The body is made with hand-selected tone wood maple, a wood used specifically for violins.

Analog Relax insists on using only all natural wood for the bodies of our cartridges. Why? Making cartridge bodies with resin or metal produces much greater yield, and is more efficient at manufacture.

Why would we go out of our way to use wood? It is because we believe that cartridges are instruments to play records in their own right.

What are most famous musical instruments made with? Yes: they are made with wood. And this is nearly inevitable.This is because, as you know, each and every cell within wood is surrounded by a cellular wall made with cellulose. The cells lose their water when the wood is dried, but the cellular walls allow them to maintain their form, leaving uneven spaces (holes) throughout. Air vibrating within these holes creates an organic sound.

This is why wood always was, and remains the main material used in musical instruments to this very day. Resins and metals result in an even material, but do not produce the same sound as wood. It is for this reason that we insist on using wood for our bodies.

・The EX500 model that we are offering has brought this insistence to the next level.
・The body of the EX500 uses the finest hard maple, which is used in the necks backboards of violins.
・It is made with the finest hand-selected maple wood for instrument manufacture, found primarily in Romania.
・Enjoy a tone only possible with tone wood selected specifically for instruments.