Garrard 301 restoration project

[Wakefield Turntables]

Matt, do you offer your version of a new spindle?

[A.Grail]

Currently putting together a bearing suite - the spindle however is different dims to the original.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Currently putting together a bearing suite - the spindle however is different dims to the original.

God Dammit, more money into the experiment...

[Jimbo]

Hi Andy, sorry to ask on this thread but PM not working. Who did you get to work on your valve amplifier in the end?

[Wakefield Turntables]

The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LXXXVI - 2025 and then into 2026

I think that I have seen the light! Moving forwards with the 301 could be interesting over the next 2-3 months I think I've seen an upgrade path for the 301 which means that the 301 may improve sonically and at the same time give me some pleasure in seeing how the thing sounds when it's tweaked. I honestly think that the money spent will be something that I could more or less recoup and if not then it's money well spent having some fun without pickling my innards with several bottles of single malt! I'll probably try the bearing collar brace from Audiograil and the new spindle from CTC. I remember trying a bearing collar brace with the Lenco and it worked a treat and the CTC spindle allows for the bearing to be lowered or heightened so I could mess around with VTF on the two tonearm connected to my plinth. I also might want to try and bearing clamp two, but again I'll have to see how this can be implemented into the plinth. So, as ever stay tuned....

[Wakefield Turntables]

The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LXXXVII - MONOLOG - A sub blog! Pt XI - Phonostage Shootout


Well it's started! I've been mulling over what to do with the 301 for some time and I've started a raft of new tweaks and upgrades that will hopefully push MONO and Stereo playback even further on the old restored garage find. Firstly, I've had my Croft phonostage fully checked over and had a couple of very small tweaks done to make sure I can get the best from it. It appears it wasn't in very good health. I will be having some fun with my other EAR 834 clone phonostage to see which is the best in the 301 system. I'll also try and get some Mark Grant cables organised to replace the current Yannis Tome IC's being used with my SME 3009.

Finally, I may also have some new (to me) KT88's and finally get around to trying some bearing upgrades.

Stay tuned..

[Wakefield Turntables]

The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LXXXVIII -MONOLOG - A sub blog! Pt XII - Tweaking hell!

It's Sunday afternoon, it's dark and it's raining, so I guess another update is due. Things have moved on at quite a pace. My Croft phonostage has been returned, now fully repaired and upgraded. The Croft has had internal silver wiring installed to both input and output RCA's, several small repairs performed, several components replaced and more importantly a wee upgrade meaning I can now experiment with 6SN7 valves. I picked this lot up



For a very reasonable £100. I have no idea if any of you own 6sn7 valves? The prices charged by some websites is quite frankly eye watering , literally! I've seen places asking £450 for a single valve example. It took my ages to decide upon my favourite 6sl7 valve for my croft preamp, in the end I think I went through 13 or 14 valves and finished on the RCA 6391. I've now got 8 different 6sn7 valves to play around with over Xmas. My second big change in the MONO system has been the implementation of a pair of Mark Grant Cables between the SME 3009/Ortofon MONO spu combo and the Croft phonostage, they are expensive but have cured a hum problem that I had whilst playing MONO records.


Listening to MONO is now even more of a pleasure, I think my ears must be still quite sensitive as I can definitely pick out the difference between a small amount of low background hum and virtually none at all. Yes, things do seem a lot quiter whilst listening, no hum between the tracks of an LP is always a bonus. I can still hear a very small amount of hum, but, you literally have to be an inch or two from the speaker. So, MONO playback has really been improved, maybe things can be improved again when I start valve rolling in November and December. I've now gone through several cartridges Shure M55e MONO, Miyajima MONO Zero, Ortofon Cadenza MONO and the Ortofon SPU mono. To my ears the SPU is the winner (so far). I've been through four phonostages Paradise, EAR 834, Croft Music Maker. and internal phonostage of my preamp. Once again, to my ears, the Croft MusicMaker phonostage is the winner (so far). I'm always happy to try new stuff, so I guess stay tuned...

[Barry]

Is your Shure M55E a genuine single coil cartridge, or is it a stereo cartridge with both outputs connected in parallel? I ask because I can find no reference to a Shure M55E MONO.

The Miyajima and Ortofon SPU MONO cartridges are definitely single coil designs, despite having four pins on the cartridge body.

Another single coil MC cartridge you might like to try is the Denon DL102. This has two long pins on the body, so you can 'piggyback' the two pairs of headshell leads.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Another single coil MC cartridge you might like to try is the Denon DL102. This has two long pins on the body, so you can 'piggyback' the two pairs of headshell leads.

Long been on my "to try" list, I'd only really purchase one if I could secure one at a very low price. I have a yearly budget for hifi gear, but I usually overspend , maybe one for 2026?

[Barry]

The cheapest DL102 I could find is this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/336208655...d7550e1bbab7f5, used and at about £170 from Japan.

Otherwise you can pay as much as £390 for new cartridge (again from Japan).