401/Slatedeck/SME and Pioneer DDs

[shane]

A good friend of mine is having a clearout on ebay. Worth a look:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GARRARD-401-SME-312-SLATEDECK-AUDIOPHILE-DREAM-/250857215547?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiF i_Turntables&hash=item3a6841563b#ht_1063wt_1139

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PIONEER-PL-L1000-DIRECT-DRIVE-PARALLEL-TRACKING-T-TABLE-/250857267487?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiF i_Turntables&hash=item3a6842211f#ht_500wt_1156

I'm trying to resist the temptation to mount the workings of one of those PL-L1000s in a suitable piece of slate. Shouldn't be too difficult....

[Thing Fish]

The garrard is worth a punt if it stays under £800.

[Alex_UK]

The garrard is worth a punt if it stays under £800.

No chance! If it stays below £1,500 I'll be amazed...

[vinylspinner]

Hi Alex,

I reckon it will fetch £1650, this is a bit like antique hunt show or what ever it is called on TV, go on have a stab, a pint for the nearest guess :lol:

Nigel

[Alex_UK]

Hi Alex,

I reckon it will fetch £1650, this is a bit like antique hunt show or what ever it is called on TV, go on have a stab, a pint for the nearest guess :lol:

Nigel

I'm a bit biased being a 401 owner, but I still think it would be a bargain at that. Decent 401s go for £500, and £2-300 for a service (more if you get Loirricraft to do it...) the slate plinth has to be worth at least £600, an SME 312 new is another grand - so say £600 s/h - a Goldring Elite is about £330 new, so even only allowing say £100 for that, must be close to £2k... I reckon you'd struggle to find a better turntable at that money, either... Anyway, my guess - £1,870. :)

[hornucopia]

£1901

[Thing Fish]

So knowing how mad fleabay is it will probably top £2000.

[Alex_UK]

So knowing how mad fleabay is it will probably top £2000.

Wouldn't surprise me - there's an almost identical SlateDeck plinth for a 301 at £1,200 B.I.N. So I reckon my £600 is very conservative. Of course, it is only worth £1,200 if someone actually buys it, but even a single-tier 401 plinth is on at £700.

[keiths]

I'm sure it'll go for over two grand. Let's say £2,125.

[Thing Fish]

Its in my watch list. Lets see how far someone is prepared to go...?

[aquapiranha]

Lovely looking decks there, I like the look of the Pioneers!

Still, I simply cannot believe how much these slate plinths cost (and ply ones for that matter) as anyone with a bit of nouse about them can find a piece of slate and get it machined surely, saving hundreds! :scratch:

[Thing Fish]

I too wonder why a square of slate 200mm thick with a large section cut out can cost £1,300 pounds. It seems very high to me.

[Alex_UK]

I too wonder why a square of slate 200mm thick with a large section cut out can cost £1,300 pounds. It seems very high to me.

Ah, you see, you've fallen into the trap - you need special audiophile slate - you can't just go digging up any old rock out of the ground and expect it to sound fabulous. And then there's the cutting - you can't just use any old saw, the motor has to be powered by a samarium cobalt magnet, and the blade has to be impregnated with elliptical diamonds, and that's before we even start looking at the polishing and the special oil you need for that... ;)

[keiths]

and the special oil you need for that... ;)

Unicorn pish

[vinylspinner]

Hi Guys

If anyone wants slate plinths I make them! just keep it small and local at the moment with local delivery or collection, but would be prepared to deliver further away if the interest was there.

pm if interested and I will email pics.


Nigel

[Alex_UK]

£1,330 - 2 mins to go - it's gonna go mental in a mo...

[keiths]

£1,702 - someone got a bargain.

[Alex_UK]

£1,702 - someone got a good deal.

[Alex_UK]

:lol:

[bogle111]

Ah, you see, you've fallen into the trap - you need special audiophile slate - you can't just go digging up any old rock out of the ground and expect it to sound fabulous. And then there's the cutting - you can't just use any old saw, the motor has to be powered by a samarium cobalt magnet, and the blade has to be impregnated with elliptical diamonds, and that's before we even start looking at the polishing and the special oil you need for that... ;)

I trust that you said that with tongue in cheek.:lol:

Agreed that you cannot take any old rock out of the ground, but there has been a lot of cods written about "audiophile slate". There are several types of slate in Wales, some that is suitable for plinths, others that are not. "Any old saw" - granted, but you should see what some mills are using. You do need copious amounts of water for the cutting though. As for polishing, yes you need specialist abrasives, with different coarseness.

I have slate here that you would swear is granite by the finish and lustre achieved - like glass reflection. The only oil required is in the final finishing or polishing - you can use mineral oil if in contact with food, or a mix of Linseed oil (raw not boiled) and white spirit for a sustaining polish to bring out grain or colour - we call ours Dragon's Breath.

I have designed several slate products, including kitchen unit handles (£800 - £1200 depending on number) in slate. We have done strength tests and acoustical quality checks on both soft and more brittle types of slate. I have found claims by some slate plinth makers to be somewhere between "Snake Oil" and a "Fictional Novel".

Slate is very good, but better when mixed with another material or materials as well. North Wales is musical - yes - but it doesn't grow "audiofile slate" unless it comes from a very small mill in the hills up a trail you wouldn't drive tractor up, that is now defunct, then it becomes "special slate".

A really good, very thick piece of slate (one man can't lift it) with water cutting can be had for about £300 all in - if you do the cutting out about £220 - it ain't rocket science. Poorer quality slate is cheaper. Oh yes, you have to do the lugging and running around at these prices.

[Thing Fish]

Thanks for that Peter.

So how do you think £1300+ for a 200mm thick piece justifies itself...?