My new 401 project

[nuff]

Hi all, me again.
Thought I'd let you all know the TT2 has now left the country and is currently on its way to Austria.
I'm a little sad to see her go to be honest but hey ho onwards and upwards as the say.

Ok on with my next project. A 401 that I purchased from Tim (Captain Tidy) the true gent also delivered it from Dorset to Bristol for me!! Many thanks again Tim :pat:

Ok I'll start the thread with a few pictures.

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo14/nuff3rs/1141b20a774752aa7f2befbadf09fdcf_zps2pnykvah.jpg
http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo14/nuff3rs/0cad4656338f2a25018bbe2455255417_zpsws41ncwj.jpg
http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo14/nuff3rs/f500f6b95a43112b587f18a4e0207321_zpskrbjrzsg.jpg
http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo14/nuff3rs/3be627540ca271e2d01641141a3c3983_zpsyhe0uwsf.jpg
Spare Chassis.

As you can see it really is in beautiful condition. It's just such a shame someone decided to hack the corner off to fit the SME!
Anyway Tim had a spare chassis and also supplied me with the SME S2
I'm going to be making a temporary plinth tomorrow so I can still use it while I'm deciding on timbers for the plinth and the Color to spray the chassis. I'm thinking satin black! :fingers:

I'll keep you all updated of my progress as soon as I know more.
Right I'm off to the pub to drink lots of larger, have a great night everyone!!! :cool:

[Audio Al]

We all like a project :eyebrows:

[Wakefield Turntables]

Why the hell would anyone want to hack a 401 to bits especially the chasis?

I like the styling of the 401. Good luck

[walpurgis]

It would be worth repairing that chassis. A good automotive alloy wheel repairer could build that area up with alloy weld and reshape it. Seems a shame to bin it.

[nuff]

Why the hell would anyone want to hack a 401 to bits especially the chasis?

I like the styling of the 401. Good luck

I know! Crazy isn't it. Never mind I'll resurrect it.

[nuff]

It would be worth repairing that chassis. A good automotive alloy wheel repairer could build that area up with alloy weld and reshape it. Seems a shame to bin it.

I was thinking of using alloy wheel filler. It dries rock hard and is pretty cheap. I think I'll drill a peg or 2 into the chassis first to give it some strength.

[struth]

+1 on the supports.

[The Barbarian]

I was thinking of using alloy wheel filler. It dried rock hard and is pretty cheap. I think I'll drill a peg or 2 into the chassis first to give it some strength.

No get a piece of aluminium fine welded in, it will never move then..

[walpurgis]

I was thinking of using alloy wheel filler. It dried rock hard and is pretty cheap. I think I'll drill a peg or 2 into the chassis first to give it some strength.

Best done with weld though. It'll last.

[sq225917]

It's casting metal, can you weld it? I wouldn't have thought so. Metal powder body filler and pegs is the way forward.

[nuff]

It's casting metal, can you weld it? I wouldn't have thought so. Metal powder body filler and pegs is the way forward.

I think this will be my method. It's a lot easier to do myself, which I like to do.

[nuff]

Made a temporary stand/plinth this morning. Only took a couple of hours so no quality control here :lol:

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo14/nuff3rs/58f04e547ed75d5629bd59da49c9784e_zpsxjkmxdhb.jpg
http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo14/nuff3rs/8a55154a9dc1c19c8c25e74bf5d6fbbb_zpsfocg62hr.jpg
http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo14/nuff3rs/9c814ea36ced53107f8c8dd459c09a47_zpsdi5lqylg.jpg

I setup the tonearm too and span the Foo Fighters Greatest hits. I was quite impressed! It's the first time I've listened to the Denon 103r with the aluminium body and it really does tidy everything up!

[Tim]

Damn that's looking tidy already Nathan . . .

You do know it's just a temporary loaner and I'll need it back in 3 years time ;)

[nuff]

Damn that's looking tidy already Nathan . . .

You do know it's just a temporary loaner and I'll need it back in 3 years time ;)

I'm sorry Tim but there was no hand shake sealing that deal! :lol:

[Tim]

Doh! :doh:

I knew it was going to a good home ;)

[nuff]

Doh! :doh:

I knew it was going to a good home ;)

It's going to look beautiful when I've finished with it Tim. At the moment I'm thinking rippled sycamore plinth, A light coloured beading and a nice piece of American black walnut for the top.

[nuff]

Just bought a nice piece of rippled sycamore.

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo14/nuff3rs/23d75eacbe8ac5077a23911abfbea11c_zpsmlrjyw3o.jpg

[vinylspinner]

Looking good Nathan, how is the SA9100 doing?

Nigel

[nuff]

Looking good Nathan, how is the SA9100 doing?

Nigel

Hi Nigel! Yes going very well thanks. I did actually think today about getting the volume pot sorted.
I was supposed to ask on this very forum if anyone can recommend someone to look at it.

[vinylspinner]

Nathan, one guy I can recommend is John Caswell in Wokingham, I can pm his details if you wish, he is well regarded in the hifi repair business.

Nigel

[nuff]

Nathan, one guy I can recommend is John Caswell in Wokingham, I can pm his details if you wish, he is well regarded in the hifi repair business.

Nigel

If you would Nigel I'd appreciate it. Thank you!

[vinylspinner]

Nathan,

I will pm the details first thing tomorrow, I am popping down to John's next week if you wish to come along.

Nigel

[daytona600]

401 well a 501 for
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0KuM3dlXZM $58,000

[Firebottle]

I did actually think today about getting the volume pot sorted.
I was supposed to ask on this very forum if anyone can recommend someone to look at it.

As I'm in the UK at the moment I could take a look at it for you, I'm in the West Midlands near Dudley :thumbsup:

[Wakefield Turntables]

401 well a 501 for
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0KuM3dlXZM $58,000

Thanks for the link. I've made a list of things which I could do to my 301 which I'd never thought about before. :cool:

[tiguan]

Just bought a nice piece of rippled sycamore.

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo14/nuff3rs/23d75eacbe8ac5077a23911abfbea11c_zpsmlrjyw3o.jpg

Excitedly following ... Good luck

[nuff]

As I'm in the UK at the moment I could take a look at it for you, I'm in the West Midlands near Dudley :thumbsup:

That's very kind of you Alan! It's being looked at tomorrow by someone in work, he's not a professional but an electronics buff. If it doesn't work out I'll give you a shout if that's ok.
Thanks again! :thumbsup:

[nuff]

Excitedly following ... Good luck

Thanks tiguan! I've been watching your build too which may I say is excellent!

[nuff]

401 well a 501 for
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0KuM3dlXZM $58,000

:wow: how nice are they!!

[PaulStewart]

401 well a 501 for
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0KuM3dlXZM $58,000

The guy is a bit of a parasite in my opinion, he's got hold of a 501 from somewhere and made a new bearing which is dubious at best. He states thaty loricraft don't supply plinths and that is a lie. Oh well if I got charge 18K for a serviced and plinthed L75 I probably would :laugh:

[daytona600]

$58k for a 50 year old design or a new BMW M3

[PaulStewart]

$58k for a 50 year old design or a new BMW M3

Well the 501 is about 20 years old in it's design which is a complete update of the concept. It's already made of aerospace materials and has been measured with at -97dB rumble. This guy has a one off tweak, though having spoken about this to Terry at Loricraft/Garrard, ifthe guy does want them as chassis, he will supply them at about 11k so he can do his tweaks. The 501 is 14k with an SMEV, it sounds stunning as every review has said. The Garrard 501 was developed jointly by Loricraft and the Department of Engineering at Oxford University,

The School of Mechanical Engieering at the University of Greenwhich measured it and said that the AeroFlux motor developed by Nigel Pearson is the quietest they have ever measured. This guy thinks he can improve on that by tweaking...... Twerking more like, if he ever sells one I'll believe there is one born every minute.

[nuff]

Ok, I've managed to get the timber cut and assembled last weekend.

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo14/nuff3rs/image.jpg1_zpstfyda3cf.jpg (http://s357.photobucket.com/user/nuff3rs/media/image.jpg1_zpstfyda3cf.jpg.html)
http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo14/nuff3rs/image.jpg2_zps2fjelluo.jpg (http://s357.photobucket.com/user/nuff3rs/media/image.jpg2_zps2fjelluo.jpg.html)

It's a very interesting grain, can't wait to see what it looks like after it's been treated.
I spent a few hours today grain filling and sanding, a few more filling and sanding sessions to go yet but it is starting to look good!

I've orders some nice American black walnut veneer for the top, I'm also going to insert 3mm American black walnut fillets into the front and back to give it some color contrast.

[Tim]

:popcorn:

:D

[337alant]

Nuff Very nice is it walnut?.
Alan

[nuff]

:popcorn:

:D

Hi Tim.
I know I've been a bit quiet lately on this project. I decided after giving the plinth a coat of Danish oil that it look crap :(
I then thought I wonder if I veneer it with American black walnut, this might make it better! I was wrong, My veneer skills are much to be desired.
After 1 week of skulking about in a mood I decided to crack on again starting afresh with a new plinth.
I will update very soon.

[nuff]

Nuff Very nice is it walnut?.
Alan

Hi Alan.
The timber is rippled sycamore. It looked great as a plank but when it was cut and oiled I took a big dislike to it. Some of the timber had a black and greenish discolouration which seemed to highlight more so when oiled.

[nuff]

Here's the plinth after Being partly veneered.

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo14/nuff3rs/028afa86dfbd584ab4f3c1332a9e617c_zpskgznz1jy.jpg

For some reason the timber finished up looking quite plastic as if it was a cheap vinyl veneer :( so I bought a new piece of utile mohogany which I thought has quite a nice grain.

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo14/nuff3rs/68058b022033e01cd4a2019c2dd83b46_zpsxi9ae1js.jpg

All cut and glued together.

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo14/nuff3rs/5ea96421c4e13a2e0b9a0e314f59ac92_zpskg5qzk11.jpg

I'm using MDF for the top plate. 2x 18mm I think (or hope) will suffice

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo14/nuff3rs/c59fd1b4d0a4d071dba8f36a34c62d72_zpsdhxi98qy.jpg

I'll update as soon as I finish fitting the top plate & sanding the plinth.

[nuff]

I've just finished the second coat of satin black to the top plate. I just need to clean up the aluminium serial number plate, it seems a small amount of spray got to it :o I'll also spray the raised Garrard 401 logo plate with Matt black. I remember reading on one of the 401 refurbish threads that you can buy mirror chrome paint to re paint the logo. Can anyone recommend a paint they've used?

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo14/nuff3rs/c991d96bba362ae525354b0f4ce42c52_zpso1m3fd9b.jpg

[nuff]

Ok,today I managed to finished the final coat of satin black to the plinth top plate. I also made a base from 2x 18mm MDF which at the moment is drying with the second coat of black.
The plinth still needs to be oiled but I'm hoping to get this done tomorrow morning.
I might start stripping the deck now and fit to the newly painted top plate. I've not been looking forward to this to be honest as it looks very complicated under there :scratch:
Anyways, here's a couple of pictures for those interested.

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo14/nuff3rs/1a5ef11cd2f4ced8c3841ecef5840507_zpshttheqtf.jpg

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo14/nuff3rs/351e47340fdcc9bcb48048b954896715_zpsudoc3qk5.jpg

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo14/nuff3rs/256d2c55dd4cb00fad5f849188dd9f42_zpswhrvblry.jpg

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo14/nuff3rs/f85861493a045e942060af5544ab8914_zpsj0snohir.jpg

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo14/nuff3rs/99eb4880382ce3e580313e9957d2f1a8_zpsf4tv0hhv.jpg

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo14/nuff3rs/7cd39f20483d2720f3ac9d9abdb7ea65_zpsan676iib.jpg

[struth]

Nice Job Nathan.. Take plenty of pics as you go so you know how it all goes back:)

[tiguan]

Nathan it looks beautiful... what do you plan to use as feet.

[nuff]

Nice Job Nathan.. Take plenty of pics as you go so you know how it all goes back:)

Morning Grant, Yes i did this before starting. Its like the krypton factor dismantling and fitting to the new plate, What have i started :doh::confused: never mind, I'm sure I'll get through this :(

[nuff]

Nathan it looks beautiful... what do you plan to use as feet.

Thanks Yetkin! :thumbsup:
I'm thinking a silver/Chrome spike style as i would like it to fit into my racks spike shoes. I'll cross this bridge later on when the time comes.

Nathan.

[DarrenHW]

Morning Grant, Yes i did this before starting. Its like the krypton factor dismantling and fitting to the new plate, What have i started :doh::confused: never mind, I'm sure I'll get through this :(

It's not as bad as it looks, I was daunted when I stripped mine but I don't think it's possible to reassemble it incorrectly as nothing will line up correctly. I'd recommend at minimum you should order some more circlips as these have a tendency to stretch or break, I found new isolation grommets significantly reduced background noise, new springs wouldn't go amiss either as it's easy to stretch them when removing if they're not already. Stripping and rebuilding the motor also dramatically reduced background noise and is a worthwhile excercise as the felt washers loose their ability to retail oil, I found this the scariest prospect but it's really quite simple http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?33153-Help!-I-ve-just-bought-a-Garrard-401!&p=622415#post622415.

[Andrei]

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo14/nuff3rs/23d75eacbe8ac5077a23911abfbea11c_zpsmlrjyw3o.jpg

:stalks: Someone help me! I can't stop dribbling!

[struth]

I'll send you some pads for that mate ;)

[nuff]

It's not as bad as it looks, I was daunted when I stripped mine but I don't think it's possible to reassemble it incorrectly as nothing will line up correctly. I'd recommend at minimum you should order some more circlips as these have a tendency to stretch or break, I found new isolation grommets significantly reduced background noise, new springs wouldn't go amiss either as it's easy to stretch them when removing if they're not already. Stripping and rebuilding the motor also dramatically reduced background noise and is a worthwhile excercise as the felt washers loose their ability to retail oil, I found this the scariest prospect but it's really quite simple http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?33153-Help!-I-ve-just-bought-a-Garrard-401!&p=622415#post622415.

Thanks for the advice Darren, luckily all the springs seemed tight and not stretched so all good there.
I've now completed the transfer and all is working 100% well!!
I've not stripped the motor though, this looks to much for me to be honest :o if needs be I'll get it done at a later date.
I stripped the spindle, cleaned it all down and re filled with fresh oil.
Thanks again!

[nuff]

As I've said above, the transfer was a success. All up and running very well indeed.
As Darren said its not that bad, it does look a little daunting at first but quite simple when you take your time.
I've also sprayed the Garrad logo plate, just need to get chrome paint to finish the raised logos

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo14/nuff3rs/e19b5803c56b999396e54ecdfd3cf0f1_zpspxwq3mcj.jpg

The plinth has just had the second coat of Danish oil and it's looking very nice indeed. I can wait to put it all together now!

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo14/nuff3rs/9f47fd7907f5293e22dfe22b3b2b4517_zpsbaqa1afd.jpg

[nuff]

Couldn't resist assembling it just to see it all together :yay:

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo14/nuff3rs/f0b53ef2ba12feca3fce30d62d097b30_zpsahvhpspa.jpg

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo14/nuff3rs/667ec2d080046dde72f71c66784ae632_zpsjhnwk0kx.jpg

[Firebottle]

Very very smart there Nathan :clap:

[nuff]

Very very smart there Nathan :clap:

Thanks Alan!

[DarrenHW]

Gert lush! Looks like a good match with your B&W's, have you listened to it yet?

[nuff]

Gert lush! Looks like a good match with your B&W's, have you listened to it yet?

Thanks Darren. No I've not listened yet. I powered it up yesterday after transferring everything over and she ran silently.
Hopefully I'll have it complete this week sometime.

Cheers!

[nuff]

I managed to get it very near complete this morning. Just a few finishing touches left such as the rubber isolation feet threaded inserts to fit, new grommets for the SME bed plate & screws which have been ordered.
It sound excellent and I'm very very pleased with the end results.

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo14/nuff3rs/ac5a9e558d1f943c28c9ee2d563345fd_zpslxtjhzgl.jpg

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo14/nuff3rs/6da4e0f32dfd80c0e080e4e55c2d54d0_zpscj2coyw5.jpg

[British high fidelity]

Beautiful brother, wow

[nuff]

Beautiful brother, wow

Thanks Deano. I am impressed i must admit.

[Ali Tait]

Lovely job!

[nuff]

Lovely job!

:cool:

[Ali Tait]

What mat is on there Nathan?

[nuff]

It's a 5mm funk firm achromat. Unfortunately the middle sticker is missing. I bought it from Nigel (vinyl spinner)

[Ali Tait]

Have you tried it without the O rings?

[struth]

nice job as always Nathan. You could get a job at doing this :lol:

[nuff]

Have you tried it without the O rings?

Not yet Ali, I assembled it the other day and just installed them. I'll give it a go later and see if there's any difference.

[nuff]

nice job as always Nathan. You could get a job at doing this :lol:

:lol: I wouldn't say that Grant but as always it was very enjoyable making it.
Cheers! :cool:

[Tim]

That looks fantastic Nathan, sorry not to have posted until now but I've been in China since the 29/5 and just got back . . . feeling a little jet lagged at the mo!

You have picked the colour scheme I would have gone for if I had kept it, so great minds think alike - great to see it spinning tunes too :)

[nuff]

That looks fantastic Nathan, sorry not to have posted until now but I've been in China since the 29/5 and just got back . . . feeling a little jet lagged at the mo!

You have picked the colour scheme I would have gone for if I had kept it, so great minds think alike - great to see it spinning tunes too :)

Spinning tunes and sounding brilliant Tim, I'm chuffed to bits with the sound this produces.
Thanks again!

[duo(2)]

Very Nice restoration and good design choices, I really like the silk Black chassis 👌🏻

[nuff]

Ok Plinth number 3 for my 401.

I decided I wasn't happy with the 2nd plinth, it just didn't have any character :mental:

I decided to sell it and put the cash to one I would prefer. I had a Heybrook TT2 a while back (which I confess I regret selling:doh:) and thought I'd build a plinth to replicate this.

It's built with 22mm American black walnut and 3x 18mm MDF for the top plate and 1x 18mm for the base.

It's not totally complete yet, the feet need fixing, plinth need waxing and a new dust cover is to be made.
I sold my SME 3009 a few months back and purchased myself an Origin Live Onyx from a seller on Hifi Wigwam. The seller had this rewired with Van Damme XKE silver plated OFC with Bullet plugs fitted. I'm very impressed with the arm so far but I do think it's on par with the SME. More listening is needed though as its only been 3 days fitted.

Anyway enough blurb, here's some picture on where I am at the moment.

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo14/nuff3rs/58a7f5b59e95218aa8bf9564a5ad571a_zpsikzyoey7.jpg
http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo14/nuff3rs/ec425a5dbb6122f675240df1812db9d5_zps1rcon29r.jpg
http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo14/nuff3rs/765424838fabf92bdba80f24bc905a23_zpsgujs33cm.jpg
http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo14/nuff3rs/8f7690cce062710d12bc9c5b9ba5a53d_zpscozffbv8.jpg
http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo14/nuff3rs/b645ccf176e13e9a0d5370f8c6a69175_zpsfryjlgfv.jpg
http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo14/nuff3rs/af3295b031f44ffafffbfa01c36def0e_zpsj0wdug6b.jpg
http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo14/nuff3rs/a33a914c7c3c53e85974a8f9c3a8f99a_zpsgklmyiqs.jpg

[struth]

Thats looking promising Nathan. Pity there is a small defect on the corner but sure you can fix it before the finishing. I love that wood, and got mine done in similar, although mine is veneer(couldnt afford solid).:) Sure you will be very happy with it, and it will last you a lifetime.

[nuff]

Thanks Grant. The defect does look worse on the picture than in the flesh.
I love the wood too. It's the grain that does it for me.
Cheers!

[struth]

Yes, the camera can be pretty over revealing; thats why I hate getting my pic taken :eyebrows: easy fix; just think military camouflage;)

[oscarsaudio]

Looks very nicely made , nice tight miters , love the grain pattern does look light for ABW probably the flash.

[nuff]

Looks very nicely made , nice tight miters , love the grain pattern does look light for ABW probably the flash.

Thanks Oscar. Yes the house lights were on when i was taking the photo hence the lighter shade. The miters came together quite well really considering i cut them on an old clapped out miter saw on the garage floor :lol:

Thanks for your comments!

[British high fidelity]

Love it, great job

[nuff]

Love it, great job

Cheers Deano