Ortofon MC X30 broken cantilever - what are my options

+ for VAS as I had a very positive experience recently with inspection and cleaning. Also purchased a tonearm from Steve Leung there that I am very happy with. Unless you are in Great Britain I would not recommend sending anything to Expert Stylus. I tried it and had my cartridge hung up in Parcelforce (customs) for 3 months and ultimately had to have it returned without ever having reached the destination.

Your unfortunate experience with customs had nothing to do with Expert Stylus. In my experience their work is excellent and their service is speedy. I would not hesitate to do business with them again. It’s certainly not their fault that we are in a tariff war.

"Rather than paying the $500+ for the same cartridge (exchanged), Soundsmith can upgrade it to a Sapphire, Ruby, or Boron Cantilever - making it a MC X40 that sells for $1150.'

You will get a new cantilever/stylus GLUED to the remaining stub within the generator. 

You should call SS to confirm.

@tablejockey 

"You will get a new cantilever/stylus GLUED to the remaining stub within the generator. 

You should call SS to confirm."

I also want to add, I had VAS fix my friend’s Benz Micro Wood, with a new boron cantilever/microline, and Steve put a note on the cartridge’s box: DO NOT use liquid stylus cleaner, because the stylus tip is pushed into the factory cut hole and glued onto the boron rod.

I think I dissolved the glue on one he built for me, because one day the stylus tip was simply gone. Previously (no more) I frequently used AT’s and another brand's Liquid Stylus Cleaner. I don’t recall a warning, I suspect Steve assumed I knew more than I do. Of course I could have whacked the edge of the platter ’just so’.

In any case it’s fixed and I use a stronger magnifying mirror and brush only if I see something, not routinely for no reason except blind prevention, not fluid.

$75 for what apparently is a major upgrade?  I wouldn’t hesitate.