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Ali Tait
20-06-2011, 15:52
This appeared in the boot of my car after Owston. No idea how it got there. :scratch:

That's what I'm telling the other half anyway!

http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/1728/imag0180v.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/829/imag0180v.jpg/)

Alex_UK
20-06-2011, 16:13
Nice one Ali - what plans have you got for it? Plinth/arm/cart etc? Still not got round to sorting mine, but still sounds amazing even in its current state. Love 'em!

JazzBones
20-06-2011, 16:16
:lolsign: Struth, can I park my car next to yours next time you go?

Ron :)

Stratmangler
20-06-2011, 16:29
S'funny - I saw one just like that in Mr. I's conveyance :eyebrows:
Thanks for fetching the Techie down - 'tis much appreciated.

Ali Tait
20-06-2011, 16:32
Nice one Ali - what plans have you got for it? Plinth/arm/cart etc? Still not got round to sorting mine, but still sounds amazing even in its current state. Love 'em!

Haven't a clue really Alex. Probably a slate plinth. Maybe a Trans-Fi arm, or a 12-inch arm of some description. Cartridge I haven't got a clue! Oh, and a Nick Gorham phono stage of course.

It's a long term project though, I've other things to sort first.

John
20-06-2011, 17:34
It looks like you got yourself a good TT
I hope to read a DIY write up soon lol

Marco
20-06-2011, 17:39
Way hey, nice one Ali - you've now crossed over to dee dark side, man.... :eyebrows:

Marco.

Thing Fish
20-06-2011, 18:02
Looks very nice. If I ever decided to move away from my Ivor the engine the 401 strikes me as a good project.

Jonboy
20-06-2011, 18:04
Nice one Ali :thumbsup:, i'm yet to succombe

Ali Tait
20-06-2011, 18:07
S'funny - I saw one just like that in Mr. I's conveyance :eyebrows:
Thanks for fetching the Techie down - 'tis much appreciated.

Yes it did a bit!

You're welcome mate.

Ali Tait
20-06-2011, 18:08
Way hey, nice one Ali - you've now crossed over to dee dark side, man.... :eyebrows:

Marco.

Aye, I just keep thinking how much this is going to cost... :doh:

Dominic Harper
20-06-2011, 19:09
Do you want some prices? :lolsign:

MCRU
20-06-2011, 19:17
The plinth looks ok for starters, just an arm and cartridge and tone-arm lead will get you going, I am sure everyone on here can sort you out for a reasonable cost without going silly just to get the vinyl spinning?

Ali Tait
20-06-2011, 19:25
The plinth is cut for a 12" arm. Any suggestions?

Ali Tait
20-06-2011, 19:41
Anyone used one of these?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/12-INCH-JELCO-SA-750LB-TONE-ARM-NEW-BOXED-RRP-600-NEW-/170632129510?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiF i_Turntables&hash=item27ba77abe6#ht_3897wt_905

Peter Stockwell
20-06-2011, 19:44
This appeared in the boot of my car after Owston. No idea how it got there. :scratch:

That's what I'm telling the other half anyway!



That's so 20th century !

Dominic Harper
20-06-2011, 19:45
The Jelco 12" arm is a bit of a bargain and would be a great match for a nice MC cart.

Ali Tait
20-06-2011, 19:55
Won't be buying anything yet, I have the direct coupled amps to pay for first!

Alex_UK
20-06-2011, 20:18
Anyone used one of these?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/12-INCH-JELCO-SA-750LB-TONE-ARM-NEW-BOXED-RRP-600-NEW-/170632129510?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiF i_Turntables&hash=item27ba77abe6#ht_3897wt_905

That's probably what I would go for - absolute bargain for a 12" arm.

Reid Malenfant
20-06-2011, 20:25
Anyone used one of these?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/12-INCH-JELCO-SA-750LB-TONE-ARM-NEW-BOXED-RRP-600-NEW-/170632129510?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiF i_Turntables&hash=item27ba77abe6#ht_3897wt_905
Oooh, that looks totally gorgeous in black to! :drool: :drool:

Just my opinion, others may prefer silver but black anodising does it for me :eyebrows:

Ali Tait
20-06-2011, 20:44
That's so 20th century !

Aye, but they can sound so good...

Peter Stockwell
21-06-2011, 06:57
Yes Ali, the can sound good, just like British sportscars from the same period could be realiable ;)

Seriously, they can be mightily seductive, but mine was too high maintenance for me. The Teccie suits me better.

Clive
21-06-2011, 09:36
Seriously, they can be mightily seductive, but mine was too high maintenance for me. The Teccie suits me better.
A 401 being high maintenance is worrying! Aside from the occasional oil change once set up there should be nothing to do for ages.

Beobloke
21-06-2011, 10:14
A 401 being high maintenance is worrying! Aside from the occasional oil change once set up there should be nothing to do for ages.

That's exactly what I was thinking. I've owned my 301 for 20 years (and my uncle owned it for 30 years before that) and the motor has been stripped down once to refresh the oil. Even then, I only did this because I was pulling the whole thing apart to fit it into a new plinth and thought I might as well!

Other than that, and changing the bearing to a Kokomo type in order to review it, it's on its original idler and eddy current brake disc and has had no other attention. In my experience they tend to be reliable beasts that will run for years without any fettling - this is, after all, what they were designed to do!

Peter Stockwell
21-06-2011, 11:46
...but mine was too high maintenance for me.

I might have been unlucky, but mine wouldn't keep a constant speed. It didn't wow or flutter, it just sped up over time and needed either more braking or less voltage to keep 33 1/3 rpm. It just annoyed the hell out of me. Other than that it had great detail and slam, I even had it serviced twice. Nice Bastin plinth, the whole bit.

I'm still happier with the Teccie, even if it's like comparing a Jaguar MK10 with a Jaguar X series.

Rare Bird
21-06-2011, 11:50
Mine too Peter it use to settle down after 20 mins or so tho..

Mika K
21-06-2011, 12:00
Phew, that is a looong time waiting. Mine does the same in matter of minutes and it is still right from the start - so no problems like this here. Lucky me..

Ali Tait
21-06-2011, 14:05
Probably down to mains voltage variations.

Clive
21-06-2011, 14:10
I found my 301 to be resolutely immune to voltage variations, indeed I have to drop from 245V to 210V before I need to adjust the speed. Using a variac in this way was a bad idea (some use a light bulb in series with the mains), it simply robs the 301 of it's drive, yes it smooths the motor but kills the sound.

Mika K
21-06-2011, 14:32
Have also heard of many kinds of bulb tweaks etc.

I have noticed with my Garrards PSU made by Loricraft that playing with the torque setting (voltage) has a very noticeable effect to the character of the decks sound. The PSU also re-generates the waveform to the decks motor thus eliminating the small voltage variations at the mains.

With lower torque platter just spinning the correct speed the sound is more smooth and relaxed without the feeling of the proper pace and timing, a bit like many belt driven decks ;) With higher torque setting the impact and rhythmic drive is again present with something missing from the best finesse section. Personally I use the setting somewhere in between a bit balanced to the higher torque setting.. :cool:

Peter Stockwell
22-06-2011, 10:51
Probably down to mains voltage variations.

Not at all, imho. It would just never settle, it wouldn't go slower then faster, etc It would just go faster and faster and faster, The guy I sold it too, reported the same problem and sold it on to get a Notts analogue daias.

Clive
22-06-2011, 11:03
Not at all, imho. It would just never settle, it wouldn't go slower then faster, etc It would just go faster and faster and faster, The guy I sold it too, reported the same problem and sold it on to get a Notts analogue daias.
How old was the deck? 40 to 50 years? My guess is the lower bearing ran dry at sometime in that 40 to 50 years.....

Peter Stockwell
22-06-2011, 13:37
70s I think. I had the bearing checked first by Martin Bastin, and then by Slate Audio (a guy in Wales, can't remember his name, actually did the work).

Clive
22-06-2011, 13:44
70s I think. I had the bearing checked first by Martin Bastin, and then by Slate Audio (a guy in Wales, can't remember his name, actually did the work).
I was meaning the motor bearing, is that what was checked? (I should have been clearer)

Dominic Harper
22-06-2011, 14:04
Speed issues on the Garrards are usually down to the platter contact surface, idler wheel contact surface and pulley. All three need dressing and this should sort it out.
Dom

selfaddict
22-06-2011, 20:43
Hi Ali.

Nice choice, 401 is great TT and trouble free, at least mine has been :).

I have been using 12" Jelco (from the same seller as your link) since I got my 401 (from e-bay) and heavy plinth (from Russ Collinson).

You might want to add to your ever expanding list ;) heavier counterweigh and heavy headshell for low compliance carts like Denon DL-103 etc.

12" Jelco with heavy counterweight and SPU is match made in heaven by the way :eyebrows:

:cool:



Anyone used one of these?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/12-INCH-JELCO-SA-750LB-TONE-ARM-NEW-BOXED-RRP-600-NEW-/170632129510?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiF i_Turntables&hash=item27ba77abe6#ht_3897wt_905