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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.

lalitk
elliottbnewcombjr
7,742 posts
 

the TT’s with floating suspension usually sit on/in a frame, and then people often put that frame on a platform, kind of like a plinth, and as OP and I needed, some isolation from flexible floors 

here’s a nice combo of a dust cover, wide frame with side board big enough for the 12" long SME arm with sliding mount, and that arm comes with a removable headshell, so easy to have a Mono/Stereo MM/Stereo MC?whatever pre-mounted in their own headshells, pre-aligned

thorens, dust cover, ready for long sme arm

It is easy to make alternate boards for other arms, even simply spin the board 180 degrees and have a mount for _______? in the same board.

pindac's avatar
pindac
3,908 posts
 

Plywood 0.04 --- Chipboard 0.101, neither compare favourably as a Damping Factor to Resin Impregnated Densified Wood Board materials, especially the Brands Panzerholz or Permali.

lalitk's avatar
lalitk OP
6,179 posts
 

Today’s been a good day… I finally had the chance to see my upcoming Woodsong plinth in Hawaiian Koa. Even in its early oiling stages, the Hawaiian Oak finish reveals a silky sheen that bears a promise to deepen with each coat, creating a timeless foundation worthy of the legendary Garrard 301.  

I truly appreciate the care and detail Chris @woodsong putting in every step, from the selection of exquisite Koa to the machining of the brass armboards. Knowing that shipping is getting close makes this all the more exciting. I’m really looking forward to seeing and experiencing the final result. 

larryi
4,578 posts
 

A friend has a Woodsong Koa plinth for a 401.  That is beautiful, albeit expensive, wood.  

lewm
14,671 posts
 

Garrard 301 is “legendary”?

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