GARRARD 401 - Restoration thread!!

[Jimbo]

The Garrard 401 (39432) Restoration Pt XV - Coming in song

I finally managed to find time to properly install the Panzerholz cartridge body for my hot rodded Shure M55E, and here she is.



The Panzerholz body has really transformed this M55E and I have to say that the new body is as equally important as the JICO SAS/B stylus in making this vintage cartridge a giant killer. I've not switeched on my Garrard 301 now for five weeks and it has a cartridge costing many times that of the M55E even taking into account the cost of the modifications. This cartridge now surpasses the performance of a Ortofon 2M black cartridge and without all the messing around associated with set up of these cartridges. Musical seperation bewteen instruments is staggering. Detail is staggering. I'm extremely happy with this cartridge and the argument for a JICO SAS/R is now more than justified. I'm hoping to buy one at some this year and this should push performance even further. Installing the new body has not been without problems. I did have to increase the diameter of the screw hole shafts in the body by several mm's to accomodate my mounting screws but that was no big deal. So, the M55E is now sitting parallel with the record surface, loaded with 500pF of capacitance, tracks at 1.25g with 1.1g of bias applied. I would say that I've put about 10-15 hours on the cart now so not quite broken in but each hour is a true joy!

Stay tuned.....

Just got to find £500 down the back of the sofa for the JICO SAS/R N44-7! Still a new 2M Black stylus is about £370 so only £130 more for the SAS/R. Might take a punt.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Jim, I'm running the SAS/B the N44-7 SAS/R is one of the very few Ruby based cantilever products that you can purchase from JICO let alone from anyone else. It's $500 but this converts to £395, not including import taxes etc, so maybe £500. I've started research into buying and running my ultimate vintage reference MM, let's say Ruby cantilevers will be part of the brew!

[Wakefield Turntables]

The Garrard 401 (39432) Restoration Pt XV - Back to the Future

Perhaps the most unpopular of the three Idler threads I update on a regular bases, but still fun to carry on messing around with the 401. Some of you may remember my "thing" for 1970's vintage MM carts. My long term fave has been a hot-rodded Shure M55E with lots of bling bolted on! I developed a very strong urge to try something else on the SME V-12 arm and after some careful consideration and a load of research I decided to hunt down the ADC ZLM, Stanton 881-S, or Grace F9 cartridges. I decided very quickly against another Shure cartridge, I have several and need a change from the Shure "house" sound. I made a decision to rule out the Technics EPC carts due to suspension worries. I short listed either a Grace or Stanton. The ADC ZLM seems to pop up every so often but a Stanton 881-S came up for sale in the UK at the right price, so who was I to say no?

The Grace F9 is something I can always try out and Soundsmith provide Ruby bases cantilevers, just like the originals. The Stanton just seemed to be the right choice, check out this table.



The Stanton 881-s has a history of being used in lots of mastering studios. It has >35db channel seperation and is specially checked due to it being in the upper ranks of the Stanton stables. I'm not that bothered about the 75u stereohydron stylii, I'll be getting this replaced with the FGS II which I think (if memory serves) is nearer to 100u, this will be mounted on a Ruby cantilever. I have also checked compatability with the SME V-12 and it looks like to be a very good match. The Stanton I purchased will be going on holiday to the US of A for a little "work" (no not plastic surgery). I have no idea what to expect, no idea how long it will take, in the mean time I have a Garrard 301 to keep my entertained.

Stay tuned....