Classic MKII Garrard 401 for two tonearms plus SME M2-12R by Jean Nantais

Dead silence characterizes every single one of my rebuilds. I have been rebuilding Garrards since 2004, when I started the "Idler-Wheel Revolution" via the Lenco, have my own bearing modification which does not mark the bottom of the bearing, designed by myself and manufactured by my Swiss-trained machinist, and make all my own parts (same machinist). Read below for reviews.

See https://www.idler-wheel-drive.com/about-tjn/reviews/ for further details of various custom projects.

1) Noise floor to rival the top belt-drives including the theoretical best, air-bearing turntables, means top-tier refinement: "As it turned out, the Lenco's sound-floor was basically as low as the Forsell's (which has an air-bearing platter). In fact, I couldn't distinguish them. Since the Forsell had the lowest sound-floor I ever experienced, the Lenco's (highly welcome) achievement in this area is both surprising and unexplainable (at this time)." Arthur Salvatore.

2)  Once the noise floor eliminated, maximize the drive system, since noise is no longer a concern. This leads to digital levels of speed, detail (the lower the noise floor the more fine detail retrieved) and state of the art dynamics.

3) specially constructed plinths using the Constrained Layer Damping principle done the correct way with different materials in order to achieve true tonal accuracy, extremely low noise floor and limitless energy, based on decades of experience and experimentation. 

This is a two tonearm Classic Garrard 401 MKII, with hand-made veneer, built in my workshop as all my plinths are, long tonearm on the right, short tonearm on the upper left. The RS Labs RS-A1 tonearm is not for sale.

The SME M2-12R tonearm included in this sale is used but in good condition with just a few tiny marks near the tonearm rest. It includes the box, all papers, instruction manual, screws and bolts.  It currently retails for $4695.00 new.

Though the Reed in the last photographs is not included in the sale (but one can be ordered) it is featured to make a point: while my competitors' and amateur Garrard rebuilds almost always feature vintage or primitive tonearms which is due to a lack of refinement, my own Garrard and Lenco rebuilds are typically paired with state of the art tonearms and cartridges due to the state of the art noise floor (non-existent) and refinement due to plinth construction, parts and techniques. The Reed needs excellent isolation however, pictured is a sandbox with tonewood platform for extreme isolation.

I am known for my Lenco rebuilds but not as well known for my Garrard rebuilds, though I typically do a few a year, I have been rebuilding steadily yearly since 2004. The first client I had was not for a Lenco but for a Garrard 301, done in my usual special layered CLD Classic plinth. The following is this very first review from a customer, Garrard 301 set up with a Dynavector 507 MKII/Denon DL-103R; compared to both a low-mass, two-tier Cain & Cain plinth, and a Platine Verdier armed with a Schroeder and a Koetsu Urushi:

"Well, got the stock i/c on the Dyna, and not all tweaked yet, and nothing sitting on stand, without isolation, and it betters the Verdier/Koetu Urishi on a special Isolation stand...I am candidly surprised. I did not expect this. I had the Cain and Cain plinth and it did not sound good. This is way above. The 301 is incredible in your plinth. It has only the inexpensive Denon 103 R and that is not redone yet...and only a stock cable and it is better by a long ways than the Verdier on a special isolation table. Next I will try the Koetsu in the arm....and in my best phono stage and see. Damn...don't let this get out, or it will ruin the high end."

Here my lowest 75-pound Classic Garrard rebuild is compared with more expensive tables, a competing Garrard rebuild and a Direct Drive: 

"The 401 landed yesterday. A fantastic packing job has resulted in no damage whatsoever. Of course I had to stop everything I was doing - even though I am under a deadline on a project - to set up the 'table and the SME arm...

"I just wanted to say that you, sir, have absolutely ******** KILLED it with this rebuild. Listening to my back-up 9TT through my Slagle-modded Artemis Labs PH-1 into my Donald North Stratus (2A3-based headphone amp) into a pair of modded-Sennheiser HD800s...

"Wow. That's all I can say for now - wow. The combination of dead silence, punch, verve, bass (which the HD800s are not known for...) and breath-taking detail... It's the whole hog. Very very fun. Best thing about it is the sense of space - not just the width of the soundstage but its depth as well. Really 3D...

"It just slays the Technics I was using. And it slays the Dobbins 301 I used to have. And those cost more... The Dobbins A LOT... The Ikeda really likes the longer, heavier arm. And I have learned enough in the last few years of vinyl obsession to be able to dial in all the parameters of the arm and the cart..."

Each record player is built personally by myself, all parts are designed by me but machined by my Swiss-trained machinist. This particular 'table for sale is a model above those reviewed, with a more intricate plinth with better materials, higher density towards the center to concentrate mass, a Classic MKII level rebuild, including a special thrust plate designed by myself, complete rebuild, accurate motor pulley. It weighs in total 90 pounds with the tonearm, the mass extracts an astonishing amount of performance when the marriage of machine to the plinth is done right. It is designed for a 12" tonearm on the right and shorter tonearms on the left (up to 11" depending on armbase).

It has the European strobe platter which is more common. There is an accessory available from England I have used before which times the light to match the 50 Hz English platter, I can order one to pre-install if wanted.

Introduction to a review of my work from renowned specialist in vinyl and audio reviewer Arthur Salovatore: "This is the finest turntable I have ever heard. Now I’ve heard countless turntables in the last 40+ years, in my own system as well as in private homes, showrooms and at audio shows, but none of them can match this turntable in its overall cumulative strengths. While it was inevitable that I would eventually discover a turntable to outperform my personal reference of more than 17 years, the Forsell, what is amazing is that this new reference uses a technology (and actual model!) from more than 4 decades ago. Adding to the mystery is that fact that I had long felt this approach was obsolete (based on my actual experiences of the past, and not just simple “theory”)."

NOTE ON THE MAT: in all my years rebuilding and improving Garrards the best mat, which provides the best balance of dynamics, highs, lows and imaging - is the humble Herb's Way Excellent Mat. It is not bonded so buyer is free to try other mats. I am working on a new platter and other mats in the meantime.

Prefer bank transfer or cheque, will work it out with the customer. If you have a Garrard 401 you want mounted in this plinth or another please contact.

Buyer pays actual cost of shipping, roughly $300 ground to most of the US; if international and you can provide a business address then roughly $600 by air to the business address.