Plinth for Ruben's L 75 and 401

[kuruvilajacob]

I am starting a new thread on the plinth building I am doing for Reuben and some others on and off the Forum. This is the first time I am doing 5 plinths at a time and another first is that I am getting it made at a carpenter's work shop quite far away. There are several challenges as it is not being done under my direct supervision as in the case of all my previous plinth building exercises. One positive result I see is that once the carpenters get to do it by themselves, I will only need to give them the instructions in future for getting plinths made. Rueben's Lenco plinth can be completed any time because the plinth is ready, the TT is fully serviced. But I am awaiting the completion of the 401 plinth to start the next step of putting together everything. Now for some pictures of the wonderful Tables Rueben has acquired.

 

[kuruvilajacob]

I had been to the carpenter couple of days back to clear some doubts he had . I have also decided to make a plinth for my Garrard 301 which is now housed in original SME plinth and suspended on squash balls. I definitely feel a multy layered plinth can make it sing much better. I will have a chance to try on both plinths and see how much better or worse it is. But I certainly know it will sound better . I am toying with a plan to try pure silver wires to replace tone arm wires for one of my tone arms and if possible, for the tone arm wire to be extended to be connected directly to the phono stage. I would also consider removing the joints in the head shell for these wires to be directly connected to the cartridge. If successfully done, it will eliminate several joints which can hinder the signal path..

 

[vinylhead]

Hi,
I have Garrard 401 I need to build a new plinth ,would appreciate if someone can help me with 401 plinth designs and template.

 

[ranjeetrain]

I am toying with a plan to try pure silver wires to replace tone arm wires for one of my tone arms and if possible, for the tone arm wire to be extended to be connected directly to the phono stage. I would also consider removing the joints in the head shell for these wires to be directly connected to the cartridge. If successfully done, it will eliminate several joints which can hinder the signal path..

Of course these will help. I don't understand why even ace DIYers don't try these simple but extremely effective means. These are the mandatory things I'd do with every component I am full in-charge of building.

 

[jls001]

Hi,
I have Garrard 401 I need to build a new plinth ,would appreciate if someone can help me with 401 plinth designs and template.

Check out: http://www.retrohifi.co.uk/p13.gif

 

[reubensm]

thanks Mr. Kuruvila, the decks are looking splendid

 

[kuruvilajacob]

Reuben,I had been to the carpenter couple of days back. Fortunately, I had taken the 401 just to see if it fits right. When we placed the 401 in the cut out, we found that some alteration needed to be done for the on/off switch and other switches to function properly. Also the position for the bolts were different from the drawing. So these issues have been sorted out and the carpenter is doing the rest of the work and as I will be out of station this week, I will need to take the 401 to the work shop after I get back to do the rest of the work. I am happy with the work so far.

 

[kuruvilajacob]

Hi,
I have Garrard 401 I need to build a new plinth ,would appreciate if someone can help me with 401 plinth designs and template.

I have made an extra plinth for 401, if you are interested, you can PM me please

 

[reubensm]

Reuben,I had been to the carpenter couple of days back. Fortunately, I had taken the 401 just to see if it fits right. When we placed the 401 in the cut out, we found that some alteration needed to be done for the on/off switch and other switches to function properly. Also the position for the bolts were different from the drawing. So these issues have been sorted out and the carpenter is doing the rest of the work and as I will be out of station this week, I will need to take the 401 to the work shop after I get back to do the rest of the work. I am happy with the work so far.

Thanks Mr. Kuruvila, much appreciated. Can't wait to see the finished plinths. Once that comes, I will be getting a carpenter home to work on a custom rack that will hold both the turntables and the rest of my audio gear.

also, can't wait to get my hands on my good old Akai GX630D deck. Delaying collecting it as I thought I can do one trip and collect them all together

 

[kuruvilajacob]

Yes Reuben,
I would suggest that you pick it up when the plinths are ready. The dust cover may take some more time I think. I could get the 401 Dust cover made locally but the Ernakulam guy is definitely better at making dust covers.

 

[reubensm]

ok, I'll take the TTs without the dust covers. I can run a check on getting these done locally in Trivandrum. I know a guy who can do a wood/acrylic hybrid, something like what FM cyber vinay did for his Garrard 301. This method will also give me the option of hinging the dust cover to the plinth. This is what I am talking about (with the addition of a back board instead of a acrylic back):



The only thing is I would need to buy the very same veneer as used for the plinth.

 

[kuruvilajacob]

I have already ordered for the L 75. For the 401. i will not order . i can give you the same veneer if there is anything left. if not i will get you from EKM. I was away in Bangalore and i could not follow up. I hope to finish it before 9th Sept and would request you to pick it up before 9th as i am going to Hyderabad for a few days.

 

[reubensm]

I have already ordered for the L 75. For the 401. i will not order . i can give you the same veneer if there is anything left. if not i will get you from EKM. I was away in Bangalore and i could not follow up. I hope to finish it before 9th Sept and would request you to pick it up before 9th as i am going to Hyderabad for a few days.

Thanks Mr. Kuruvila, I am available on the 8th Monday. Would that be a good day. Since the dust cover for the L75 is done, why not get the 401's done as well. I will collect that later (or even I can collect from Ernakulam). This will ensure that both deck look in sync when on the rack.

 

[kuruvilajacob]

Thanks Mr. Kuruvila, I am available on the 8th Monday. Would that be a good day. Since the dust cover for the L75 is done, why not get the 401's done as well. I will collect that later (or even I can collect from Ernakulam). This will ensure that both deck look in sync when on the rack.

Yes. I will do that. I hope to take the machine of 401 again to the carpenter to see if everything is fitting fine. Then I hope to get my technician to come and fix everything. I hope I will be able to finish by 8th..

 

[kuruvilajacob]

Yesterday my technician and myself completed the Lenco L 75 plinth and also fixed the arm base. There were some minor adjustments to be made. These were done yesterday. Since the RCA cables from the arm wires to the phono stage will be fixed by Mr. Rueben, I will have to wait till it reaches Reuben's place to know. Noe for some pictures of the plinth . There are several more pics but I am unable to upload due to slow connection

 

[Record Player]

Yesterday my technician and myself completed the Lenco L 75 plinth and also fixed the arm base. There were some minor adjustments to be made. These were done yesterday. Since the RCA cables from the arm wires to the phono stage will be fixed by Mr. Rueben, I will have to wait till it reaches Reuben's place to know. Noe for some pictures of the plinth . There are several more pics but I am unable to upload due to slow connection

Sir, I know this will be a bit tedious for you, but most of the lovely pictures you post are really small to look at. You should try an external site like Photobucket and then upload and we all can see high resolution shots of these beauties.

 

[kuruvilajacob]

I am now going to the carpenter to see if the 401 fits perfect in the plinth and also to take the tone arm to physically place it on the plinth to get the best position for it. While it is tough to get things done with the carpenter being so far away, I am enjoying the work though it is time consuming and much more expensive than getting it done here. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to get the carpenter with skills to come home as and when we need them.

 

[reubensm]

Thanks Mr. Kuruvila, was wondering whether I'll have to keep the L75 length-wise while playing it. Really appreciate the efforts put in. This build is very important for me as I am going to replicate it at some stage. Can't rely on these carpenters. I thought it was the other way round, getting the carp home is often more expensive.

 

[kuruvilajacob]

When a carpenter comes home, he needs to be paid only his daily wages. In this case, going all the way each time in my car is more expensive than carpenter's daily wage plus according to him, he had to hire many power tools which he would have managed with whatever tools I had at home and his normal tools. Unfortunately, he can only come on Sundays if I engage him and that too when both of us are free. Moreover, the plywood purchased as per his measurements cost Rs18000/- and how much of it is used cannot be verified. Of course, that plywood purchased was for 5 plinths. so altogether, it was more expensive than my previous projects. Regarding the position of the Lenco-L 75, due to the controls being on the left side, if the length and breadth has to equal or proportional, the plinth would have become too big to handle. In fact, this is the only time, I have placed the arm in the position wanted by the owner. I normally cut out the required portion from the metal at the original arm position and place the arm at the normal position and if a second arm is made, that will be placed at a place not obstructing the first arm and also ensuring the second arm is not just above the idler wheel. There is still scope for correction .

 

[kuruvilajacob]

Sir, I know this will be a bit tedious for you, but most of the lovely pictures you post are really small to look at. You should try an external site like Photobucket and then upload and we all can see high resolution shots of these beauties.

Sohail,
The resolution of the pics taken are very poor. The TT actually looks fantastic. Unfortunately, it's too heavy for me to take it outdoors to get better pics. I have noted your observation and you are 100% correct about the quality of pictures I have uploaded