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Garrard 301-Worth the effort?

A friend very generously gave me his Grandfather's Garrard 301 to restore or sell. It's not in bad shape, but won't play yet as it looks like it needs a new idler wheel and spindle (so far). I'm not crazy about the tonearm (Garrard with unknown Shure Cartridge) or plinth (plywood box). My dilemma is whether it's worth the effort and money to fix or would I be better off selling it and putting the money towards something new, possibly a VPI classic with a better tonearm? I currently use a Harman Kardon T-65C with a Grado Statement Sonata II and am very happy. But maybe I don't know any better. I've read great things about the 301, but I'm more into the music than collecting antique pieces.
Any opinions would be appreciated.
heyraz
jweiss
14 posts
 
Hello Syntax,

Nice to hear from you. You'd like to hear more fairy tales from OMA? Great, here's one-

http://lifeandtimes.com/the-blueprint-oswaldsmill-audio

But it might give you nightmares. Ask your parents before watching it.

Good Night,

Jonathan
radicalsteve's avatar
radicalsteve
146 posts
 
Completely neutral here with no axe to grind of any kind. I currently have an OMA Lenco, my own high mass wood plinth Lenco, a 301 by Dobbins, a 401 refurbed by Loricraft in an Artisan plinth, a Kenwood LO-7D, an SP_10 Mk2, a Victor TT 101 in a japanese very heavy lead plinth and recently sold my Micro Seiki SX-8000.

Despite the fact I would love my hand rubbed piano polished birds eye maple wood plinth to be superior, and noting my TT 101 is the most dynamic deck ever, the OMA Lenco is easily comparable and in some areas exceeds the other decks. Nothing comes out superior, because each has different qualities, but the OMA has no shortcomings, has the best emotion and easily could be my "desert island" deck.
dover
2,262 posts
 
Jweiss/Radicalsteve

You guys crack me up.

"the best tweeter ever"
"the only speaker in the world made of solid wood"
"slate is perfect material for audio...doesn't ring"
"my TT101 is the most dynamic deck ever"

None of which can be substantiated.


jweiss
14 posts
 
Syntax asked for some more "fairy tales", so how could I refuse?

And I must apologize to you and this forum, for the lack of substantiation of my comments in that piece. I did indeed contact the National Bureau of Standards and the National Academy of Science for third party verification of my assertions, but they were too busy substantiating all of the other Audiogon poster's claims.

Glad it made you chuckle.

Jonathan Weiss
OMA
dover
2,262 posts
 
Jonathan - apart from the hyperbole, I do like your gear, and the plinths look great.......cheers.
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