emailists
there were speed wars, size wars, and equalization wars.
you seem to have a misunderstanding of the RIAA curve that won the equalization wars.
the EQ curve is identical today to the EQ curve that was normalized way back when. Cartridges then, and now, and bass signals then and now are cut, traced, and boosted the same progressive amount they always were. Same for highs, same now as it was.
LP = LONG play.
In order to get MORE material onto the 12" size that won (MORE material), at 33 rpm speed that won (to get MORE music per inch than a faster speed):
BASS was electronically CUT, to minimize the physical WIDTH of the grooves, so MORE grooves could be included, thus LONG PLAY!
Then, the reduced bass was electronically boosted to be EQUAL to the original prior to being cut.
The opposite was done to the highs.
any cartridge that was able to produce MORE bass, prior to the boost in Eq would produce exaggerated bass.
music with a ton of bass is recorded/mixed to be that way, and to end up that way after the good old eq curve does it’s thing. it ain’t the cartridge.
remastering to get more bass is simply pandering to current bass heavy trends.
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aside from RIAA standard, just like Fletcher Munson 'Loudness' curves, any engineer or equipment maker may choose intentionally to vary something. a mistake could lead to a preference, but this has nothing to do with cartridge bass output then and now.