70’s rock pressings. Witch equipment deserve?

Had a really interesting experience way back when a friend brought over a MFSL half speed mastered pressing of Sticky Fingers. 
 
We waited with baited breath for the stylus to hit the vinyl to be finally rewarded by ...,
A very flat, bland and totally uninvolving sound.

Upon reaching for my well played early English pressing (complete with real zipper!) we were rewarded with a ballsy dynamic sound just bursting with life and energy. The difference was not subtle. 

The moral: not all vintage rock vinyl sucks.
And if you can, try before you buy.
Or maybe it was just the zipper?

If I get a cart. w/ shibata, micro ridge, line contact etc and can’t adjust for VTA is there still a difference between them and an eliptical/ conical?. Grace 707 arm.

First of all you have to check do you really need to adjust VTA, then (if you need) you can add cartridge spacer between headshell and cartrisdge, you can also change the mat (different thickness) so i think you can adjust more or less. I’m not familiar with Grace tonearms, you can swap it with excellent and inexpensive Denon DA-401 tonearm with adjustable VTA.

It is true that conical tip is less sensitive to errors in adjustment, but some people overestimate a problem with adjustment when it comes to advanced profiles.

As with any other genre it pays it have the original pressing; rock is no different!
The originals of King Crimson, Yes, Jimi Hendricks, Crosby Stills Nash; too many to mention, but yes, it pays to have good playback. There are some awesome recordings out there!!

Thank you guys, you helped me a lot.
1.- buy yourself a nice vintage MM cartridge from the same era with Line Contact type stylus (avoid spherical/conical or elliptical). 

2.-All of the prog bands had many great recordings on Island, TFCL, Deram, Chrysalis, Manticore, Virgin, Harvest....

3.-Regadring turntables you can always buy brand new Technics Direct Drive like SL1200GR for example. 

4.-The price doesn't dictate what your ears will like.
5.- Be careful with the new MFSL, Direct to Disc... new pressings!
6.- Technics DD + SME V arm can suck the life of any deck.
You're great! be safe!

@Baylinor 

 I’m about to take the plunge to LP’s too

I’m interested in the Puffin comment ?

Is the Puffin is as good as the Moon phono pre ?
Why don’t you play them all on the Lyra  set up?

sorry for all the questions ?   I’ve been temped by the Puffin , but all the anolog guys say to stay 100% analog if you’re going lp 

jeff