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Thread: Garrard 301 questions

  1. #1
    Join Date: Mar 2009

    Location: Elland

    Posts: 6,922
    I'm David.

    Default Garrard 301 questions

    Right, this is a realy premature thread being as I'm skint I can't really see me having an aweful lot of spare cash for a while, but...
    Basically whilst mooching around on the net for a turntable I found a picture of a Garrard 301 in a teak and black plinth... Not so long ago, Hannah mentioned that if I get a new turntable can she help me choose it ... I agreed based on her overwhelming succes at helping me find speakers (I just dont learn... She's pretty, what can I say). So anyway, she said she would like a black and White one with a teak trim of some sorts, so I showed her the Garrard and guess what, we have a winner on the design front!
    She was even more exited when told her the plinths were custom and she could effectivly have final (to a point) say in the shape and colour of it!
    She has even suggested she could put a bit of money into the pot for it for me for Xmas

    Unfortunatly I know nothing at all about Garrard decks other than the platter spins because of a rubber wheel thing and thatthese plinths get rid of the main inherent problem with that as a design...

    So what else do I need to know?
    What is a good way to go about looking for one of these decks?
    I assume I can buy just the turntable bit and get the other bits when money permits ... Is that a good idea?
    Am I likely to like it?
    And a slightly more "out of the box" question... Are there any other shiney White vintage looking turntables of a similar design that a similar plinth could be made for that might be an alternative?
    CS Port TAT2 - Benz LPS - Funkfirm Houdini - DS Audio Vinyl Ionizer - CS Port C3EQ - Kondo G70 - Kondo Gakuoh II - Maxonic TW1100 MKII - Isol-8 SubStation Integra

  2. #2
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK

    Posts: 110,012
    I'm AudioAl'sArbiterForPISHANTO.

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    Lol - what are you like?

    I'll get back to you on this tomorrow, as I'm just about to go to bobos....

    In the meantime, though, I'm sure some of our resident vintage T/T gurus will come to your rescue!



    Marco.
    Main System

    Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.

    Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.

    Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.

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    Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.

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  3. #3
    Join Date: Mar 2009

    Location: Elland

    Posts: 6,922
    I'm David.

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    This is not me, hannah has made this get out of hand! I was looking a cheap thorens decks, and stumbled accros a site with Garrards on... It's not my fault!
    CS Port TAT2 - Benz LPS - Funkfirm Houdini - DS Audio Vinyl Ionizer - CS Port C3EQ - Kondo G70 - Kondo Gakuoh II - Maxonic TW1100 MKII - Isol-8 SubStation Integra

  4. #4
    Join Date: May 2008

    Location: A Strangely Isolated Place in Suffolk with Far Away Trains Passing By...

    Posts: 14,535
    I'm David.

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    The wonderful thing about 301's and 401's is that they can be fully restored (at a price) and will probably be better than new afterwards with all the close tolerance "blue-printing" that's done to them. Loricraft know more about these decks than anyone else I think and any mods, updates or servicing should be addressed to them in the first instance.

    Remember that most 301's for sale today have been through several owners tinkering with them by now, but don't despair, for the reasons above. The deck plates can even be repainted/enamelled if necessary and trims and controls replaced.

    Technically speaking, the 301 would be outclassed by the techie (wow, flutter and rumble), but there's something emotional about owning ancient gear like this and getting a modern performance out of it.

    Good luck with your search for a good 301. I'm sure you'll love it
    Tear down these walls; Cut the ties that held me
    Crying out at the top of my voice; Tell me now if you can hear me

  5. #5
    Join Date: May 2008

    Location: Lancaster(-ish), UK

    Posts: 16,937
    I'm ChrisB.

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    Glad to see you're not planning to paint one blue Hamish.........you're not are you?
    No, you're not

  6. #6
    Join Date: May 2008

    Location: Cricklewood

    Posts: 9,074
    I'm ILOB.

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    This is not going to be cheap and if you putting out this kind of dosh I go for the 1210 or Salvation myself But lovelly looking deck
    You need to consider adding a service to the costs also. The plinth can make a huge difference.
    Might be worth considering something like of the Goldring 88 it be a bit cheaper and will give you a similar performance. http://www.hembrow.eu/personal/goldring88.html
    Loves anything from Pain of Salvation to Jeff Buckley to Django to Sarasate to Surinder Sandhu to Shawn Lane to Nick Drake to Rush to Beth Hart to Kate Bush to Rodrigo Y Gabriela to The Hellecasters to Dark Sanctury to Ben Harper to Karicus to Dream Theater to Zero Hour to Al DiMeola to Larry Carlton to Derek Trucks to Govt Mule to?

    Humour: One of the few things worth taking seriously

  7. #7
    Join Date: Feb 2010

    Location: Sussex UK

    Posts: 92
    I'm Gino.

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    As a long time owner of a remanufactured early version 401, which I understand is not a million miles away from the 301, the main thing I would say to look out for is rumble, especially if you are using a sub. They have a powerful mains induction motor coupled to the platter with a rubber coated wheel, and the amount of breakthrough seems to depend on idler wheel spring tension, state of balance of the motor, trueness of the eddy current brake disc and the prevailing mains voltage. Modern plinth designs and special stabilised lower voltage power supplies are supposed to fix this, so perhaps I am being too pessimistic. But even specialist rebuilt ones in proper plinths can still rumble, as I found out out lately.
    Marantz CD/DA12, HHB 'burnit', Yamaha CT7000, Magnum Dynalab FT101A, Garrard 401, SME 3009, Dynavector 100R and 30C, AT F7, Trichord Dino, Audio Research LS7, Quad 303 or Leak Stereo 20, Harbeth P3ESR, BK sub, DIY passive with PG faders, Quad II's, Quad ELS57's, Townsend Ribbons, Crown IC150, HH AM8/12, Tannoy Monitor Gold in Lancaster, Stellavox SU8, Nagra T-Audio, Dolby 361's, Sony D50, Pro Walkman, Dat Walkman, Slee Solo, Sennheiser HD650 + Equinox, Lambda Sig. Pro., SRM-T1, Sr001

  8. #8
    Join Date: May 2008

    Location: A Strangely Isolated Place in Suffolk with Far Away Trains Passing By...

    Posts: 14,535
    I'm David.

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    I owned a G88 with original 1960 12" SME arm way before they were fashionable in any way and before people made up bespoke plinths. It's another "white coloured" classic with idler wheels still available and many parts like motors shared with the ever popular GL75 and siblings. Main bearings could be a bit variable though on the 75's at any rate, so a check for platter wobble should be made (there shouldn't be any)... Again, easily fettled and quiet running with a new idler from Technical & General
    Tear down these walls; Cut the ties that held me
    Crying out at the top of my voice; Tell me now if you can hear me

  9. #9
    Join Date: Feb 2010

    Location: Sussex UK

    Posts: 92
    I'm Gino.

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    Yup the Lenco was a nice turntable, though perhaps a slight step down from the Garrard and a much cheaper proposition today. But I am sorry DSJR, Technical & General are gone as the guy retired.
    Marantz CD/DA12, HHB 'burnit', Yamaha CT7000, Magnum Dynalab FT101A, Garrard 401, SME 3009, Dynavector 100R and 30C, AT F7, Trichord Dino, Audio Research LS7, Quad 303 or Leak Stereo 20, Harbeth P3ESR, BK sub, DIY passive with PG faders, Quad II's, Quad ELS57's, Townsend Ribbons, Crown IC150, HH AM8/12, Tannoy Monitor Gold in Lancaster, Stellavox SU8, Nagra T-Audio, Dolby 361's, Sony D50, Pro Walkman, Dat Walkman, Slee Solo, Sennheiser HD650 + Equinox, Lambda Sig. Pro., SRM-T1, Sr001

  10. #10
    Join Date: May 2008

    Location: Cricklewood

    Posts: 9,074
    I'm ILOB.

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    Agree you never will truly overcome the motor issues of the 301 but you can reduce to a more acceptable level
    Loves anything from Pain of Salvation to Jeff Buckley to Django to Sarasate to Surinder Sandhu to Shawn Lane to Nick Drake to Rush to Beth Hart to Kate Bush to Rodrigo Y Gabriela to The Hellecasters to Dark Sanctury to Ben Harper to Karicus to Dream Theater to Zero Hour to Al DiMeola to Larry Carlton to Derek Trucks to Govt Mule to?

    Humour: One of the few things worth taking seriously

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