View Full Version : Inherited vintage gear - Garrard, Leak, SME
Hi all, I've posted briefly in a new members thread, but thought I'd say something in here too.
I've inherited some nice old gear that belonged to my Dad, and I'm aiming to get it back in working order if I can. I'm currently using his Audio Innovations series 500 which sounds great, but there's also a Leak Stereo 20 I fancy getting going again. Has anyone any recommendations on where to get it checked over, and once that's done what preamps would be a good match ? I've got the Varislope preamp, but apparently they aren't much good compared to modern designs - there's also a Troughline tuner that might be worth having serviced too.
I've also got his Garrard 301, SME 12" arm and Ortofon SPU to get going again if I can afford it !
The Black Adder
11-11-2014, 14:14
Hello Roy.
You have some stonking kit there.
Sure, the Leak Stereo 20 I can wholeheartedly recommend Paul at Classique Sounds.
Some quality stuff there! I had my Leak amps done by Radford Revival, and can recommend the work. I think he has a thread in the Dealer section.
I hope you can afford to get the Garrard up and running, as the really expensive aprt is buying all of that gear. There are lots of on-line pages for how to DIY the service of the TT, and you can't go wrong sending the arm to Audio Origami for a checkup and rewire if necessary. J7's prices are quite reasonable.
Mark Pope
11-11-2014, 19:15
Hi Roy,
some lovely equipment to remember your Dad. If it was me, I'd take my time and get things like the deck, arm and cartridge restored properly rather than rush into things. Northwest Analogue can service your deck (http://www.northwestanalogue.com/services-and-prices.html), though I have never used them myself. I am sure there are others out there that fellow AOSers could recommend.
SME would also be able to help with the arm, assuming it needs attention.
Good luck with your restoration adventures and keep us posted!
Gordon Steadman
11-11-2014, 19:31
I second Classique Sounds.
They did my Quad 57s and made a great job of them. I use a Stereo20 with them now. I've tried many pre-amps with it but always come back to the little Creek passive. If you can stand the thought of only two inputs and a tape loop, its a terrific combination, especially as my new found lazyitus means I enjoy the remote control. I also find the Creek phono (which you would need with the 301 of course) to be great value and not very far behind the Firebottle I now use. A cost effective way if you buy second hand on ebay.
The 301 is a great deck and well worth getting fettled. Mine was nicked and I am still fuming after 12 years:steam:
Hi Roy,
some lovely equipment to remember your Dad. If it was me, I'd take my time and get things like the deck, arm and cartridge restored properly rather than rush into things. Northwest Analogue can service your deck (http://www.northwestanalogue.com/services-and-prices.html), though I have never used them myself. I am sure there are others out there that fellow AOSers could recommend.
SME would also be able to help with the arm, assuming it needs attention.
Good luck with your restoration adventures and keep us posted!
I'll be speaking to Dom at NWA about the turntable, arm and cartridge - I may have to do this in stages depending on the cost, but I'm sure it'll be worth it in the end.
Martyn Miles
12-11-2014, 14:54
Hi Roy,
some lovely equipment to remember your Dad. If it was me, I'd take my time and get things like the deck, arm and cartridge restored properly rather than rush into things. Northwest Analogue can service your deck (http://www.northwestanalogue.com/services-and-prices.html), though I have never used them myself. I am sure there are others out there that fellow AOSers could recommend.
SME would also be able to help with the arm, assuming it needs attention.
Good luck with your restoration adventures and keep us posted!
Re. the Garrard, you could try Loricraft.
Having a close look at the the SPU there is a small crack in the case - is this likely to be a problem in use ? Sorry for the poor quality phone pic for now...
http://i766.photobucket.com/albums/xx301/roydavisuk/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0363_zpsudazcwgo.jpg (http://s766.photobucket.com/user/roydavisuk/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0363_zpsudazcwgo.jpg.html)
http://i766.photobucket.com/albums/xx301/roydavisuk/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0366_zpsztzfkpd2.jpg (http://s766.photobucket.com/user/roydavisuk/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0366_zpsztzfkpd2.jpg.html)
An here's a couple of pics of the 301 -
http://i766.photobucket.com/albums/xx301/roydavisuk/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0368_zpsmzlfezqj.jpg (http://s766.photobucket.com/user/roydavisuk/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0368_zpsmzlfezqj.jpg.html)
http://i766.photobucket.com/albums/xx301/roydavisuk/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0370_zpsta1bn2oc.jpg (http://s766.photobucket.com/user/roydavisuk/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0370_zpsta1bn2oc.jpg.html)
walpurgis
18-11-2014, 20:05
I wouldn't worry about the crack, the lower case is largely cosmetic. The cartridge itself is a separate, pretty solid unit inside and supported by the top section. It may be the photos, but is the stylus quite straight? It looks slightly skewed. An old SPU like this would be best serviced by a good specialist before serious use. The rubber cantilever pivot is known to start coming loose from the front of the cartridge body with age and the diamond stylus tip may have wear.
The 301 looks rather nice. Again it would be best inspected and serviced. It may not need much attention. I'd keep that myself, it's a very good turntable.
I wouldn't worry about the crack, the lower case is largely cosmetic. The cartridge itself is a separate, pretty solid unit inside and supported by the top section. It may be the photos, but is the stylus quite straight? It looks slightly skewed. An old SPU like this would be best serviced by a good specialist before serious use. The rubber cantilever pivot is known to start coming loose from the front of the cartridge body with age and the diamond stylus tip may have wear.
The 301 looks rather nice. Again it would be best inspected and serviced. It may not need much attention. I'd keep that myself, it's a very good turntable.
I agree: in fact the lower part of the case can be removed by undoing the screw. Some think the SPU sounds better withouth the lower plate (I do not). The Ortofon SPUGTE is a heavy cartridge (it has an inbuilt transformer), so the SME 3012 arm is a classic partner for it. In fact the SME arm was designed to partner the Ortofon SPU (hence the use of the Ortofon designed EIA bayonet arm/headshell coupling).
It's difficult to assess the condition of the stylus/cantilever from your photo, so it would be best to have it inspected by someone who has a microscope.
Thanks Barry - The SME looks in good condition other than probably needing a rewire -
http://i766.photobucket.com/albums/xx301/roydavisuk/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0367_zps92cvtmsb.jpg (http://s766.photobucket.com/user/roydavisuk/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0367_zps92cvtmsb.jpg.html)
Sorry for the awful phone photo...
I have a microscope, so I'll take a better look at the SPU.
I've had quotes for getting it all refurbished and a slate plinth made for the Garrard, but it's really stretching my budget..
Yours is a Mk. I version of the 3012, without the later anti-skating mechanism fitted . These are comparitively rare. There is not much to go wrong with these arms, but it might be worth checking that the horizontal bearing moves freely, and that the lift-lower device also operates smoothly.
The 4-way signal connector at the base of the arm is unique and differs from the later Belling & Lee connector used on the later Mk. II arms. If you want to change the arm lead you will have to re-use the plug, or replace the arm base connector with say two RCA phono sockets.
Hi Barry,
Some think the SPU sounds better withouth the lower plate (I do not).
Interesting… In what way do you find that the SPU sounds worse without the lower plate fitted? As you know, my own experience tells me differently :)
Marco.
:popcorn: :popcorn:
Marco.
Hi Marco,
I may have been a little dogmatic with my somewhat perfunctory remark: “I do not”, but I do believe that whilst the cover plate of the housing of the SPU cartridge may be largely cosmetic; its removal causes the remainder of the housing to become less rigid and thus capable of resonating to the detriment of the SQ.
I have listened to the SPU both with and without the cover plate, and feel that the focus and solidity of the stereo image is slightly better with the cover plate in place. Not ‘day and night’ by any means, but sufficient for me not to want to leave the cover removed.
A similar experience was found experimenting with removing the very thin metal shell covering the generator of the Linn Asak cartridge. Some say it can make for an improvement; I didn’t find that – in fact I felt that in exposing the generator: its coils and magnets could cause a degradation in the signal to noise ratio, as well as allow the accumulation of ferrous metallic detritus. I have similar thoughts regarding all 'nuded' cartridges.
However, like a lot of things in this hobby of ours: what one listener prefers will not necessarily be preferred by another.
Cheers
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