Sumiko Wellfleet Phono Stylus

The RS Wellfleet — Where Sumiko's Diamond Goes Nude

Sumiko's replacement stylus for the Wellfleet, supplied singly. The measurements read the same as the elliptical tips below it — 0.3 by 0.7 mil — but this diamond is nude rather than bonded, and that is the change.

A bonded tip is a diamond chip fixed to a metal shank. A nude diamond is a single stone mounted straight to the cantilever. The shape at the groove is identical; the mass behind it is not.

Fit, Profile and Compatibility

Which Bodies It Belongs On

Sumiko states it plainly: “Rainier, Olympia, Moonstone, Wellfleet and Amethyst use interchangeable stylus replacements,” and adds that “The cartridge bodies are identical with the exception of Amethyst, which uses an enhanced anatomy but remains compatible with the full range of styli.”

So the nude diamond is not locked to the cartridge Sumiko sells it on. Any body in the group takes it, which turns what would normally be a cartridge upgrade into a stylus purchase.

The Numbers That Matter at Setup

The published gain is real. On a Wellfleet body Sumiko quotes 27 dB of channel separation against 25 dB lower down, channel balance under 1 dB rather than 1.5 dB, and a frequency response reaching 30 kHz against 25 kHz.

Output is 3.0 mV, compliance 12 × 10⁻⁶ cm/dyn, and tracking force runs 1.8 to 2.2 g with 2.0 g recommended. The cantilever is a 0.5 mm aluminum pipe, the same tube the rung below uses, so the diamond is genuinely the only variable.

See It in Action

Who Is the RS Wellfleet Best For?

• Your Wellfleet is worn — the nude diamond is the part that wears out
• You own a Rainier, Olympia or Moonstone — the styli interchange, so a nude diamond goes straight onto your body
• You want the separation — 27 dB published, against 25 dB on the bonded tips
• Your system resolves it — response to 30 kHz and 1 dB channel balance need a system that shows the difference
• Yours is one of the older Sumikos — Oyster, Pearl or Black Pearl — each takes its own stylus and none accepts this one; find them in replacement styli

How Do You Fit It?

Nothing comes off the arm. Pull the old assembly straight off the front of the cartridge by its housing and press this one on until it seats. Set tracking force to 2.0 g afterwards; the alignment you set when the cartridge went on is still correct.

Pairs Well With

What most Wellfleet owners shop alongside.

• Stylus force gauges — how you set the 2.0 g this one asks for
• Stylus cleaning — what decides how long the new tip lasts
• Record cleaning solutions — a clean record is the cheapest stylus insurance there is
• Record brushes — a pass before each side keeps grit out of the groove

Frequently Asked Questions

Will it fit my cartridge?

Sumiko lists Rainier, Olympia, Moonstone, Wellfleet and Amethyst as taking interchangeable styli. The Oyster, Pearl and Black Pearl are earlier designs with their own parts.

What does nude change if the dimensions match?

The diamond is one piece rather than a chip on a carrier, so less mass sits at the tip. Sumiko's published figures move with it: separation to 27 dB and response to 30 kHz.

What tracking force should I set?

Sumiko specifies 1.8 to 2.2 g and recommends 2.0 g. Use a gauge — this assembly is more revealing of a careless setting than the bonded tips are.

How long does a stylus last?

Around 1,000 hours is the usual figure, though it turns on how clean your records are and how accurately the cartridge is set up. A worn tip damages records, so replace it on schedule rather than by ear.

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