New Cartridge or New Stylus

Bill,

True, some say tracking at 3 g is not too much

Primary in my mind is stylus self-wear, after all, 2 g is 60% more force than 1.25g

The forces involved of a stylus in a groove are TREMENDOUS.

Thanks for the AT recommendations. They are triple the cost of items I listed. I’m not in favor of paying trump tariffs for them either. 
 

Additionally I tried an Audio Technica SS445E/U with both the orignal nude stylus and an LP Gear Shibata style stylus - it was too bright. Would the recommendation be a similar sound signature or different?

Replace the stylus!

In your budget, I might try this

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650258731-empire-999-tex-cartridge-and-stylus/

NOS and/or replacement stylus are available

https://www.lpgear.com/product/EMS0999TEXERD.html

https://www.lpgear.com/product/EMPS0999TEX.html

here’s one with a new aftermarket stylus, same price

https://reverb.com/item/85452396-70-s-empire-90ee-x-turntable-phono-cartridge-excellent-condition-with-brand-new-80-s-fidelitone-elliptical-diamond-stylus-90-ee-x?utm_source=aw&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hifishark.com&sv1=affiliate&sv_campaign_id=536903&awc=67144_1762008288_cefcedb8698fa87337f892cfdc1518d1

Elliott,

Self wear of a stylus is an interesting subject.  One thing I have found to help is Stylast, which I use before playing each side of each record.  Whether you use Stylast or not, it is critically important to keep the stylus clean of course.  As you know, I am a big proponent of frequent inspection of the stylus.  Doing so will reveal early signs of uneven wear or problems of misalignment that went undetected during initial set up.  The use of AnalogMagik is very new for me, but it is hoped that the greater accuracy that it affords will reduce if not completely eliminate such problems.  Time will tell.  I can say that with proper set up, frequent inspection, and with cleaning and Stylast my Hyperion stylus, recently retipped for the first time lasted for not quite 2,000 hours.  It tracks at 2.0 grams and is mounted in a VPI HW40.  I doubt that any of the many Shure V15s that I used for many years lasted that long, but I am not certain.  I still have a Shure V15MR mounted in an SME series III arm, but it is currently not even mounted on the HW19 for which it is set up.