Loricraft Garrard 301 to Dobbins Sp10 Mk3 - What can I expect ?

I own a SP10mk3 and it is an amazing turntable. 

Pani, You contacted me privately.  I have heard a Dobbins SP10 Mk3, sitting in the room with Steve Dobbins himself at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest, back in 2011, I think.  I listened for more than an hour to music of different types. The tonearm was a Reed and the cartridge may have been an Ortofon A90 or a Lyra top of the line.  I think the Dobbins table will outperform your Garrard, mainly due to the fact that it is completely neutral, does not emphasize any part of the musical spectrum.  Anyway, you bought it, so you will be the final and only important judge.  You can re-sell the one of the two that you like the least, if you feel you only need one turntable. (Everyone needs two, in my opinion, at minimum.)

I have not heard an SP10 Mk III but I bet it sounds closer to the new SL 1000R which is the best turntable I have heard period.  I have heard a SP10MK II and it was very nice.  The good part is you can put whatever arms you want on it.  Thats the one drawback with the 1200G.  The arm on the 1200G is very good, but many will want to upgrade the arm.

I want to remind averyone about Kondo The Beat turntable designed by Steve Dobbins. The motor is SP-10mk3 if i remember correct. I like design of this plinth for two tonearms. Also i love Reed and own one, Steve was a US distributor of Reed tonearms few years ago.

Pani, your SP-10mk3 is just a classic Technics in Dobbins plinth? Any pictures of it available?

I was thinking about his plinth for my ex SP-10mkII, but it was too expensive for me.

Chakster, "Kondo the Beat" is likely to be the turntable that Pani bought. Dobbins took the motor assembly out of a Mk3 chassis and sank it into his plinth, which is made of some non-resonant material, but I don’t remember what it is. Thus Steve got rid of the superficial escutcheon and the surround underneath that is part of a Mk3 chassis. It was in vogue to do this, back when the Mk3 was being re-discovered and you could still find them for sale at "reasonable" prices.
The Beat is also the turntable I listened to extensively at the RMAF in either 2010 or 2011.  Just Steve and me in the room late at night.

No, I am not buying the Beat. I am buying a mk3 in Dobbins plinth. Dobbins takes away the mk3 top plate and installs the entire motor in the plinth. For Beat I think he does more to the power supply and such. 

Ok.  But you're getting the main benefit: removing the motor from the OEM chassis and installing it directly into a non-resonant support structure.  I guess the Beat has a modified or brand new platter, as well. I don't know how much benefit that provides, since the OEM Mk3 platter is already a beauty and massive.  It was the Beat that I heard at RMAF.

pani

Kind sir, curious, for the sake of comparison was the Garrard 301 Loricraft model you previously owned also using the "hollow box frame" style stock plinth with the rest stock? Any modifications?  Curious as to which era ie. version the used Mk.3 Dobbins you purchased, there were a couple slight variations if memory serves. In any event, I believe you will really enjoy your Sp10Mk.3 based drive front end. When they are well implemented, these direct drives are musical powerhouses. I adore mine!

Lewm

Agree on your post above with regards to musical neutrality ~ transparency, as these traits the Mk.3 excels in. On a friendly side note, Kodo the Beat actually does not use a Mk.3 motor or Technics platter.

Hi, I still use the Loricraft Garrard 301. It uses a stacked birch ply plinth. There are few modifications to it too

1.Kokomo Mk2 bearing
2. Woodsong Audio magnetic brake disc
3. AudioSilente idler wheels
4. Funkfirm Achromat

Ferrari, thank you for the correction. After I wrote what I wrote, I started questioning myself also as to the identity of the motor used in the Kondo the Beat turntable. One glance will tell you that the platter is different from that of a Mark 3.Steve used to post here on Audiogon , but I have not seen anything from him in a few years. Also, I wonder what has happened to that product (Kondo the Beat). One does not see it mentioned these days. If out of production, it would surely be a highly desirable collectors item.Do you know any further details of its construction? For example, what motor did it use? Was it quartz controlled?

Kodo The Beat is still in production. In fact Steve told me that now he has the Beat SE version which he has demoed at RMAF this year. The SE version is quite a bit more expensive though

Just realized it's Kodo, not Kondo 

I have to ask this question, you purchased an sp10 MKIII that is coming up on 40 years old.  They are expensive, much more so than a SP10 MkII.  What happens if something breaks?  Are parts available for all repairs?  I mean it has to be over 10K.  Thats a lot to spend on something 40 years old.  I mean, I know its a great table but its pretty old.

I have to ask this question, you purchased an sp10 MKIII that is coming up on 40 years old.  They are expensive, much more so than a SP10 MkII.  What happens if something breaks?  Are parts available for all repairs?  I mean it has to be over 10K.  Thats a lot to spend on something 40 years old.  I mean, I know its a great table but its pretty old.

Every heard of vintage exotic sports cars enthusiasts?  Vintage Cafe Motorcycles? Vintage wristwatches?  Same idea kind sir,......nothing to be concerned about.   

Specialist technicians and electronics engineers exist all over the world who are qualified and can readily service the famous vintage decks, including the Sp10Mk.3's and Garrard's, EMT and so forth.  Remember, the best vintage tables (with few exceptions - ex. Micro) were first and foremost commercial devices built like tanks, not disposable, dainty audiophile toys, and made to be used daily and serviced.  They will last a lifetime if properly maintained. 

Lewm

Do you know any further details of its construction? For example, what motor did it use? Was it quartz controlled?

If I recall correctly, it was first designed and made by Teres.  

I am just curious because there is value in these tables, just not sure if it breaks if they are serviceable.  I know someone who has a sp 10 MkII but he is the original owner.