I would second Duane's advice regarding use of these old changers to play
your collection of LP's on. Basically speaking, all record "changers" tear
up records. Some, like the Garrard Zero-100, came at the end of the changer
era, but are still inferior designs. Basic problems include poor tracking,
high rumble, and poor reliability. The field changed drastically for the
better with the introduction of the mass produced belt driven units
introduced by the Swiss ( Thorens ) and the Japanese ( Sony, Pioneer,
Kenwood etc ) in the early '70s.
The only "changers" considered of any real use today are certain models
produced by Dual ( Germany ) such as the 1019 ( my favorite ) and the 1219
( later high end ). These are still sought after today, as a scan of the
eBay sight will indicate.
Given the fact that excellent belt driven, or Hall-Effect direct drive
turntables are available all over the place for peanuts today, it makes
little sense to commit one's valuable LP collection to anything else. Check
yard sales, or the local landfill re-cycling center. For the cost of a
little clean-up, a new belt, and a cartridge up-grade, you can keep those
old Beatles LP's in great shape. Your grand children ( or someone else's )
will thank you.
For the folks ( myself among them ) who have an interest in 78 RPM records,
an old changer is often the only way to go, as modern belt driven units will
not handle that speed. For years, I used an old PE ( German ) changer, but
have recently switched to a Dual 1209. I use a pickering cartridge with a
3.0 mil stylus. These styli are still being manufactured, as well as styli
to fit many older Shure cartridges. Available from Antique Electronic
Supply, Tempe AZ.
If anyone has the urge to restore some old "record wrecker" like a Garrard
Type "A", or it's descendent, the Lab 80, use them for your 78 collection,
and don't play LPs on them. By the way, the Garrard "SL" series were all
junk. Don't waste your time on there. Ditto with anything made by BSR.
Chuck N1LNH
-----Original Message-----
From: Bruce - KB6LWN/rcc <kb6lwn@qsl.net>
To: Chuck and the Group <vintage-audio@mailman.qth.net>
Date: Monday, May 06, 2002 9:52 PM
Subject: Re: [Vintage-Audio] Speaking of Garrard Changers
>Thanks Chuck,
>>Yup.. Kinda figured it was a bit on the 'mature' side ;)
>But then that's why we're here... Right ? <g>
>>Probably won't make much difference when I go to play an
>album (original press of: Meet The Beatles) that I haven't
>been able to listen to for almost a decade :) And then
>there's the Rascals, Rip Chords and Daytona's to boot.
>>My receiver is a little on that side as well (Marantz 2230),
>but it's recent enough to be sand-state instead of toobes.
>Not that THAT is necessarily a "good" thing :)
>>I have an old Eric amp here that still sounds choice when
>fed (not the govt type) a decent signal, and it uses mini's
>in the output stages - still not a REAL old design...
>>And the McIntosh rack (with the Jade Green 'blackout' panel)
>and the B&O Beogram, is still on my wish list ;)
> (what can I say... I'm a 70's kid ;)
>>The stuff that I really enjoy are the ones that use the
>vintage bottles like 807's etc. Luv that pulsing blue glow!
>Trouble is I don't have anything that era in audio equip :(
>Well... That's not actually accurate. I have a modulator
>for an E.F.Johnson 6N2 transmitter that uses those, but
>nothing for Hi-Fi listening.
>> -=-
>>Back to the Type-A... The platter seems to spin fine, and
>the linkage seems to be 'cement free', test will be when I
>get a new cartridge and try spinnin' some tunes. (ex-DJ ;)
>I haven't figured out just how to remove the platter for
>an inspection of the soft surfaces under, but maybe some-
>one here can relate that info this direction. It doesn't
>seem to fasten on the way the other TT's I've owned in
>the past (eg locking device in center). The spindle
>turns but doesn't seem to release anything... <puzzled look>
>>Thanks for your post,
> Bruce
>>On Mon, 6 May 2002, JM/CO wrote:
>>> At one time, this was one of the best changers on the market. That time,
>> however, was long ago<G>. If I were setting up a rig to play LP's today,
I
>> would not chose one of these.
>> Mechanically, these are a nightmare to repair, although the usual
symptoms
>> are often the result of the lubricant turning to cement from age. The big
>> issue in getting one up and running is the idler wheel. These have not
been
>> available for at least 20 years, and the only solution, if you need one,
is
>> to send the original out to a rebuilding service. Should cost somewhere
in
>> the neighborhood of $35 plus shipping. The original cartridges for these
>> were magnetic types with "standard" 1/2 inch mounting. Any modern
magnetic
>> with the same mounting should work fine. Shure and Pickering made most of
>> the cartridges during the "changer era" and many are still around. Styli
>> should be no problem. Audio Technica makes some decent units also.
Grado's
>> are fine also.
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