What's with the bad rap about Grado cartridges?

David, you are right, the Decca London is a unique design which I believe dates back to the 1940s. Upgrades over the years resulted in the Gold & Super Gold in the 70s still based on the same design but in what appears to be a painted tin case. Subsequent Jubilee and Reference refined the design further. Decca London changed hands but ultimately was taken by an ex employee who continued to use the name London Decca providing service and new models until retirement earlier this year. The business has evidently been handed over to a new stylus expert who currently provides service and plans to manufacture new models.

Pricing of secondhand cartridges varies, I was able to get mine at a very reasonable price, marked as a NOS Gold model it actually proved to be a Super Gold (basically fine line rather than elliptical stylus), new one a box from '70s. It works perfectly and is pretty special. There are many write ups about the 'Decca sound', the cantilever design giving a very vibrant, dynamic response. Nothing is perfect, the sound stage lacks depth, it's not the best tracker and it does not like imperfections but on the right record it really sings.

I wouldn't be without other cartridges but the Decca is something else.