An Empire of granite: Tales of custom plinth/base building

[Andy_H]

:ntwrthy: Holy smokes, Bill! The hits just keep coming. :ntwrthy:

 

[squirrelnest]

Solid look to that turntable...well done!

 

[turbohippy]

That is a beautiful TT and I love that cart too!

I have been thinking along similar lines and I am curious about the price of the rock cutting part.

And nice pix!

 

[Fisherdude]

Flat-ass gorgeous.

 

[iLUVanalog]

I acquired an Empire 598 recently that was in extraordinarily good shape and after hearing it play, I knew I had a keeper on my hands. The factory plinth/base was in incredible shape as well but I felt this table deserved better than press board. I decided to go with granite for this project. I designed the plinth to compliment the lines of the aluminum top plate and had it cut on a CNC water jet rig. The plinths periphery was then machine polished. Next I mounted the Empire and its new granite plinth to an E



WOW BILL!!! Beautiful job!!! Looks gorgeous!!

 

[Doc Brown]

Really nice.
I like the way the edges on the granite are done like the edges on the turntable.
Beautiful.

 

[Neosonic]

Another stunning table! I can find no way to express in words my admiration of your talents. I am simply in awe.

 

[dodog]

You'd been quiet for a while and I'd wondered if you'd stopped doing things in your workshop. Now you post a kick-ass multi phono-pre, an awesome RCA idler and this gorgeous Empire rebuild. Just amazing. I too hate you, in a good way.

 

[Big Bill]

Very nice bill.

Thanks Salt!

Looks great!!

Thanks Vintage!

That's real nice Bill!

Thanks Gary!

Bill, I hate you... in a good way! Gorgeous.

I understand, Thanks!

Really Bill, you have to stop making us jealous


Ben aka MacKat

I'm not doing it purposefully. Thanks Ben!

The best looking Empire I have ever seen. Including the one I use to have. Great job!

Thanks for the kind words Soul!

Thats awesome !!! I dream to have something like that before i die !!!

Thanks and I hope you do too!

Rock and roll solid!!! :thmbsp: :thmbsp:

Thanks again brother!

Outstanding! Beautiful!

That is one super nice Empire turntable.

Thanks so much Guy!

Wow! I have always liked the look of the original Empire decks, but I now have a new favorite. Very, very nice :yes:

Very kind!

I think that Bill is trying to corner the votes on the AK member with the greatest number of droolworthy turntables award. :scratch2:

:thmbsp:

There is such a thing?? :scratch2:

 

[Big Bill]

Awesome looking. Nice work.:thmbsp:

Thanks Bob!

I agree, and doing a fine job of it!

Beautiful table and workmanship once again,
Regards,
Jim

Thanks so much for the kind words Jim!

Beautiful Job. Nice turntable, love old Empires.

Thanks Kent!

Beautiful :thmbsp:

Now I'm thinking of doing granite on my TD124

Thanks Gill!

You're on fire Bill! Looks great.

Thanks Phil!

Gorgeous. Really nice job.

Thanks pal!

Nice work!

Thanks again!

:ntwrthy: Holy smokes, Bill! The hits just keep coming. :ntwrthy:

Thats very kind of you Andy!

Solid look to that turntable...well done!

Thanks!

Solid look to that turntable...well done!

Thanks!

Flat-ass gorgeous.

Thanks so much Fisher!

WOW BILL!!! Beautiful job!!! Looks gorgeous!!

Thanks Analog!

Really nice.
I like the way the edges on the granite are done like the edges on the turntable.
Beautiful.

Thanks so much Doc!

Another stunning table! I can find no way to express in words my admiration of your talents. I am simply in awe.

You're to kind sir!

You'd been quiet for a while and I'd wondered if you'd stopped doing things in your workshop. Now you post a kick-ass multi phono-pre, an awesome RCA idler and this gorgeous Empire rebuild. Just amazing. I too hate you, in a good way.

Yes, I've been busy during my posting absence.

 

[Big Bill]

Very nice indeed. If you don't mind what did the project cost you?

I'm thinking of making and selling these, I need to figure out what to do to clear it with AK first though. :scratch2:

 

[Redboy]

Neat! That one came together nicely.

Bill, how did you find the place that did your waterjet cutting? I've got a chunk of slate in the back yard that I want to turn into a plinth or two, and the couple of places I've contacted wouldn't touch it...

What types of businesses should I be looking for?

 

[Arkay]

That is just plain beautiful - a true "gentleman's turntable" (in the best sense). If it sounds half as good as it looks (which no doubt it does), you have an audio treasure there. Congratulations and well done! :thmbsp:

 

[Doug G.]

Gosh Bill, you really suck at building ugly turntables.

It's B-A-utiful.

Doug

 

[kbuzz]

Id buy one !

 

[240sx4u]

I have talked about making a granite base for my delphi a few times now, did you do the stone work yourself?

 

[tablaloops]

Great work ! Love the Empires !

Curious tho', have you bolted the top plate onto the granite plinth ? Do you have a picture of the cutout ?

I have a 208 in stock form that is prime for some upgrades. Currently using it with the RS-Labs RS-A1 tone arm. Some pics below :

https://picasaweb.google.com/110051986770909398297/RSLabsRSA1?authkey=Gv1sRgCNDnrJjDga_biQE

 

[VROBERTSON]

That stained base job turned out beautiful! I had the pleasure if hearing this table, and all I can say was it sounded wayyyy better than I was expecting. Sounds as good as it looks for sure!:tresbon:

 

[finnbow]

Gracious. That's damn near too pretty to play a record on. What cartridge are you putting on it?

 

[arcorob]

Cutting granit is no mean feat...wow...I will tell you what makes a good granite plinth, UBA TUBA

Pic here