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Garrard 301/401 owners club!

Hello all, just wanted to drop a pic of my grease bearing hammertone 301 w/ Grace 707 arm in its new home. The plinth is custom built from 3 layers of Baltic Birch ply and a top / bottom layer of black painted MDF. The arm needs setting up and the 301 needs properly commissioning but I'm so happy with the plinth, I wanted to put it all together and take some photos :-)

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PARTS UPGRADE

Classic Turntable Shop UK;
Spindle gasket, oil bearing spindle gasket, isolation mounting washer, motor terminal cover, brake pad, speed control arm spring, idler control spring, motor spring kit, motor spring damper kit, motor pivot clip kit, cam house isolation washer kit, platter mat center aluminum disc & stainless steel thrust bearing kit.

Peak HIFI UK;
Mounting bolt kit.

Keystrobe UK;
LED strobe kit.

Audiosilente IT;
Idler wheel


Interjero-Checas LIT;
Custom made seven layers HQ baltic birch plywood plinth
500 X 460 X 126 (mm)

P6160004.jpg
 
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I finally finished the plinth on my first 301. I build guitars as a hobby, so I thought it would be cool to make use of some of those skills and materials! In this case, the sides are Bastogne walnut and the top is spruce. However, they are very solidly glued onto the base stack. This thing is dense! I decided on a removable tonarm base just in case. (I have an RB-300 waiting in the wings.)

I replaced the thrust bearing plate with a thick brass one (I'm not persuaded it makes a difference), got a new mat from Classic HiFi Shop in the UK (yeah, doesn't look new, but it is), and a new idler wheel from Audiosilente in Italy. (I had previously restored a Garrard Model A and am comfortable around this sort of thing.)

The cabinet holding it is also a recent build.

Fred-301-1.jpeg

The Baltic birch plywood stack is bonded together with a flexible epoxy that my son purchased for making archery bows. I figured it might absorb any vibration better.

Fred-301-8.jpeg

I lined the cavity with felt to soak up excess noise coming off the mechanicals.

Fred-301-10.jpeg

I love the figure on this Bastogne walnut! Still haven't decided whether or not to adorn the plinth with a Garrard badge.

Fred-301-5.jpeg

My listening corner. I don't use the speakers much because of the limitations of having that darn couch in the way. I have a couple of nice headphone amps though, and Sennheiser and Stax headphones, so all good.

Fred-301-7.jpeg

Thanks for looking. Cheers!

Fred
 

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  • Fred-301-6.jpeg
    Fred-301-6.jpeg
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fpatton said:
I finally finished the plinth on my first 301. I build guitars as a hobby, so I thought it would be cool to make use of some of those skills and materials! In this case, the sides are Bastogne walnut and the top is spruce. However, they are very solidly glued onto the base stack. This thing is dense! I decided on a removable tonarm base just in case. (I have an RB-300 waiting in the wings.)

I replaced the thrust bearing plate with a thick brass one (I'm not persuaded it makes a difference), got a new mat from Classic HiFi Shop in the UK (yeah, doesn't look new, but it is), and a new idler wheel from Audiosilente in Italy. (I had previously restored a Garrard Model A and am comfortable around this sort of thing.)

The cabinet holding it is also a recent build.

View attachment 3571615

The Baltic birch plywood stack is bonded together with a flexible epoxy that my son purchased for making archery bows. I figured it might absorb any vibration better.

View attachment 3571619

I lined the cavity with felt to soak up excess noise coming off the mechanicals.

View attachment 3571623

I love the figure on this Bastogne walnut! Still haven't decided whether or not to adorn the plinth with a Garrard badge.

View attachment 3571626

My listening corner. I don't use the speakers much because of the limitations of having that darn couch in the way. I have a couple of nice headphone amps though, and Sennheiser and Stax headphones, so all good.

View attachment 3571627

Thanks for looking. Cheers!

Fred
Click to expand...
Wow! That plinth looks amazing! Nice work.
 
fpatton said:
I finally finished the plinth on my first 301. I build guitars as a hobby, so I thought it would be cool to make use of some of those skills and materials! In this case, the sides are Bastogne walnut and the top is spruce. However, they are very solidly glued onto the base stack. This thing is dense! I decided on a removable tonarm base just in case. (I have an RB-300 waiting in the wings.)

I replaced the thrust bearing plate with a thick brass one (I'm not persuaded it makes a difference), got a new mat from Classic HiFi Shop in the UK (yeah, doesn't look new, but it is), and a new idler wheel from Audiosilente in Italy. (I had previously restored a Garrard Model A and am comfortable around this sort of thing.)

The cabinet holding it is also a recent build.

View attachment 3571615

The Baltic birch plywood stack is bonded together with a flexible epoxy that my son purchased for making archery bows. I figured it might absorb any vibration better.

View attachment 3571619

I lined the cavity with felt to soak up excess noise coming off the mechanicals.

View attachment 3571623

I love the figure on this Bastogne walnut! Still haven't decided whether or not to adorn the plinth with a Garrard badge.

View attachment 3571626

My listening corner. I don't use the speakers much because of the limitations of having that darn couch in the way. I have a couple of nice headphone amps though, and Sennheiser and Stax headphones, so all good.

View attachment 3571627

Thanks for looking. Cheers!

Fred
Click to expand...
You’ve cre a personal heirloom, which can be enjoyed and interacted with daily :trebon:

Enjoy,
Andy
 
. . . . .and by the way, a Denon 103R that I have listen to ( in a friends system; 301/64S)) was a "hot rodded" one with Nasotec alu body, Ogura vital fine line stylus and a boron cantilever and to my ears it was/is an excellent choice for the FR-64S!;)
 
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Just wondering if anyone has done business with Ray Clark at Classic Turntable. He has botched my order twice now. First time he did not ship and the second time I received some complimentary bushings but none of the original order worth $700. He seems like a nice man but that doesn't get me my parts. Frustration is setting in. My main question is should I stick with him or cut my losses and file a claim with PayPal? Being an ocean and a continent away doesn't help.
 
Notsosmart said:
Just wondering if anyone has done business with Ray Clark at Classic Turntable. He has botched my order twice now. First time he did not ship and the second time I received some complimentary bushings but none of the original order worth $700. He seems like a nice man but that doesn't get me my parts. https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/dealing-with-uk-s-classic-turntable-company is setting in. My main question is should I stick with him or cut my losses and file a claim with PayPal? Being an ocean and a continent away doesn't help.
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Strange,never have had any problems with him, always got what I have ordered ,and I found him easy to communicate with.( via email )

Did a google research on Ray Clark, Classic Hi Fi shop and there seem to be only positive reviews.

From Audiogon :

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/dealing-with-uk-s-classic-turntable-company):
"They’ are more of a one man operation. Ray Clark. Did business with him a few years ago with no problems. He has always been well-respected in the audiophile world."
 
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Have dealt with Ray for years, he’s even found me hard to source items for other turntables :thumbsup: And in my dealings with him, he always makes things right:trebon:

Most 301/401 spare/reproduction parts come from CTC, even if purchased from another supplier and CTC parts are superbly made…

Are you sure there’s not 2 shipments? I’d recommend calling CTC if you’re not happy with the service.

VR
Andy
 
Notsosmart said:
Just wondering if anyone has done business with Ray Clark at Classic Turntable. He has botched my order twice now. First time he did not ship and the second time I received some complimentary bushings but none of the original order worth $700. He seems like a nice man but that doesn't get me my parts. Frustration is setting in. My main question is should I stick with him or cut my losses and file a claim with PayPal? Being an ocean and a continent away doesn't help.
Click to expand...
Any update on the matter?
 
Notsosmart said:
Just wondering if anyone has done business with Ray Clark at Classic Turntable. He has botched my order twice now. First time he did not ship and the second time I received some complimentary bushings but none of the original order worth $700. He seems like a nice man but that doesn't get me my parts. Frustration is setting in. My main question is should I stick with him or cut my losses and file a claim with PayPal? Being an ocean and a continent away doesn't help.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately Ive had similar experiences with Ray. A forgotten order that I had to chase him for and a repainted platter that was poorly masked. Also their pulleys are not as precisely machined as the one I got from Woodsong
 
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