Garrard 301 - Project

I have been contemplating for a while which turntable to pursue given so many choices. Every time I look around, I just can’t help drooling over a fully restored Garrard 301 or 401. Aside from being an idler-drive, I keep reading and hearing about their unique ability to reproduce music with its sense of drive and impact thus making them very desirable to own. And with available meticulous restoration services and gorgeous plinth options, what’s not to like, right!

Would you please share your experience, good and pitfalls (if any) with a restored Garrard 301 to avoid before I go down this path.

And what about the IEC inlet and power cord, would they be of any significance. My two choices would be Furutech FI-09 NCF or FI-06 (G) inlets.

I have already purchased a Reed 3P Cocobolo 10.5” with Finewire C37+Cryo tonearm/interconnect phono cable with KLEI RCA plugs option.

Still exploring Cart Options, so please feel free to share your choice of cart with Garrard 301 or 401.

And lastly, I would like to extend my gratitude to @fsonicsmith, @noromance @mdalton for the inspiration.

lalitk03-10-2024 5:29pm

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dogberry Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 565 posts 03-11-2024 at 01:37pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete A Garrard deserves a London Decca Reference cartridge both for historical reasons and to maximise the liveliness. Should be available again by the end of this year.
elliottbnewcombjr Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 5,186 posts 03-11-2024 at 02:14pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Never heard a Garrard 301. I loved my similar era Thorens TD124, it’s 11.5lb platter the reason for (your words) ’drive and impact’, best Bass I ever had. If my wood floors were not so springy I would still be using it. I see some very tempting Garrard 301 restorations with custom plinths. Personally, I would get a plinth allowing two tonearms (add 2nd arm in future?) and a Dust Cover, thus consider the shape of the Plinth, and it’s appearance with dust cover on. You can get new dust covers easily, any size, a rectangle easier and less costly. Many beautiful Plinths exist, but do not plan for dust covers, i.e. this maker uses many exotic woods
elliottbnewcombjr Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 5,186 posts 03-11-2024 at 02:21pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Hey, I can post links today!!! https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ssn=perfect.sounds&store_name=dasacoustic&_oac=1&_trksid=p4429486.m3561.l170197
elliottbnewcombjr Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 5,186 posts 03-11-2024 at 02:48pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete I would forget history, get it to be my main TT. get the great TT, get a great tonearm with removable headshell and a modern MC cartridge of choice, optional cartridges on headshells waiting for their turn. It could compete with nearly anything. My Thorens TD124: I used an SME-3009 II Tonearm with Shure’s last great MM: V15Vxmr, beryllium cantilever, micro-ridge, tracked at 1.0 g. I think a part of the ’best bass’ Tonearm: consider ease of adjusting arm height, not so much for perfect VTA, more for if planning on a few cartridge bodies that might be slightly taller or shorter . Others exist: I have installed: my Acos Lustre GST-801, loosen by hand short arm locking lever, turn for up/dn, tighten (easy, smooth, adjust while playing) my Russian 12.5" arm, has micrometer for fine height adjustment, BUT you have to loosen two allen set screws (after you find the right size allen key), so: precise but not a quick change for a different cartridge. (not removable headshell anyway, I just mean: micrometer, precision, if not easy ...) Two Micro-Seiki 505’s for a friend (just mounted two new cartridges for him this past Saturday. Loosen short locking lever by hand, move up/dn, lock by hand, easy, however not as smooth as Acos, I would not do it while playing. Quick enough, simply lift arm up, adjust by hand, arm back down. Another feature these arms have is an adjustable fitting for the headshell to set azimuth. loosen tiny screw, rotate fitting a speck, tighten tiny screw. Technics EPA B-500 tonearm base, wonderful: unlock by hand, turn outer ring by hand, lock by hand. Same as Micro-Seiki, not while playing: unlock by hand/lift/adjust/down, lock by hand the up/dn lever is to raise/lower arm, the lower outer ring is arm height. this base allows switching arm wands also, another way to have different cartridges ready to go. the S arm wand is removable headshell; straight arm wand is fixed.
noromance Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 9,465 posts 03-11-2024 at 03:22pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Consider using a slate plinth. More detail, speed, and air. Pay attention to the surface you put the turntable on. Wooden tables don’t sound great. Concrete floors are preferable.