[Vintage-Audio] Garrard from the Garage

[Robert Nickels]

Note I didn't say 'garbage'...but I think this may have been where it 
was retrieved from.  If I remember correctly I spotted this Garrard 
"Laboratory Series A" turntable at the curb one day a few years ago and 
stashed it in a box in the garage.    It looks just like the pic at the 
top of this page:

http://www.hawthorneaudio.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=2243&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

except the pic shows the proper wood Garrard base and mine is on an 
improper Garrard piece of crap base that doesn't fit, but does hold it 
off the table so I can run it, at least.  It's in pretty decent shape 
and works, at least in the manual mode which is all I'd want to use 
anyhow.  Looking for help with two problems:

1 - the spindle adapters are all missing.  If anyone happens to have any 
of them taking up space in a drawer somewhere, I'd be happy to hear from 
you.
2 - the audio is distorted. 

It's got a Shure M3D cartridge installed, which I know is really an old 
model,  so maybe that's the problem.  I can probably scrounge up another 
cart to try, but I've also been fiddling with the tracking force.  I 
used to use one of these TTs back in the 70s (still have it I think...if 
you're doubtful that I could lose track of something the size of a 
turntable then you're obviously unfamiliar with my "filing system").    
I just messed with it til it sounded right and left it at that.  The two 
variables seem to be the movable weight on the back of the tonearm and a 
spring that can be tightened under the tonearm that pulls down on it.   
Do these two adjustments have the same effect, i.e. setting the tracking 
force?  If anyone might have a scan of the manual, that would certainly 
be helpful.    Changing the tracking doesn't seem to make any 
improvement in the distortion so I suspect that points to the 
cartridge.  (Thus far no US coinage has been pressed into service).

Anyone using one of these old beasts?  It may not be audiophile quality 
but definitely a cut above the cheap Garrards that came later.

73, Bob W9RAN