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Audio Grail or Classic Hifi?

I would be deeply grateful for any advice for my problem. I had for years, a nice Garrard 301, which I had a powerful itch to open up and "restore" myself. During a busy working life (how work increased during Covid!) this was very difficult, but I suddenly smelt an opportunity with some free time opening up. I ordered a standard set of parts from Classif Hifi and got to work on my Garrard. All parts except the bearings.

I took apart the motor and re lubricated it. I scrupulously followed sage advice from esteemed forums where many 301 restorations were described in detail. It was exciting.

At the end of it however, my 301, which had never had a speed stability problem, now has one. I have tried disassembling and reassembling it one more time, and consulted various people about trouble shooting it. It has led nowhere.

Now I have run out of time, and the window of opportunity is over. So the bottomline is that I need to give it for restoration to a good outfit..

Should I give this to Classic Hifi - UK for a restoration? Or should I buy a full restored Audio Grail machine (they don't take private machines and restore them - you have to buy a restored piece and trade in yours in exchange. I am aware there will be a cost difference. But I want the better machine, so will give it to AG if AG is significantly superior to Classic Hifi. If both are equal, then cost difference will make me go to Classic Hifi.

So bottomline is - i want to know who does the better job in restoring? AG or CH? Many many thanks.

cool_jeeves
dover
2,247 posts
 

@cool_jeeves 

If you are in the UK - I have worked on some Audio Grail restored 401's and they are excellent.  Have had some issues with classic Turntables parts out of spec.

Personally I would go Woodsong if you can for the 301, alternately Grail - who are now part of SME and may be pricy.

pindac's avatar
pindac
2,864 posts
 

In the UK there is also other Service Suppliers for Vintage Idler Drive TT’s.

The link is to Wakefield Turntables, who are quite transparent in showing their procedures and as far as I am aware very reasonably priced.

 

 

cool_jeeves OP
37 posts
 

OK, will look them up. How good would they be relative to Audiograil? 

pindac's avatar
pindac
2,864 posts
 

I'm not sure how to answer the question,

Any individual with a time served of refurbishing a Idler Drive will be capable of working on one in any condition. The limitation only being how much of a project they are willing to undertake. A 'Barn Find' at a few ££'s cost and in need of a total overhaul can yield a healthy uplift in value when completed, and some refurbishers relish such discoveries.

In general a Garrard Idler Drive is a very basic TT design, albeit a Vintage Design, and by some revered.

In the present day, the 301 Model has somehow been seen as a model to be  reintroduced as a Marketable Item at an exuberant cost, I can see where owners of  this offering as their purchased model, may have an approach to a repair service with an aloof attitude, as the Value of the item will be much more influential, for the service selected, over the adeptness of the service engineers understanding of the mechanics and electrics used for the design.

 

 

 

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