Garrard 301 restoration project

[Jimbo]

So no longer a Croft?

[Wakefield Turntables]

So no longer a Croft?

Still a CROFT but better. I don't think many Croft's fully remain Crofts.

[Jimbo]

Still a CROFT but better. I don't think many Croft's fully remain Crofts.

True, you only have to change the valves and the tweaking starts!

[Jimbo]

Looks like this 301 has been restored a little!!??


https://www.stereophile.com/content/...d-301-advanced

[Wakefield Turntables]

Looks like this 301 has been restored a little!!??


https://www.stereophile.com/content/...d-301-advanced

Hmmmm, I have always had mixed thoughts on this TT from SME. You can pretty much produced exactly the same results far cheaper. OK, you cant buy the new SME tonearm but you source a SME V-12, the resin plinth isn't that difficult to make and is Panzerholz or Permali better? You can get a speed controller made for less than £500 which will give perfect 33.33 or 45.00 rpm every hour of the day, without having to worry about issues with idler wheels or barings. I'll just stick with what I've got.

[Jimbo]

Hmmmm, I have always had mixed thoughts on this TT from SME. You can pretty much produced exactly the same results far cheaper. OK, you cant buy the new SME tonearm but you source a SME V-12, the resin plinth isn't that difficult to make and is Panzerholz or Permali better? You can get a speed controller made for less than £500 which will give perfect 33.33 or 45.00 rpm every hour of the day, without having to worry about issues with idler wheels or barings. I'll just stick with what I've got.

Yes and the price!!

[Wakefield Turntables]

The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LXXXXI - MONOLOG - A sub blog! Pt XIV - Eeeking a bit more out.

The MONO playback side of things sounds very very good already with lots of care beingh taken to reduce hum, cable dressing, TT isolation, optimal tonearm/SPU setup and the list goes on but I did not think about messing around with damping troughs, especially on the SME 3009. To be honest I'd never even heard that such a thing existed and to be equally honest I don't spend my time lookig at old products sold by SME sometimes you find out about these things by sheer luck and this is a very good example of such a thing. Fast forward to the SME FD200 fluid damping kit for the SME 3009.



This product is really designed to damp resonance getting through to 70's MM carts like the Shure V15 mk3 and such like. Well, I figured why not try on the SPU MONO that I have installed. I'd read a few comments on how it improves bass and overall detail but the soundstage can sound a little narrow and over damped. Well, MONO soundstages are narrow in most cases anyway so I wasn't too bothered about narrowing and, honestly, I have noticed no difference in MONO soundstage width. Bass has improved again and is taughter than before. I will need to read around a few threads with respects about to the negative aspects of the damping kit and ways to optimise playback. So far so good, I'm happy and think things have moved up another level. So enjoy a few more piccies

BEFORE KIT ADDED




Moving forward the 301 is now even more flexible. I have a 3012 which can handle all manor of weird and wonderful SPU's, the 3009 handles both MONO playback and now also my vintage MM collection when the mood takes. I'm still toying around with the idea of a third arm for the 3009 just for vintage MM's but do I need to grief of modding the plinth again to take a third arm or the expense of another 3009 and all the associated costs like a new service etc etc. I think I'll just stick to a two arm setup for the time being and change the weights on the tonearm as needed between MONO and MM playing sessions. Looks like the thread will live for another year.

Stay tuned....................

AFTER KIT ADDED

[Barry]

Good move - well done.

I have been using an FD200 on my 3009 Mk.II (Improved) for the last 20 years or so. I use the smallest size paddle and have removed the top of the trough tank.

Nowadays all the cartridges I use are moving coil type, but the damping trough helps when using Decca designs, as well as very high compliance ADC induced magnet designs.

[Wakefield Turntables]

The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT XCII (Now corrected thanks for Barry and Lawerence) - Three Amigo's


Well I said that I would not do this but I have gone and bought a third SME arm for the 301. I have bought a Improved Series II with fixed head shell. The reason for the purchase is simple, I've had an itch for ages that needing scratching with regards getting a proper low mass arm for some of the rare and very wonderful MM's from the 1970's. I have some lovely Shure, Stanton, and Grace MM's that are just sitting in a box not being used so now is a good a time as ever to start up with a new adventure with the 301. And yes I'll probably need to source another FD200 . I will of course be spending some silly money on some of the more exotic JICO stylii that are available. Live is short, so why not? I know that the 3009 that I have bought has had the RCA conversion so I'll also need to make up some IC's but that's not exactlt rocket science. I'll probably also start using my EAR 834 clone as well for MM duties. I'm actually looking forward to this!

[Jimbo]

Like the idea of more exotic Jico styli!