Looking for caruso fb head

[eskim0]

Hello, is anyone here willing to sell me a caruso cutterhead?
Since flo stopped making these great heads it is hard to find one.
I have build the preamp already so i just need the head to make the setup complete.
Please let me know.
Happy cutting!

[Dub Studio]

Apparently the pre-amp works with other heads too so if you don't find one you can look elsewhere.

[eskim0]

Yes indeed but where can i look? Reverb? Thought lathetrolls would be the best option to find a nice head.

[boryo]

take a look here: https://www.lathetrolls.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=10445

[flozki]

If you we extremely lucky there might be one left
But takes some time to check

Alternative is the sc99 25year edition
Popping out this year
You get for 4.5k something better than many sx74
I know the Neumann tag is missing
But there are many pro studios using
And we have like 2-3 left
But the downside is.more than double price than caruso


Happy cutting

[leemichael]

If you we extremely lucky there might be one left
But takes some time to check

Alternative is the sc99 25year edition
Popping out this year
You get for 4.5k something better than many sx74
I know the Neumann tag is missing
But there are many pro studios using
And we have like 2-3 left
But the downside is.more than double price than caruso


Happy cutting

What happened to my one? Number 187

SC99-25 sounds interesting! I will swap you Kingston Dubcutter serial 001 plus some CHF’s for one!
But I don’t have the cutter head!

[eskim0]

finally got the caruso head. thanks trolls for your answers!

[Dub Studio]

Yes indeed but where can i look? Reverb? Thought lathetrolls would be the best option to find a nice head.

Looks like I am late in answering... I am glad you found a Caruso because that is what you wanted, but there are alternatives out there and I think it's worth exploring those options too, even though you have already found a solution.

I am not familiar with the Caruso head (I do have access to one that I am planning to test soon) but it worries me that it seems to have reached its end of life (for want of a better expression).

To explain my reasoning: ideally, to run a smooth cutting operation if you don't have the skills to repair a cutting head, you at least need to have easy access to a second one so you can swap it out while its being repaired.

The "lucky" buyer of the last ever Caruso might find that work has to stop while its being repaired (if it can be repaired).. not so lucky in my opinion. Ok if your work is non-critical, but not a great idea for setting up a reliable service and minimising downtime. I have always had 2 x cutting heads, as I bought two lathes, used one for daily cutting, and the second one for surplus cutting and occasional spares / repairs while parts were repaired.

That's not to say that a Caruso is worthless.... it's just worth a lot less than one of a similar standard that is still in production or is easy to fix in house.

I am slightly reluctant to start using the Caruso in my arsenal because if I start working with it and commit to using it long term, I am putting my cutting operation at risk. I would be much happier using it if I knew there were a small fleet of spares available for exisiting users, or a solution that ensured their uninterrupted use was feasible in some other way.

If not, should it not be licensed to someone else to make spares and maintain? Or even made open source? Surely there has to be a better solution.

Anyway, I will start another thread to explore other alternatives because I am already in danger of derailing this one. I just wanted to make the point that just owning a cutting head is not enough. I hope it was useful!

[flozki]

Well, we just stopped producing new ones. That doesn’t mean we can’t repair them anymore. We have enough spare parts to fix them for many years, and if we need more parts, we will produce them.

There are many heads in use daily. Most of them fail because:

People don’t know how to set up the system properly.
They don’t test the entire system with a dummy head beforehand.
They think it’s a good idea to swap FB channels while running.
They use bad amplifiers.
They use 5A fuses instead of 0.5A
...
The list goes on. Once you have a running system, they work pretty nicely.

happy cutting
f.

[zdenek]

Just cut 100 plates for $50 each and the Swiss head will pay off with interest, it's simple, as long as there are people willing.

[zdenek]

Well, we just stopped producing new ones. That doesn’t mean we can’t repair them anymore. We have enough spare parts to fix them for many years, and if we need more parts, we will produce them.

There are many heads in use daily. Most of them fail because:

People don’t know how to set up the system properly.
They don’t test the entire system with a dummy head beforehand.
They think it’s a good idea to swap FB channels while running.
They use bad amplifiers.
They use 5A fuses instead of 0.5A
...
The list goes on. Once you have a running system, they work pretty nicely.

happy cutting
f.

I have a question for you, how much can a special diamond knife for cutting copper cost? I heard or read that it costs $1000 each and it can be a great lottery, one mistake and it's all over, I'm afraid to ask...

[flozki]

Yes, we were thinking of selling the whole project to someone to take it over.
We just don’t have the time to build up a larger community and deal with another 100+ customers.
so we are focusing on the clients we already have.

So, if someone wants to take on the Caruso Project., they’ll need:

A business plan.
reasonable cash.
But we can train you, and we can provide all the parts.

And maybe, if we see a time window , we’ll come up with another exciting addition.

[eskim0]

the caruso is cutting nice with pas 2002 amp. the only thing makes me nervous is a dip around 6k. the recorded feedback with riaa off and sine sweep playing from vinylium test cd--> dip is not there,

if i record the cutted groove back into the daw --> dip is around 6k. tried to swap out stylus and change to another one, still the same. i recorded the cutted signal with 3 different cartridges just to make sure it isnt the cartridge.

caruso board build with normal parts for caruso setup just like shown in the schematic. original pcbs from flo.
thanks again! you will receive a nice record when i'm done =D

i thought maybe a loose stylus. does anybody got an idea what to do now?

[zdenek]

And what is the carrier? What material are you cutting, copper, plastic, polycarbonate, it is very important to give the correct answer.Do you cut such boards as in the photo below? :)Make a video like I did with my stamping, maybe something that will help.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELosCVNkQg0

[eskim0]

The screenshots are from a pvc cut on myshank blank.

[Dub Studio]

Just cut 100 plates for $50 each and the Swiss head will pay off with interest, it's simple, as long as there are people willing.

At first it is simple... but it gets complicated really fast if you want to build a business around this idea (which I am assuming is the case if you are investing in a Caruso head... you are probably not cutting paint pot lids for fun).

After doing the first 100 jobs, you might find yourself committed to several long-term projects at the same time, that all have completion dates based on gig dates or release schedules that are critical for the DJ or label you are working for. You need to have a backup in case something goes wrong, and by backup I mean a solution to get you cutting again asap.

[Dub Studio]

Well, we just stopped producing new ones. That doesn’t mean we can’t repair them anymore. We have enough spare parts to fix them for many years, and if we need more parts, we will produce them.

There are many heads in use daily. Most of them fail because:

People don’t know how to set up the system properly.
They don’t test the entire system with a dummy head beforehand.
They think it’s a good idea to swap FB channels while running.
They use bad amplifiers.
They use 5A fuses instead of 0.5A
...
The list goes on. Once you have a running system, they work pretty nicely.

happy cutting
f.

Ok but cutting heads are very delicate, and they do break, even in the hands of the most experienced users. Of course, it's reassuring to know the Caruso heads can be repaired, but so can most cutting heads (albeit not by the manufacturer).

I have confidence in the quality of the Caruso head, and I am sure it is very popular, but I am less confident about inserting a critical piece of equipment into my workflow if it is no longer in production.

Obviously, you have your reasons for discontinuing the product, but I would be much happier knowing there were spares around, either to buy, or borrow while repairs were being carried out. For me at least, the Caruso can only be used for non-critical work.

At the end of the day, I want to plan my holidays in advance… and I don’t want my cutting head telling me when to take time off

[Dub Studio]

Yes, we were thinking of selling the whole project to someone to take it over.
We just don’t have the time to build up a larger community and deal with another 100+ customers.
so we are focusing on the clients we already have.

So, if someone wants to take on the Caruso Project., they’ll need:

A business plan.
reasonable cash.
But we can train you, and we can provide all the parts.

And maybe, if we see a time window , we’ll come up with another exciting addition.

Fingers crossed!

[eskim0]

I see your point but i am not in the situation to earn money with these equipment. i am more an enthusiast who quitted smoking and drinking and got some money left over now =D
it is not always about the money. call me dumb but fun is also important and if there is a "customer" that i can make happy with a record and i am plus minus zero cost or a little money on top i am happy. i want to learn learn and learn about this beautiful craft.
sx74 is also an outdated head and people are repairing them. flo is specialized in this and he will continue repairing. be optimistic, all the time there is a solution and till these communtiy is alive you find someone who will help.
dont get me wrong: i dont want to push the caruso to outer space. i just measured and found a problem and want to discuss this. maybe there is someone out there who had similiar problems.
should i make a new topic out of my 6k dip problem?
thanks in advance trolls

[Dub Studio]

Yes I see, I am sure it will be great for that, and I am glad you found one. And congratulations on quitting!

The SX74 is enormously expensive (far in excess of its material value) because of the ecosystem that it is trapped in.

Again, great that there are people around to service and repair this old fleet of SX74s and Caruso heads etc., I am not knocking that.

I am just saying that the ecosystem is just as important as the product itself, and maybe there are other options out there now (in active development).