adnick
Addicted Member
Really appreciate the kind words, if you’d seen the plinth model I’m building, and all the changes made so far, it would certainly dampen your confidence
That’s why I’ve not even revealed the drawing
Garrard 301 Rimless Ivory Schedule 1/A New Project & Plinth Build
Really appreciate the kind words, if you’d seen the plinth model I’m building, and all the changes made so far, it would certainly dampen your confidence
That’s why I’ve not even revealed the drawing
adnick
Addicted Member
That's great it's silent!
Steve I’d never heard a 301 until this one however, the 301 was on my bucket list of tables to have.
It’s no secret that I’m an idler fan and I don’t like the look of the 401, nothing against the table, they may be better than the 301, but I just wouldn’t want to live with one
Andy
Andy,
I had so much trouble designing a plinth for that 301, I had to shelve the project until I was satisfied. It was like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders when I returned the 301 to my friend. I didn't have the time or skill to bring my imagination to reality.
First thing was choosing a tonearm. That was the easiest part.
The plinth... I wanted every joint to be dovetailed and I wanted all of the grain to flow and wrap. I also wanted to round over every corner in a manner that would highlight the dovetailed joinery.
*I wanted the top to drop onto and into the sides like a jigsaw puzzle.
The first design was going to be Red Oak because it was heavy and readily available in 5/4.
I cut the sides and glued up the top and had second thoughts. This thing was going to be huge and weigh a ton.
Next iteration was going to be 4/4 curly maple with a stripe around the sides. I had different boards of maple, some light, some dark. I glued up the sides predominantly using the light maple with a 3/4" strip of dark maple mixed in. It looked good.
Next I glued up the top and was wondering how to plane it flat when my friend called.
That's as far as I got.
Mounting a single, dedicated tonearm would have been simple. I wanted to design in the ability to accommodate more than one tonearm. An inlayed and removable armboard seemed like an elegant option, I just never got that far.
After I returned the 301 to my friend I had a tonearm but no turntable to mount in on.
I was fortunate to find a TD124 in good shape. It fits my needs.
Can't wait to see what you come up with!
*Edit
Rich
I had so much trouble designing a plinth for that 301, I had to shelve the project until I was satisfied. It was like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders when I returned the 301 to my friend. I didn't have the time or skill to bring my imagination to reality.
First thing was choosing a tonearm. That was the easiest part.
The plinth... I wanted every joint to be dovetailed and I wanted all of the grain to flow and wrap. I also wanted to round over every corner in a manner that would highlight the dovetailed joinery.
*I wanted the top to drop onto and into the sides like a jigsaw puzzle.
The first design was going to be Red Oak because it was heavy and readily available in 5/4.
I cut the sides and glued up the top and had second thoughts. This thing was going to be huge and weigh a ton.
Next iteration was going to be 4/4 curly maple with a stripe around the sides. I had different boards of maple, some light, some dark. I glued up the sides predominantly using the light maple with a 3/4" strip of dark maple mixed in. It looked good.
Next I glued up the top and was wondering how to plane it flat when my friend called.
That's as far as I got.
Mounting a single, dedicated tonearm would have been simple. I wanted to design in the ability to accommodate more than one tonearm. An inlayed and removable armboard seemed like an elegant option, I just never got that far.
After I returned the 301 to my friend I had a tonearm but no turntable to mount in on.
I was fortunate to find a TD124 in good shape. It fits my needs.
Can't wait to see what you come up with!
*Edit
Rich
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Ilikevinyl
Cool Breeze
Steve I’d never heard a 301 until this one however, the 301 was on my bucket list of tables to have.
It’s no secret that I’m an idler fan and I don’t like the look of the 401, nothing against the table, they may be better than the 301, but I just wouldn’t want to live with one
Andy
Yes, the 401 doesn't look as nice as the 301. I still would be happy with either if I find one dirt cheap!
Andy..
It looks like you've completely decoupled the tonearm from the deck.
That's one of the design ideas I considered but thought maintaining alignment would be too difficult.
If I'm interpreting this correctly, do you think separation might be the "secret ingredient" for the success you're hearing?
Rich
It looks like you've completely decoupled the tonearm from the deck.
That's one of the design ideas I considered but thought maintaining alignment would be too difficult.
If I'm interpreting this correctly, do you think separation might be the "secret ingredient" for the success you're hearing?
Rich
adnick
Addicted Member
Rich:
Decoupling can be very effective, it pays bigger dividends on decks that have more motor vibration and some arm/cartridge combinations may benefit more than others. In my setup that’s a solid block of wood turned on a lathe to fit inside the 6” gas pipe connector, it doesn’t move once set-up and it actually makes cartridge alignment a bit easier.
Requires a level surface without any movement or vibrations, in other words don’t bump the table
However it’s not the deciding factor my thought process of plinth design. Had tired multiple arm & cartridge combinations and only one was completely decoupled. With all that said, I’ll admit that my actual plinth design sorta decouples the tonearms internally, it’s actually conceived as 2 separate sections and when these two sections are connected there’s a combination layer of cork & Dynamat between them….
Realize it’s difficult to describe a visualized concept without pictures and/or sketches, especially with my poorly written verbiage
BTW Wanted to ask if you kept your second plinth build effort? Your description of it was intriguing….
I misplaced everything after I returned the 301 to my friend. I probably put it someplace "safe" and forgot where that is.
The sides were cut to length. I was figuring out how lay out the dovetails so it would fit together like an open box jigsaw puzzle and everything went missing. These two pieces of cutoff are all that I've been able to find.
Before they went missing I considered using the boards for my TD124, but there was too much going on in my life at the time. I was pressed for time so I purchased an Ortofon Style Plinth.
The only thing I made was the armboard.
Not too fancy, I think it has a "classic" look.
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adnick
Addicted Member
That’s too bad about not being able to find the parts, would have been nice to have just in case
Yes agree, that Ortofon plinth looks very nice paired with the TD124
adnick
Addicted Member
After a week of working out the details I’m afraid to try and use my Black Walnut, it’s just enough to make the plinth, and that’s not allowing for any waste or mistakes 
So going with curly Maple and Padauk have more than enough of both with some comfort zone….
The Padauk will compose the area around the turntable itself so there’s some nice color contrast and it’s very interesting wood
Just makes for extra work, have to joint and smooth each board in preparation for the build, ah but such is life
So going with curly Maple and Padauk have more than enough of both with some comfort zone….
The Padauk will compose the area around the turntable itself so there’s some nice color contrast and it’s very interesting wood
Just makes for extra work, have to joint and smooth each board in preparation for the build, ah but such is life
yeah, that's tough, using those terrible toolsView attachment 2744647
Just makes for extra work, have to joint and smooth each board in preparation for the build, ah but such is life
View attachment 2744649
View attachment 2744652
syp bench build?
Getting to the finish line takes so much patience and the ability to recognize when it's time to call it a day. It's so much more than "measure twice and cut once". Whenever I caught myself "leaving the zone" I would simply put my tools down and walk away. The thought of ruining weeks of work because of a stupid mistake or something I overlooked...ugh.
I probably spent as much time building jigs as I did building an actual project. Never rushed, very relaxing.
Padauk is very hard and I imagine takes extra care to avoid tear-outs, especially if your supply is limited.
You've got a special table and I'm sure your plinth will do it justice.
Keep the pictures coming. I can't wait to see your joinery.
I probably spent as much time building jigs as I did building an actual project. Never rushed, very relaxing.
Padauk is very hard and I imagine takes extra care to avoid tear-outs, especially if your supply is limited.
You've got a special table and I'm sure your plinth will do it justice.
Keep the pictures coming. I can't wait to see your joinery.
adnick
Addicted Member
The bench exceeds the sum of my abilities by considerable amountyeah, that's tough, using those terrible tools
Built with mainly handtools from reclaimed lumber, it’s 5 inches thick, 10 feet long and probably weighs more than 1200 lbsIt’s posted elsewhere but here’s my glamour shot:
RDW
Well-Known Member
Wow! What a bench! I never got very far in woodworking but I would value that bench with my life!The bench exceeds the sum of my abilities by considerable amount
It’s posted elsewhere but here’s my glamour shot:
View attachment 2744745
adnick
Addicted Member
Yeah Bill I should have said, it’s built by me, well over a year to complete, did it in sections. Much of the time was prepping or reclaiming the old lumber, It’s mainly old growth pine (pumpkin pine) from our 1890s German farm house here in Texas, it has a split top and the top(s) can be jacked off the legs for moving.
