Garrard 301 takes off
- Thread starter stevieboy
- Start date
Garrard 301/SME3012/SPU/not being able to set it up for a few days = hell
By the way Rajiv what arm is your ortofon on, on the linn?
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The Great Dane went for a walk yesterday.
When I took it out, I got a fright, though the stylus had broken because against the light I could only see what looked like jagged glass. Then I remembered it had a nude stylus. Ah so this is what a nude stylus looks like! Balancing it took the counterweight all the way to the back of the tonearm, a half or whole cm of the counterweight was outside the end of the tonearm tube.
Very hard to come to a proper impression cos everything is new, table, stepup, wire, cart, table. The table was not bolted down, just plonked back in the cutout cos I was fixing the idler spring and will be dismantling again.
Overall after a couple of LPs, sound impressions include a great bark, plenty of bite, dynamic, powerful, with presence. Smooth. Big billowing sound. It shares the same family sound of the Ortofon OM5E cart. Compared to both these, the Sumiko Blue Point No2 sounded more 'restrained' in comparison, politely presenting music. A bit of this would also be due to the belt drive on which the Blue Point was playing. The SPU is quite musical, zero harshness straight out of the box, good treble without the brightness of a new cart, detailed in a way that highlights things like strumming patterns, vocal inflections.
Overall, a very organic, flowing down to earth musical presentation. It's not a spectacular kind of sound, I didn't know quite what to expect. It just sounds natural. And now the Great Dane is back in the kennel while I fix Gerald up over the next few weeks. Will set up the Project again with the OM5E.
In the light of my experience with putting in two cartridges on the SME 12", alignment is less critical, as expected. However, the degree to which one can just slap a cart on and have it play was quite astonishing.
When I took it out, I got a fright, though the stylus had broken because against the light I could only see what looked like jagged glass. Then I remembered it had a nude stylus. Ah so this is what a nude stylus looks like! Balancing it took the counterweight all the way to the back of the tonearm, a half or whole cm of the counterweight was outside the end of the tonearm tube.
Very hard to come to a proper impression cos everything is new, table, stepup, wire, cart, table. The table was not bolted down, just plonked back in the cutout cos I was fixing the idler spring and will be dismantling again.
Overall after a couple of LPs, sound impressions include a great bark, plenty of bite, dynamic, powerful, with presence. Smooth. Big billowing sound. It shares the same family sound of the Ortofon OM5E cart. Compared to both these, the Sumiko Blue Point No2 sounded more 'restrained' in comparison, politely presenting music. A bit of this would also be due to the belt drive on which the Blue Point was playing. The SPU is quite musical, zero harshness straight out of the box, good treble without the brightness of a new cart, detailed in a way that highlights things like strumming patterns, vocal inflections.
Overall, a very organic, flowing down to earth musical presentation. It's not a spectacular kind of sound, I didn't know quite what to expect. It just sounds natural. And now the Great Dane is back in the kennel while I fix Gerald up over the next few weeks. Will set up the Project again with the OM5E.
In the light of my experience with putting in two cartridges on the SME 12", alignment is less critical, as expected. However, the degree to which one can just slap a cart on and have it play was quite astonishing.
kuruvilajacob
Well-Known Member
Stevieboy,
I fixed a Goldring 1006 on my 12" SME tonearm and tried to align it using the HIFI NEWS test record but found it difficult to adjust the antiskate. I checked the level on the platter. It was perfect.A friend of mine came in the evening and noticed a slight bent on the plinth causing the anti-skating problem. Now I am seriously thinking of a new plinth.
kuruvilajacob
I fixed a Goldring 1006 on my 12" SME tonearm and tried to align it using the HIFI NEWS test record but found it difficult to adjust the antiskate. I checked the level on the platter. It was perfect.A friend of mine came in the evening and noticed a slight bent on the plinth causing the anti-skating problem. Now I am seriously thinking of a new plinth.
kuruvilajacob
A Classic guess RajivGot the Classic GM mk II, the spherical one, which by all reports seems to be the most 'original' sounding one ie retaining the old sound. Wanted to start with that.
Ah, this one^
And I was naively thinking of a puppy
This fits on the SME?
Kuruvilajacob,
If the plinth was causing anti skating, I'm thinking it should also be causing basic tracking problems no?
Regards
Ah, this one^
And I was naively thinking of a puppy
This fits on the SME?
Hehe
Yup fits on its new collar perfectly. In fact I think Ortofon used to make headshells for SME if I remember reading right...Regards
Outbid again
Outbid no more :lol:.
The seller from Switzerland finally deigned to come down to sell direct without going through the usual auction route. $ 125 + 25 insured shipping. Paid. This is a new piece, not NOS.
It's been a long and arduous search. I wrote to so many sellers but none had in stock. Some didn't even bother to reply. May be because of the holidays in many parts of the world. I even found one used piece listed on ebay Germany but the guy flatly refused to sell outside Germany.
All this for a piece of rounded, flat rubber. It better be good!
Attachments
It will be good Joshua. That idler wheel Looks top notch.
Regards
Last edited:
kuruvilajacob
Well-Known Member
Stevieboy,
The plinth is definitely bent due to years of holding the weight of the machine. I am sure that if the plinth is changed, the anti skating problem could be solved. I am seriously thinking of using slate like cuddappa stone as a replacement plinth after reading an article by Art Dudley. I know that the cutting has to be perfect using AUTO CAD with special cutting tools. You can express your views pl
kuruvilajacob
The plinth is definitely bent due to years of holding the weight of the machine. I am sure that if the plinth is changed, the anti skating problem could be solved. I am seriously thinking of using slate like cuddappa stone as a replacement plinth after reading an article by Art Dudley. I know that the cutting has to be perfect using AUTO CAD with special cutting tools. You can express your views pl
kuruvilajacob
From what I know cuddappa stone rings and is not inert like slate. Maybe you could try it as a sandwich with something else ?
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sachu888
Well-Known Member
Hi,
You may consider soapstone see this:
Presto Pirouette T18 - Drive-Line Redesign - Soapstone Plinth - w/ Pics (lots) - AudioKarma.org Home Audio Stereo Discussion Forums
1963 Bogen BP51HPmod_stacker on soapstone plinth - AudioKarma.org Home Audio Stereo Discussion Forums
Regards,
Sachin
Hi,
Its an idea worth trying.Cuddapa stone is not expensive.
Arj's suggestion of trying a sandwich with another material(bitumen sheet?) is good .
I had speaker cabinets made out of Cuddapa stone for my Tannoy IIILZ(10 INCH MONITOR GOLD) speakers and they turned out quite well.Very very heavy but sounded great.
I did not have a problem with the Cuddapa stone ringing.
Regards
Rajiv
Its an idea worth trying.Cuddapa stone is not expensive.
Arj's suggestion of trying a sandwich with another material(bitumen sheet?) is good .
I had speaker cabinets made out of Cuddapa stone for my Tannoy IIILZ(10 INCH MONITOR GOLD) speakers and they turned out quite well.Very very heavy but sounded great.
I did not have a problem with the Cuddapa stone ringing.
Regards
Rajiv
Hi Kuruvilajacob,
My plinth was bowed inwards too, the old acrylic one it came it. You should definitely be able to get slate at those places that sell these slabs of marble/granite etc. I've sourced a place in Bangalore that will do it. When you're down next I could take you there if you want.
Regards
Hiten,
All depends on whether its a belt/idler etc. The idlers have heavy CLD plinths or squash ball isolated plinth types or single layer stone types. Belts benefit from a good isolating base. Linns are supposed to like light stands.
Regards
All depends on whether its a belt/idler etc. The idlers have heavy CLD plinths or squash ball isolated plinth types or single layer stone types. Belts benefit from a good isolating base. Linns are supposed to like light stands.
Regards
Hi Rajiv, i believe the problem with Cuddapah would come in Mechanical Isolation. speakers being more of accoustic vibration in nature (?) you may not have an issue.
I remember prem metioning Soapstone as an excellent inert base aswel , espcially for plinths.
ole Gerald had a little tipple saturday night and is more sprightly now. A few drops through the hole did the trick. Comes up to speed instantly! Runs a bit fast indicated by the speed knob one mark towards the right of dead center but that's ok not too much. Also thanks to hitens spring suggestions the idler now is closer to the pulley, the sprung in the second hole and the upper spring a bit cut off to reduce length. Now to figure out what wood to use for the rectangular base so its covered...
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