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Garrard 301 v. 401

G

Garrard201

Well-Known Member
Hi Everyone:

I've decided to take the plunge and buy a Garrard 301 or 401! What I want to know is: which one should I buy? I have an SME 3009 tonearm (mk2? I forget) in storage, so I'd need just a plinth with the table. What's a good source? Everything on EBay is in the UK, and I don't want to pay as much for shipping as I do for the 'table. How MUCH should I pay?
 
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There weren't a whole lot of Garrard 401s and 301s brought into the US. If you want an idler and don't want to have it shipped from the UK the Thorens TD124 may be a better choice as you are more likely to find one local or at least within the US.

If you do decide to get a Garrard from the UK, then be sure to discuss packing and shipping with the seller ahead of time. Guerrillas handle the packages so make sure that strong cardboard and about 4 - 6 inches of bubble pack, etc are used. I had a 401 shipped in and the guy thought that I was a little nuts insisting on so much bubblewrap but the box looked like someone had thrown it across the room a few times. It survived intact but only because it's tough and the guy had wrapped it in the inches of bubblewrap that I asked for. If they send it surface(cheaper), you are talking an 8 week wait. Air is faster but more expensive.

Good plinths for an idler are typically heavy. You may want to make your own vice paying shipping for that many pounds. The lightest good plinth design that I know of is Cain & Cain...but it isn't cheap or all that light.

Prices are pretty much set on e-bay so search some completed sales and you'll see what's the going rate.

BTW, I love my 401/SME3012. It's a great tt and SME is a classic tonearm for them.
 
I personally like the performance of the 301 grease bearing model over the 401, if that is what you mean. In fact, though, there are a couple of other idlers which will give you 98% of a 301 (some say 110%) for A LOT less money. But, make no mistake, the 301's sound great. I have built three different plinths for 301's. Could probably give you some general tips if you are doing a DIY. My son and I have built plinths that will rival any built (no brag just fact). On occasion, we build plinths for others, but very few. If you have interest to go that route, you can e-mail me and we can discuss that, or I can point you toward other builders, too
 
Thanks for the tips, guys! 4yank, where are you located? Also, what are some of the idlers that will give me great performance you mentioned? I am thinking of a 401 right now, only because I've been told it's a better match with my SME arm (something that jcmjrt seems to agree with).
 
There are many different opinions on what is best but these idlers are considered excellent and competitive to the Garrards. Thorens TD 124, and Lenco (Bogen, Goldring are rebadged Lencos) various models see:

http://www.btinternet.com/~a.d.richarson/hifi/lenco/lenco_land.html

There are other idlers which can be greatly improved with refurbing/replinthing but aren't as generally well thought of.

Some people say that the 401 is better engineered and the 301 better built. I can't say that I've heard a multitude of these guys - just one 301 grease bearing and my 401...and I have to say that I liked mine better...but I think that's fairly typical as we get what we like and like what we get. I also have a Thorens TD124MkII that I'm going to refurb/replinth.

Here's pics/info on my 401:

http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=81380
 
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