Garrard 301 New Custom Plinth- Two Arms!

PRICE REDUCED THROUGH CHRISTMAS!
Everyone has heard of the legendary Garrard 301, that it is the king of record players. Most of us with above average turntables think that our deck must sound close to what the 301 sounds like. Like me, if you think that you are living a lie!
I have had a desire to build up a 301 and refurbish it to see what it sounded like, well- it crushes anything I have ever heard. I played different cartridges that I like very much on it and it was the same, extended highs, creamy/articulate mids, and bass that is like no other table I have experienced.
On this particular offering we went all out, the original paint was sand blasted, then the deck was sanded, the paint is a pearlescent white powder coat (very durable). The motor was taken apart, cleaned, and lubed (top & bottom bearings). The linkages were all stripped of the old toxic covering and they were sent to England for a new finish. All of the non-motor springs are new. It has a new thrust plate and bearing, the spindle was re-lubed. All electrical contacts were cleaned and work perfectly and it has a new twisted three wire power cable (the motor is now grounded). All of the control knobs are new.
There are two things that are said to be weaknesses with this turntable; 1. The chassis is said to be weak and flexible. 2. The platter is said to ring. We addressed these two issues boldly; the bottom of the chassis was filled with metal powder loaded into a plastic liquid that dries to be very hard and rigid. The bottom of the platter had even more of this loaded plastic poured into it; it is also excellent at absorbing vibration. I took the platter to one of the best metal shops in the Twin Cities and had them make a path so the idler spindle would clear, and then balance it… at a cost of over $300 (that is the groove you seen in the bottom of the platter).
Ken Shindo says that particle board (MDF) robs these tables of dynamics, which is why he uses hard wood. This one has a solid walnut top that is almost one inch thick! The bottom is Baltic birch plywood, the base is solid hickory. This is a quiet, musical plinth with good mass.
Since the platter was made for Jolly Old England (50 hz)- a free KAB strobe will be included. (the table is set to US 60 hz standards) The platter sports a brand new Funk Firm platter mat, judged to be the best mat for the money by me, here.
This is an oil bearing 301 which has been cleaned and re-oiled.
I wanted the turntable to be able to accommodate two arms which I have shown in the photo. I also wanted them to look similar for a balanced look. The Ikeda designed Fidelity Research FR-64 is a no brainer, it is a fantastic arm for the money & will include one of our Impec-cable phono cables- The second (shorter) arm is a Jelco 750D, which is a terrific value & will come with one of our Frugal phono cables. The Jelco has not been mounted to the plinth as I wanted to be able to offer it without the second arm, contact us if you are interested in the table with just the FR-64. (I made a mahogany damper/sub weight for the back of the FR-64 that can be easily removed, it is held with a little silicon glue). Please note that people on Ebay are asking $2,500.00 for these arms… with no Fidelity Research headshell!
Please feel free to visit our site (cryo-parts) for more info & two links to videos of this 301 playing.