If you were sent directly to this page as an answer to an email question, then it's here that you must start to determine what type of cartridge you will need. Remember it's often only necessary to replace the needle, the cartridge rarely fails. But if you want to do a major upgrade or downgrade from your current setup, or if your whole cartridge is missing, you'll need a cartridge. For most modern turntables, say from the 1970's to present either a P-mount or 1/2 Inch mount cartridge is used. The brand does not have to match your turntable, it only has to have the correct mounting system. Simply click on the picture below that more closely resembles what you see at the end of your tonearm.
Some may want to align a magnetic cartridge perfectly. This can be done with a protractor but this is not for the faint of heart. It requires a learning curve. Here is the best page we have found, full of info and several free printable cartridge protractors.
