Garrard 401 turntable SME 3009 tonearm Audio-Technica ML440b cartridge: Nerding Out For Music Sounds

[@ChrisEbbrsen]

Thank you, i was salivating over the301. Most greatful. I had not considered the rumble issue. So when they went stereo, rumble crept up. Thank you most appreciated. Also, european voltage heads up, most appreciated. You saved me 18oo dollars . Cant thank you enough!

[@rogerwebb7501]

Interesting you should mention the BBC using these. I worked in a local radio studio in Malta in 1970 where we had a pair of these equipped with the 12" version of the original SME arm so we could play the 16" transcription discs you mentioned.....these were shows first aired by the BBC in the UK and then sent out to the far-flung parts of the 'Empire' (didn't know they went to USA though!). When I came back to the UK, I discovered a friend who had worked in Malta with me lived in the same road in a smalll West Country town (small world!) and he had brought back one of the 401s after the studio had closed. He didn't use it much, so I offered to buy it from him...£10, I think I paid him. He had fitted a Sansui arm, if I remember correctly which I replaced with an SME 3009 II Improved with detatchable headshell into which I fitted a Shure V 15. I still have the arm (fitted now with the new Goldring E4), but the 401 went in favour of a Linn Sondek.......I now have a modest Thorens TD 160 B. I'm surprised the 401 is so favoured today - I could never supress the rumble......and the speed adjustment was usefull if you wanted to play the record at the wrong speed, but not much else!

[@dippey]

Nice to here your thoughts on this great turntable. I have a 401 with a SME 3009 Series 2 improved and a Shure V15 type 3 and this combination has served me very well over the years, except when it went into storage for a while at the startup of the digital era. But its back now after a good service by myself and still sounds as sweet as ever.

[@edwardbarr1533]

I always remember the importer of the first Koetsus to the UK ,many will,now the name of the company ,deriding a gent at the Harrogate Hi Fi shows in the early 80s who asked if the cartridge would with his401 & his Linn.No noOracle and Goldmund came back the reply imagine my delight when in Septembers Hi Fi Sound,as it then was there was a photo of Sugano San ,aka Mr Koetsu in his listening room with a Garrard set up identical to yours, the other “reference “ was a Micro Seiki with a Supex arm.401s and 301s are lovely and after servicing and a proper plinth and some under isolation sound wonderful in terms of depth,datail and bass response. An enjoyable video Thankyou

[@stricht8]

My parents had this growing up. I always admired the quality. Will have to dig it out of storage some day.

[@shb8124]

Lovely, that'd probably be my pick of vintage turntables if I ever got back into HiFi.

[@normanbott]

I'm just bringing my original 401 "out of mothballs" , as it were. It's an early model where the strobe must be switched on by depressing the speed control. For various reasons it's had little running time for its age. Replaced the 2 spark suppression capacitors and re-oiled. Some of the early heat shrink on some connectors had deteriorated and was replaced. It's paired up with an SME 3012 series II, awaiting an Audio Technica cartridge and RCA cable replacement. The new plinth is veneered in Birds Eye maple. Looking forward to hearing it again.

[@ricochet243]

Did you recommission the old girl and are you still playing records?

[@musicman257]

Beautiful table

[@VinylTherapy]

That is sweet as hell. I see you are rockin’ an AT cart. I loves my 540ML. I’ve got some audio uploads on my channel, I’m also in NE Ohio.

[@ambakemp2138]

Hi, I'm after some advice. I have inherited my dads 401, currently set up with what looks like the full original SME stylus etc My issue is we have moved twice and just got it set up again, but the balance of the arm is totally off and I have no idea on how to adjust without screwing it up completely, like you say its a complicated set up. Any advice on downloadable instructions at all? We love it so much and are desperate to get it right. Many thanks in advance

[@KBTime]

I wonder if the string from the bias guide weight isn't properly threaded, or maybe it's on the wrong setting? The manual can be found on this page (right column, halfway down); good luck! sme.co.uk/service/manuals/

[@ChrisEbbrsen]

Dear Ambakkemp, Try old disk jockeys in the u. K. They may have some knowledge of the 301, and 401 Garrard motor. Don't know, just suspect. Hope this helps! Also, in us. Former employees of stereo superstore, Jansen beach, Portland, oregon. This is only a wild guess! Sorry if I've stepped on any toes. I loved my td 166 mk II thorens, but the darn belt got glazed, so I used a piece of electrical tape to make a belt. It worked satisfactorily, but then I became interested in direct drive, and I think this the more noble propulsion for a turntable. Also gotta have variable pitch with strobe.

[@ChrisEbbrsen]

Dear ambakkemp, you might try an old thorens td 166 mk.II owners manual. It gives very clear pictures of how to set up a tone arm. Set your large counterweight to zero. Center the arm between the notch on the tone arm post. Buy an inexpensive stylus pressure gage. Place it on the motor board. Drop the stylus onto the tip of the gage. Read the pressure in grams. Take that measurement and set the dial of the giant counterweight to correspond to the grams derived from the stylus pressure gage. Of couse, this is my familiarity with thorens. Yours may be completely different. But it may have similarity enough for you to figure it out. You want the lightest stylus pressure without the arm drifting inward words the spindle. Then get out a simple pocket mirror and gently drop the needle onto the mirror. The image should be perfectly vertical. IF the cartridge appears lock eyed, then loosen the mounting bolts and twist the cartridge ventricle so that it's image is straight up and down. Check the stylus. It should have a very slight backward rake. That's basically all there is to it. You can study about.azimuth another time . Just dead reconn it for the time being. If this doesn't help, talk to an engineer or disc jocky. Hope I've been of some help. Oh, one other thing! Buy a td 166 mk II thorens with manuals. That should help you understand the basics of cartridge mounting and you can extrapolate the thorens directions and transcribe for the 301 or 401 Garrard. I'm just a former owner of a thorens so some of this may be useless, but it will get you headed in the approximate direction I hope! Good luck! Sorry not more help. This tape will self distract in 5 sec.... just kidding! Have fun!