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
Buying cheap may be okay, but one of the main concerns with hearing what an idler drive turntable is about is having it in a good plinth. Also, If you have a 'table that's not gone through, cleaned and lubed, and made sure that the bearing/drive mech./etc. are in good order you may be shorting yourself too....
I did actually mean a new /old garrard with a stable (hardwood?) plinth.
I sometimes see them quite cheap on audiomarkt for example.

good luck hj
Like the OP, I too live in southern cal and am willing to bring over a bottle of cakebread or duckhorn for the privilege of hearing what a 301 can do.
What is it that you're expecting or hoping to hear from a piece of vintage audio equipment? I perhaps understand the desire to rebuild a piece of equipment one has a sentimental attachment to, but to expect some sort of audio nirvana coming from just one component of a system is just silly.

If I were you, I'd save that bottle for an date that is likely to bring you more sensory stimulation that an old turntable. In the alternative, I'd save it for when you have to placate your wife, if you have one, when you try to explain your trip to listen to yet another turntable.
So Actusreus, what's wrong with Redcrayon and Closdeducs wanting to hear a nicely set-up 301? Something wrong with being curiuos? I'm not sure anyone has stated they're expecting audio nirvana - well, I guess if things got carried away and that one bottle turned into several......

BTW, I used to own a 'table very similar to yours - a VPI Aries, w/JMW 10.5. FWIW, I sold it to keep the "vintage" Garrard 301 (and I'm not a sentimental kinda guy;-)).