Garrard Zero 100 Record Deck

[Audio Al]

Garrard Zero 100 Record Deck

Anyone have any comments re this TT

I have seen one for Sale ( as everyone else has probably :lol:)

Just curious as to the performance and value :)

[DSJR]

Looks fab, works well once the old hardened grease is removed, but Dual it ain't sadly :(

Garrard worked hard on the Zero 100 to improve tolerances and the later SB model had an improved auto-trip which mimicked the Dual (slider softly pivoted at the arm end and sliding on a ball bearing at the turntable end) and even the older type can be faultless as long as the pawls on the main cam aren't oiled and are free to move totally dry (my related AP76 had totally seized up here), but the fit and finish of the arm and controls is sloppy in comparison with, say, a Dual 1216 which I think cost about the same from memory... The Dual arm is a better grade of device too with individually set bearings rather than using gravity and spring loading as Garrard did, with some success in fairness.

The sound of one of these is pleasant once the mech is cleaned and working, the exit cables are replaced with new ones and the earthing optimised (keep the signal screens/returns separate from the chassis and earth this latter seperately. Don't expect reference "transcription" performance though, but with a Stanton 681EEE, Me97XE, AT120E or 440MLa and similar medium compliance 1.5g trackers, I think you may like the music that comes out.....

[Beobloke]

I think what Dave is trying to say is - if it's a good one, it will sound very nice, and I concur completely!

Frankly, although the Duals are better engineered and beautifully built, I have always found them to sound a bit drab.

[Covenant]

I seem to remember the cover was a pain in the backside. A little arm on one side held it up but the rear of the cover slipped out of the groove. (SB I am talking about)

[StanleyB]

If you are on a budget then I would suggest the Sansui SR-222. The later versions like the MKIV are extremely good. A few people tend to lift their noses up at the SR-222 given that it came out at a time when the Linn LP-12 and Thorens range were heavily hyped in the HIFI mags of the time.

[dantheman91]

My first turntable to start me off in Hi-Fi wish i had'nt sold it :doh:

[walpurgis]

I concur with the foregoing.

Give me a Dual over a Zero 100, but the Garrard is still fun.

And I'd sooner track down a Sansui SR-525 than SR-222 for similar money!

[ninedecks]

My Zero 100S is the only automatic that I own.
With a Shure V15 111, a lovely sound.

[awkwardbydesign]

(slider softly pivoted at the arm end and sliding on a ball bearing at the turntable end) and even the older type can be faultless as long as the pawls on the main cam aren't oiled and are free to move totally dry
Why do I get aroused when I read this? Nurse!

[walpurgis]

My Zero 100S is the only automatic that I own.
With a Shure V15 111, a lovely sound.

You can't beat a good automatic. Just pop a full clip in, work the slide to cock it and put a round in the breach, click the safety on and you're ready to go.

[DSJR]

Frankly, although the Duals are better engineered and beautifully built, I have always found them to sound a bit drab.

No, no, you're complete wrong :)

The Duals I'm thinking of sound anything but drab. Just get a 1216, 1218, 1219, 1229, fit a Shure M75-ED to them (the V15 III will do at a pinch) and enjoy the wonderful sonics. I don't know why, but this is one series of decks that LOVE the 75-ED and I feel similar vibes using my V15 II (new old stylus) in the 701, the powerful bass and clear midrange (no obvious treble suckout, just a slight "restraint" up there :)).

No substitute for owning and using some of these things for a few decades you know :lol:

[Stefaan]

When I was about 19 I bought a Zero 100sb, but it insisted on returning the arm before the records had finished playing. So I returned it to the shop, only to have the replacement behave in exactly the same way. So I swapped it for a Lenco L78 and didn't look back.

Take care,

Stefaan

[DSJR]

Shouldn't have happened on a new deck, since by this time Garrard really had all but sorted arm bearing friction and the behaviour of the trip linkages/pawls. All it would have needed though, was the assembly lady? to have oiled the pawls accidentally (as was possibly an occurrence on earlier models I remember) and this would be enough to do what you suggest.

The Zero 100 based models (there were a few variants, mainly for the US), are icons in their own way I reckon. The arm was intriguing and a definite conversation piece, Overhang is adjustable (a first for Garrard auto tonearms), fine pitch adjustment was available on the idler version and platter height better optimised on the SB model.

One version I'd love to hear and possibly own is the Zero 2000 model, with TD124-esque idler/belt hybris drive (motor drives idler and gives fine speed adjustment. Idler has belt pulley attached and this drives the platter).

[Stefaan]

All it would have needed though, was the assembly lady? to have oiled the pawls accidentally (as was possibly an occurrence on earlier models I remember) and this would be enough to do what you suggest.
In my case, the two turntables I got exhibited the early return problem. The shop had the second specimen examined, serviced and adjusted, but to no avail. I really liked the turntable because of its linear tracking tonearm, so it was with some sadness I swapped it for the L78.

The Zero 100 based models (there were a few variants, mainly for the US), are icons in their own way I reckon. The arm was intriguing and a definite conversation piece, Overhang is adjustable (a first for Garrard auto tonearms), fine pitch adjustment was available on the idler version and platter height better optimised on the SB model.
Unfortunately, the amp and speakers I had at that time (1974) were not good enough to allow me to compare Garrard and the Lenco. I just remember that with a Shure M91ED they both sounded a lot better than the little Philips 22GA105 turntable http://www.ecc.lu/tiddly/Philips_22GA105.jpg with a ceramic pickup they replaced.

One version I'd love to hear and possibly own is the Zero 2000 model, with TD124-esque idler/belt hybris drive (motor drives idler and gives fine speed adjustment. Idler has belt pulley attached and this drives the platter).It looks impressive, but I wonder why they went through the trouble of adding a six-disk changer mechanism. It does make sense for 78rpm records (my Dad treasured his Messiah directed by Adrian Boult; six shellac 78rpm disks on the Dual changer, with the sides recorded so that the whole stack could be lifted from the player and reversed to play sides 7 to 12), but for LPs it seems like unneeded complexity.

Take care,

Stefaan

[synsei]

http://www.ecc.lu/tiddly/Philips_22GA105.jpg

OMG, that takes me back. I have a sudden urge to dig out my flared jeans and flowery, wide collared shirts... :lol:

[Rare Bird]

Believe it or not, at the time, to buy the 'Zero 100' would more expensive than opting for the '401' motor unit.

[synsei]

Believe it or not, at the time, to buy the 'Zero 100' would more expensive than opting for the '401' motor unit.

:stalks:

[DSJR]

The main market for these bigger auto decks was the US I think, and looking on fleabay US from time to time has thrown up all sorts of models we never ever saw in the UK (SLX3 for example, with counterbalanced low mass tonearm and ceramic cartridge from the 3500 changer Bush used in their better record players and I think there were others too).

All these decks had a small centre spindle with rotating collet for auto handling of single records and this is how most were used in the UK I reckon. The manual AP76 was very popular and Garrard even did an AP96 for a while, with synchro-lab version of the series 2 motor and chunky veneered arm from the SL95 series.

In the UK, the Zero 100SB model gave way to the clumsy (to operate) GT55, with voltage controlled motor and horrid sliding levers which were too stiff in operation. By this time, we were selling the Dual decks and they were so much better in every way the Garrards sort-of faded away. As Andr'e says, the 401 was discounted for around £50plus plinth and arm in the mid 70's at the end of its life.