Sir Garrard 401 has Arrived!!

[reubensm]

Have you tried dampening rings on the turntable platter? Unfortunately, mine are with Mr. Kuruvila, so I can't try them on the SL3200. Can't wait to try them out.

 

[Record Player]

Have you tried dampening rings on the turntable platter? Unfortunately, mine are with Mr. Kuruvila, so I can't try them on the SL3200. Can't wait to try them out.

Nope. I don't even have them. Maybe ill try them at a later stage.

 

[jls001]

Looking very good!!!

 

[kuruvilajacob]

Sorry for not posting comments on the cosmetics of Rueben's L 75 and 401. I am as nervous as Reuben as the carpentry work shop is quite far away and I cannot personally inspect the progress on a daily basis. For the kind of finish Sohail has, I would need to first fix the machine in the plinth to see if everything fits properly, the take the plinth to a specialist painter and get the glossy finish and then take it to the technician for fixing the machine and back to me for aligning the tone arm. In such a case, the whole project will not be over even by end September,knowing how the specialist painters work these days. But with the present method, I hope to complete the plinths within a week and hopefully get the dust covers in by mid August.

 

[Record Player]

Sorry for not posting comments on the cosmetics of Rueben's L 75 and 401. I am as nervous as Reuben as the carpentry work shop is quite far away and I cannot personally inspect the progress on a daily basis. For the kind of finish Sohail has, I would need to first fix the machine in the plinth to see if everything fits properly, the take the plinth to a specialist painter and get the glossy finish and then take it to the technician for fixing the machine and back to me for aligning the tone arm. In such a case, the whole project will not be over even by end September,knowing how the specialist painters work these days. But with the present method, I hope to complete the plinths within a week and hopefully get the dust covers in by mid August.

Absolutely Sir. These project builds really take a lot of time and patience. My build took me 7 months considering my work schedule Mon thru Fri. Getting time from these vendors and monitoring progress was extremely difficult for me. But the end result was quite satisfying. Imm sure your expertise on Reuben's build will make his 401 a class apart player.

 

[reubensm]

Yes indeed, lots of work so that's why I did not get involved. Over the last year or so, I've got myself all the carpentry tools and stuff at home for these builds but career is at an important phase now and can't spend the time. This is truly a lot of work. Also I have no experience of any kind with multi-layered plinths

The church project is taking up so much time, the project is 2 weeks over schedule now. What's making me nervous that they've announced the that Sunday after Aug 15th, is inauguration day.

 

[reubensm]

Here's a sneak preview of the L75 plinth shared by Mr. Kuruvila. The work is looking splendid and I can't wait to see how the deck looks when mounted.

I have already received invitations to do a couple of demos at local engineering colleges.

 

[jls001]

Please do the best finish you can achieve, and take your time. Not like my hillbilly L75 plinth TTs last a long long time and they should be finished like fine furniture. RP has shown us the correct way, worthy of emulation.

To all those rebuilding vintage TTs, please ensure you make the arm board for correct VTA and correct mounting distance. These are critical parameters.

 

[reubensm]

Please do the best finish you can achieve, and take your time. Not like my hillbilly L75 plinth TTs last a long long time and they should be finished like fine furniture. RP has shown us the correct way, worthy of emulation.

To all those rebuilding vintage TTs, please ensure you make the arm board for correct VTA and correct mounting distance. These are critical parameters.

Yes indeed, finish is something very important. I will be doing up my listening space only after these arrive. Mr. Kuruvula is personally minotoring this aspect for me, which is of great help.

 

[reubensm]

By the way, I would assume that my 401 plinth is being built in the background (of the L75 plinth picture)

 

[G401fan]

RP, your plinth looks superb, congrats!
Some suggestions:

Place a thin ( 2 or 3 mm) rubber gasket both above and below the motor board for each of the 4 mounting bolts. You could DIY these with some spare rubber sheet you might have around. Also, do not over tighten the nuts below the motorboard - just firm enough, but not so as to crush the gaskets(which would reduce or nullify their damping effect).

If you are using a spacer for the tonearm, which typically would be bolted or screwed on to the motorboard, then use gaskets for those connection points as well.

Your acrylic cover needs to be secure enough not to damage the arm by an accidental nudge - it does not appear to have a groove on the top of the plinth to be held firm. Perhaps you could place 4 small circular stoppers, one in each corner to prevent any movement. It won't look good, but you won't have to worry all the time.
Cheers!

 

[Record Player]

Thanks G401fan. Ill definitely give these suggestions a shot. I also plan to change the top rack glass to an MDF plank.

RP, your plinth looks superb, congrats!
Some suggestions:

Place a thin ( 2 or 3 mm) rubber gasket both above and below the motor board for each of the 4 mounting bolts. You could DIY these with some spare rubber sheet you might have around. Also, do not over tighten the nuts below the motorboard - just firm enough, but not so as to crush the gaskets(which would reduce or nullify their damping effect).

If you are using a spacer for the tonearm, which typically would be bolted or screwed on to the motorboard, then use gaskets for those connection points as well.

Your acrylic cover needs to be secure enough not to damage the arm by an accidental nudge - it does not appear to have a groove on the top of the plinth to be held firm. Perhaps you could place 4 small circular stoppers, one in each corner to prevent any movement. It won't look good, but you won't have to worry all the time.
Cheers!

 

[kuruvilajacob]

Rueben,
Yes, 401plinth building is progressing . I had gone to Kochi today and tomorrow I may get my SIL's car and I am planning to spend some time at the carpentry shop. Regarding VTA, I normally fix the tone arm dead parallel to the platter and since these arms have height adjustable facility, any changes needed is done after fixing everything. I make sure the overhang is dead right. That's my usual way of aligning the tone arm.

 

[Abhishek]

Wonderful job !!

Thought of sharing some shots from the archive. All this while I have been putting up shots from my cell but here are shots from the DSLR. WOW, so much detail and clarity. Used different picture modes here.

Aint Sir Garrard something....

PS: Expand to see high res shots.

 

[kuruvilajacob]

Rueben,
Yes, 401plinth building is progressing . I had gone to Kochi today and tomorrow I may get my SIL's car and I am planning to spend some time at the carpentry shop. Regarding VTA, I normally fix the tone arm dead parallel to the platter and since these arms have height adjustable facility, any changes needed is done after fixing everything. I make sure the overhang is dead right. That's my usual way of aligning the tone arm.

I went to the carpentry workshop and unfortunately, my carpenter was not there. So, I just picked up the Lenco plinth as I did not want it to gather dust at the workshop. My carpenter informed me that he will try to complete the work by Sunday evening and I hope he does. The I can get down to finishing the rest of the work by middle of next week.

 

[shafic]

Thought of sharing some shots from the archive. All this while I have been putting up shots from my cell but here are shots from the DSLR. WOW, so much detail and clarity. Used different picture modes here.

Aint Sir Garrard something....

PS: Expand to see high res shots.

Nice work!! Good photography!!

 

[kuruvilajacob]

I fixed a Lenco L 75 into Rueben's new plinth and it fits perfectly . There is just enough gap between the tone arm base and the Lenco machine . Now as soon as the Reuben;s machine is brought by the technician fully serviced, all I need to do it fix it and correct the arm position. I am thinking of a new way to fix such arms inside the arm base tunnel without it affecting sound quality. I am still to work out the way to do it because sometimes, it is a challenge to keep the excess arm wire properly shielded inside.

 

[reubensm]

thanks Mr. Kuruvila, I think we need a new thread for these builds.

 

[Record Player]

Gents - Been a while since I posted an update on this thread. I have now installed a 9" Rega Arm on the 401 and quite like the results. Been using the 401 quite often these days as compared to the 1200s. Looking at a multilayered plinth sometime soon or even a slate plinth. Any one in Bangalore wants to join?

 

[jls001]

Slate is very interesting.

Post lots of pics