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Garrard 301/401 audition request

I was thinking about the movie "Inception" the other day, where there was a line about how hard it was to insert a thought into another person's mind in a way that the person believes its his/her own original thought.

I think Art Dudley's very interesting column in the latest Stereophile re. his refurbishment of a Garrard 301 caused a not so little "bee to start buzzing around in my bonnet". I began to find myself scanning E-Bay throughout the day for the latest 301 or 401 offering; checking out Craigslist not just in Southern California and was actually the second caller to an original owner selling his "grease" not "oil" 301 in Northern California (can you say shouts of "Road Trip" followed by a not-so-little letdown when he informed me that the first caller was about to show up on his doorstep later that evening). I've just started to peruse the various websites, forums, and posts with owner's insights, observations and glorious pictures of both 301's and 401's mounted in an amazing variety of plinths with an equally varied number of tonearms.

So before complete insanity takes ahold, I thought it would be prudent to attempt to actually hear what the Holy Grail sounds like before embarking on what could well be a mad, prolonged quest. So...if you are in Southern California (or Northern California for that matter) and feel a twinge of pity and/or sympathy for what I have brought upon myself, and you are willing to share your wonderful system with me for a couple of hours, I'd be only too happy to provide a nice bottle or two of aged California cabernet sauvignon or, if you are a believer of terroir, a red Burgundy from the hallowed hills of the Cote d'Or to accompany the listening session. If it would be of interest to you, I would gladly haul my Linn Sondek LP-12 over for a little side by side comparison/contrast.

Anyway, thanks for reading this post and Happy Listening everyone!
128x128closdesducs
ihcho's avatar
ihcho
612 posts
 
Setting up a full best working 301 would not be a cheap task. With 301, you may want to invest $300+ for a plinth (like a heavy birch wood plinth), and a real good tonearm for $1500+ (like Ortofon RMG 309 or SME 3012 tonearm), and a real good cartridge at $1500+ (like Ortofon SPU cartridges), and a good SUT at $1000+.
The table itself in good working condition would cost $1500+, totaling $5800+.
The question is, is it worth the money and can such Garrard 301 outperform other tables at around $6,000?

I am almost there, short of an SPU cartridge and an SUT. ;-)
closdesducs's avatar
closdesducs OP
60 posts
 
Phil,

Would very much like to hear the Garrard 401 within the context of your system. I live behind the Orange Curtain but work in South Bay. I too have a 401 that will eventually get worked on, but the 301 comes first.

Kind regards,
Lawrence
gospelcollector
14 posts
 
I recommend 301 for shellac and 401 for vinyl since it has twice as much motor suspension.
jcote
100 posts
 
Lawrence, i just had the most beautiful plinth built by Woodsong Audio for my 301. He also did a full rebuild for me. I can tell you it is one sweet piece, in my eyes it's the crown jewels of my system.

I've had to lay it up in storage for now since my one year son might accidentally get to it but once i get a chance to bring it down again i'll let you know, i'm just a little north in the Long Beach area.
213cobra
885 posts
 
>>Would very much like to hear the Garrard 401<<

Lawrence - Private message me via Audiogon to arrange a listen. I am in the west Valley.

Phil
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