ADC G-U ()
Owners say this cartridge pulls detail out of the groove that most cartridges leave behind.
Overview
The ADC G-U is a stereo phono cartridge from a brand with 68 models, according to the archive. Where the G-U sits in that lineup isn't known. It doesn't shout about its lineage, and there are no press releases or vintage ads to point to. In turntable forums and parts suppliers it's still talked about in terms of performance, not nostalgia. One user named it as the cartridge on their Pioneer PL-530, a modest deck, but proof the G-U ended up in real systems and not just collector drawers.
This is a cartridge for someone who cares more about groove contact than brand name. The stylus is a special elliptical diamond, shaped to around 0.0003" x 0.0007". Nobody knows who designed it, or when, or what rival cartridge it was meant to out-track. The load is a 47 kOhm resistance and 275 pF of capacitance, standard enough for most vintage preamps. It weighs just 5.75 grams without screws, so the tonearm needs to be up to the job of controlling something this light.
And if you’re chasing that kind of precision, you’re also accepting a trade-off: fragility, scarcity, and the quiet panic of knowing a replacement stylus costs nearly seventy bucks and isn’t guaranteed to be in stock. But then again, if you’ve heard it, maybe that price feels justified.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | ADC |
| Product type | Stereo phono cartridge |
| Output voltage at 5cm/sec. | 6.1 mV |
| Frequency response | 15-22,000 Hz ± 2 dB |
| Separation | 26 dB |
| Stylus type | Elliptical |
| Stylus tip shape | Special elliptical diamond |
| Stylus tip radius | 0.0003" x 0.0007" |
| Tracking force range | 0.75-1.5g |
| Cartridge weight without screws | 5.75 g |
| Load resistance | 47 kOhm |
| Load capacitance | 275 pF |
| Replacement stylus | RSQ36 |
| Internal compliance specification | "M" = manual professional type (highest internal compliance specifications) |
Collectibility & Value
The ADC G-U itself doesn't appear to have a tracked resale market. There are no completed eBay sales, no auction records, no collector benchmarks. What is available is the replacement stylus, the RSQ36, priced at $69.95 from LP Gear. That's not cheap for a stylus tip, but it's a precision part for a niche cartridge. Owners report the stylus "offers superb tracking and tracing of record grooves and results in finer detail and harmonically complete sound quality." There's no data on common failures, repair difficulty, or long-term reliability beyond the stylus replacement path. Finding another G-U, or even a spare stylus, might not be easy.
Similar items on eBay
No exact ADC G-U listings are live right now — these searches show current ADC and similar vintage audio gear on eBay:
As an eBay Partner, we earn from qualifying purchases. This helps support our independent vintage technology research.