Garrard 301 restoration project

[Tim]

Interesting update Andy, I can relate to the comments about parts strewn across the UK, my 1210 has parts from all over too!

Looking forward to seeing the finished article.

[Barry]

It's already part 97, so you may have to wait a good while to see the finished product!

[Wakefield Turntables]

It's already part 97, so you may have to wait a good while to see the finished product!

Second decade of the thread and still going strong.

[Tim]

You can't rush these things Andy

[Wakefield Turntables]

The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT XCVIII - Details, details, details...

Hello old friends it's been a while. The 301 and it's infrastructure has had some more work and I'm happy to announce that it's paid off very nicely. Firstly, the new 3009 arm has been properly installed and is now working. It still needs a few very small tweaks but nothing that can't be fixed over a cup of tea. So, here's what's been done with the new arm.

SME 3009
- Audio Origami - Full check and service.
- New Michell silver cartridge tags
- Fully rewired with Zavfino silver tonearm cable
- New earth leads made to earth tonearm to 301 and the phonostage at the same time.
- New 3D printed fluid damping tray and paddle fitted.
- RCA conversion with silver plated RCA's
- Mark Grant Mark Grant Oyaide FTVS-510 pure silver cable with WBT silver RCA's.

As you can see it's been extensively overhauled and treated to some nice audiophool stuff. I've grounded this tonearm to the Nth degree. Double earthing wires. These now earth the tonearm to the phonostage and also the 301.




I also looked into lessening the chances of Earth hum and bought myself some plastic mounting screws and also keeps the mass of the tonearm down when I start using very low 1g tracking cartridges.



The power supply into the 301 also had a bit of a change in that I got rid of the USA to UK plug converter that I had been using for a number of years. The 301 new sports a pure copper Furutech fl-11m plug. One less component in the chain and it looks a lot nicer.









Finally I decided to go down the route of a new Olsen (well new second hand) power strip to handle the phonostages that I have connected to the 301. I did a couple of modifications to this powerstrip, firstly I removed the LED on light and I also re-routed the cabling so the powerstrip can lay flat on the ground, and I added a decent plug.





I'm also doing a few experiments with my old Shure v15 mk3 to make sure that it's still in good order, otherwise it's an order to JICO for a new M44 cartridge that they produce, I'm sick and tired of waiting for the new V15 which they are supposed to be producing, I also have some experiments to conclude with the capacitance loading for the MM carts that I'm using. Presently, I have two excellently SPU's on the 301, so I'm not without music.

Finally, I had some work done on my Croft Epoch pre-amp. I used Will and Radford Revival, he :-

- Rewired, new IEC and better earthing configuration
- Tested and Matched RCA 5691's installed
- General check over and service.

I still have a few things to do, so as ever stay tuned......

[Jimbo]

Good to find someone who can service the Croft.

Mentioning the M44 has got me thinking I need to try mine again especially as I bought a new stylus for it. However still considering an MC cartridge at the moment but not decided what to go for! What are you using at the moment Andy?

[Barry]

What is the unit, shown in the second photograph, that has a US style socket on it? Is it a power supply for the 301?

Otherwise all looking good, especially the upgraded SME arm.

[Wakefield Turntables]

What is the unit, shown in the second photograph, that has a US style socket on it? Is it a power supply for the 301?

Otherwise all looking good, especially the upgraded SME arm.

The power supply was an American Product produced by a company called Pheonix Engineering

https://positive-feedback.com/review...and-eagle-psu/

They did a 17W and a 24W (I think) version, the 17W version was good for Lenco decks but a little under rated for the 301/401's so I use the 24W version. They never produced a UK plug version so you had to buy an adapter and hence why I attached the new Furutech plug. The whole system works fine in the UK, I've been using my system now for probably 10 years without problems. I also have a spare just in case.

Good to find someone who can service the Croft.

Mentioning the M44 has got me thinking I need to try mine again especially as I bought a new stylus for it. However still considering an MC cartridge at the moment but not decided what to go for! What are you using at the moment Andy?

I have decided that my old Shure carts are knackered and way past there best. I have ordered a J44 cartridge from JICO and will be using a SAS/B n44-7 stylus. So, I figure 7mv output will be fine and not too loud, I think my hearing is going a little on my left side so the extra mV output will be useful.

[Barry]

So the power supply provides 230V AC and is in turn fed by 230V UK mains. What then does it do, or have I misunderstood?

[Wakefield Turntables]

So the power supply provides 230V AC and is in turn fed by 230V UK mains. What then does it do, or have I misunderstood?

Yes in a nutshell that's what it does but with some nice features. Firstly the output is stabilised to a specified voltage, it's very easy for me to specify output of let's say 220v or even 216v or even 234v. The output is regenerated and stabilised and then I can specify output in 2v increments. The stabilised voltage helps to stabilise platter speed. As you know old idlers like the 301 suffer from excessive vibration in the motor so I can keep all the drive of the 301 but minimise vibration from the motor getting into the platter and cartridge, well to a certain extent! Secondly the PSU powers a tachometer which picks up details of platter speed which is fed back into the PSU so that it can self regulate platter rotation speed, usually with 0.001 RPM (or so it claims). All good stuff, I think SOTA turntables now use this technology, Pheonix Engineering got bought out by SOTA a few years ago. It's rare to see a full Eagle/Roadrunner combo up for sale.