2. vintage
  3. 178671-6254

Garrard 301 restore

Im about to embark on a 301 restore project. I just reached out to woodsong with questions. The unit is super clean but clearly needs work that I would prefer to leave to the pros. It currently resides in the original plinth which I would like to replace as it's pretty but not very dense. I am also pulling the Fairchild arm.

I might be comfortable making my own plinth if I can get a cutout template from someone.

My budget is 2k all in. Table, plinth, and arm. I might pony extra for cart but it will likely be a 103r.

So...I need help with plinth plans and an arm suggestion that wont break the bank. I am pretty well versed on arm types, tendencies etc. I love vintage but sight unseen 40-year-old arms can show up with play due to bearing wear.

Would love to hear from the community- Im an old seller/buyer on AG before it went retail and very expensive.

 

Thanks All

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fsonicsmith's avatar
fsonicsmith
931 posts
 

These tables do have a touch of rumble, but, they are lively and fun to hear.  

Thanks! Yes, but a good idler like the legendary 301 has a sense of drive and liveliness that few if any belt drive tt's can provide. My 301 has no audible rumble that I have ever been able to detect. I owned five belt drive decks before deciding that a pimped out TD124 and 301 were my final turntables. Barring Armageddon they will be still playing great music a few generations from now. You can not say that about most other tables. Art Dudley's articles on the TD124 and 301 are must-reads. Perhaps the best articles on audio ever written. 

noromance's avatar
noromance
9,404 posts
 

I'm not sure that is true. Although, I'm speaking for 401, I have one in a full ply plinth and one in 50mm slate. The slate one is the more lively and detailed of the two.

The sound with a slate plinth and top end tonearm and cartridge will sound more precise but sterile. The liveliness is gone.

fsonicsmith's avatar
fsonicsmith
931 posts
 

I'm not sure that is true. Although, I'm speaking for 401, I have one in a full ply plinth and one in 50mm slate. The slate one is the more lively and detailed of the two.

I mentioned the "school of thought". We can call it a "school of opinion". I it is my opinion too but I don't claim to be right! That said, there may be other variables at play with your two 401's. 

I do believe that choice of plinth does not have as much effect as choice of platter. The OEM platter is relatively light and results in an incredible sense of liveliness. The Dobbins platter which I have on my deck now looks much nicer but results in a more "hi-fi" sound with all the various hi-fi adjectives. And then I have a Shindo style solid brass platter that I ought to sell. 

noromance's avatar
noromance
9,404 posts
 

@fsonicsmith Platter definitely has a big impact. I’ve swapped out my PAC 20mm oversized aluminum platter for the original just to compare. The original sounds imprecise and small while the PAC one sound stable, weighty, increased finer detail and larger soundstage all dimensions. Then add 3 x Nobsound springs ($35) as footers and everything just gets even better.

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