vertigo or Avenger by the end of the week… you’re gonna wait around… cause most of the time, you don’t have a choice. That being said… they pricematch!
Street Price for Shure M447 Without Headshell: $74.99
eTronics Website Price: $59.99
If you didn’t know already, eTronics is shit. Their customer service/delivery is horrible and from experiences had by friends, an arduous time-consuming process.
And if you think I’m abusing my rights as a consumer, I’ve been going to that Guitarcenter since I bought my first turntables in highschool (GASP!! The 90’s). I’ve replaced my mixer and turntables 3 times (one piece @ a time) and bought/added/replaced 2 sets of speakers, so I’ve been loyal. I only buy from two guys @ the Arlington heights store: Bud & Mark in Pro-audio. They’re cool as shit and they always give me informed advice and let me know about the newest products. If you head down there, ask for them specifically, you won’t be let down.
Its cliche, but when buying $400-$800 equipment on a semi-regular basis, I’d recommend having a single person that you deal business with every time. Not only does it allow you to gain some trust and thorough information… but when someone asks you “HOW DID YOU GET ALL YOUR DOPE EQUIPMENT FOR SO CHEAP?”, you can slyly say “Don’t worry about it… I got a guy that hooks me up.” 
