Garrard 301 - Project

The Change of Bearing Design does present itself as an interesting option. It is an area where I know substantial improvement is able to be discovered.

Taming the energies and resulting frequencies that are able to be transferred from Interfaces of materials in the bearing housing is a very worthwhile condition to put in place.

I strongly suggest there is more to be achieved from this approach being used on Vintage Turntables, than there is from other approaches. Especially the method, where a expensive cart' is selected to be used as the means to experiencing improvements in the End Sound. In many cases, this is a means to be quite wasteful and put a Cart' to use in an operational environment that keeps the Cart's  it true capabilities concealed from being revealed, a Stymied Stylus could be a term to suit.

I look forward to learning your thoughts on how a Bearing Design claiming to be Hydrodynamic and of a low friction design is able to impress yourself.

The use of Sapphire and Thermoplastics as adopted by AF are always on my list of materials worthwhile exchanging to, it seems they are confident of Hydrodynamic Lubrication, by their using Sintered Bronze Bushes. I wonder if these are machined to extremely tight tolerances, or if the parts are deselected for having dimensions that don't interface optimally with Platter Spindle and Bearing Housing Shaft?

In my case of Vintage TT Main Bearing Redesign / Overhaul, it was easier to dimension the Cast Bearing Housing Shaft and Spindle and produce a Bush part that was optimally matched and ream finished when Bushes are seated. It was learnt that there are not ubiquitous dimension to be produced, if one dimension for Bush parts is used, a Slop can be discovered when assembling.

A machined Bearing Housing will be much improved as the design to ensure common dimensions are usable for producing parts for the interfaces.

My knowledge of materials does suggest there is an alternate option for the Platter.

I suggest this only, as I am aware the intention of your journey is to eke the best from the 301.

The original Platter, if fitting on to the AF Bearing Spindle, can be modified to create an alternate Platter design, which will require a small modification to the Platter.

The Platter will need to be marked out to be drilled so holes produced do not interfere with the Idler Wheel contact.

The Holes drilled to 5.2mm and then Tapped to accept a M6 Thread.

The Holes can be drilled to 6.5mm and Countersunk on the underside of the Platter.

Either method suggested above can be used to mechanically fasten a 20mm Thick Delrin/Acetal Platter Material to the Original Platter. The Delrin Platter will need a accurately positioned extension Spindle to allow for Albums to be centred.

If liked as a Platter Design, the Delrin can be further treated by drilling the side wall with 12mm holes and adding metal weights to the rebates. This as a design will benefit from being accurately balanced and as a result of the addition of metal parts will increase inertia. 

As stated, just a further info, that might get your interest at some time.            

@lalitk Wonderful progress on your 301 project. Have you received your Woodsong plinth yet? I see no update on what looked like an imminent arrival. 

Latest update: Oiling is done. Next, waxing the plinth before dropping the stainless arm pillars and brass arm-boards. 

@pindac 

Thank you for sharing such detailed insights. I was just as fascinated and intrigued by Artisan Fidelity hydrodynamic approach, especially their use of sapphire and thermoplastics.  Ow that I’ve seen it in person, I can say without any doubt that these two pieces are meticulously crafted with very tight tolerances. I’ll share impressions once the hybrid platter and bearing are installed. I am looking forward to see (hear) how these refinements translate into musical expression without loosing Garrard 301 soul. 

@noromance 

Still waiting on plinth arrival. Last update, brass arm-boards being worked out. Hopefully, by end of the month. 

@lalitk Your willingness to investigate and taking this to the place you have now achieved is the road less travelled where Vintage TT's are the interest.

With the New and Original Parts that will be readily at hand, there are easy win options to learn where the real benefits of changes made are to be found.

You are in quite a unique place to express your thoughts on the impression made by a Singular Item exchange and the complete swap out.

From my early day experiences had with ID TT's, I was being enabled to experience very impressive results from Bearings undergoing design changes.

Sapphire and Thermoplastics used are not uncommon to me and have been experienced in use as part of a Modification of a Bearing Assembly. 

Prior to going through the later experiences, where interest was shown for variations on Plinths Designs and Materials and then the later redirection to a particular Tonearm. I do believe, quite a few years past without these latest experiences, I would have stood strong in the idea, the Bearing being an optimised design was all that was required to get to a place where exceptional betterment was achieved for the overall function of the TT.

I have been fortunate to 'not get off the bus' and encountered individuals on their own journey that have become enlightening to myself. I am very contented to wear their philosophies and produced work on my sleeve.  

It was the discovery of a Tonearm Design which was selected for use and the adoption of Panzerholz as the Plinth material that brought everything about Bearing quality together in a more than satisfactory manner when used with the current in use TT. 

I stand strong today in the understanding, the Bearing design / assembly on both the TT and TA must be optimised and the Material used that couples these has to have the ability to manage energies produced by either in a way that does not impede either from functioning at their optimal. 

The really good news is that there are offerings from both the Commercial Sector and other Routes to be able to attain Bearing Assemblies for both a TT and TA that do deliver an optimised performance. The next good news is that there are materials becoming more widespread used, that enables these parts to be attached to and work together as a much improved interface. Investigation will show, that such designs can become available at different costs, depending on which route is used to attain them.

In your own case using AF to assist with attaining a proportion of this and WA for the Plinth, will bring a lot, especially if Panzerholz included in the Plinths Structure.   

For the current TT in use there is also a New Bearing Design which pretty much removes all OEM material from the methodology, which as a result of the design used for the TT, allows for Platters designs to be used that are very different from the OEM model.

Why do I like the Vinyl Source so much? Running parallel with the Listening to Recorded Music on Vinyl are the History, Collection of Albums and Sentiment. Equal to these is the other History, where there is presented, the wonderment of the possibilities to be had from creating differences to mechanical interfaces. It is this that also keeps me very rooted in this medium.

I am sure there are similar types of individual who get the same buzz from attempts made to control Temperature and Isolate Externally Born Frequencies from contaminating the 10Mhz Master Clock Oscillation. I have seen enough to be able to put my own thoughts towards Double Ovens and Tungsten Blocks when my thoughts go towards a Master Clock.    

Lewm,

I don’t think Vu’s preference for lighter bases for idler tables is a particularly strong preference as his builder makes solid bases for some customers.  If Vu truly does not like something, he doesn’t do it customer wishes not withstanding.