TurnTable Quest

• "I have owned a lot of turntables including VPI, Basis, Rega, Thorens, Linn etc; and to me the classic Garrard 301 and 401 tables, restored with a high quality base sound better than any turntable I have owned.
  
  Unfortunately, $1,000 will only get you there if you make a great garage sale buy and build your own base."
  

 I dont follow this, is the Garrard a retro table and guys are just replacing the old plinth with a more solid, and isolating platform ?

kgveteran "I don't follow this, is the Garrard a retro table and guys are just replacing the old plinth with a more solid, and isolating platform ?"

Yes, see the link below to Loricraft

http://www.garrard501.com/

Clean and restore any parts needed and build a more solid and substantial plinth.  I have a fully restored Lenco that is the last table I will ever need.

If I had only $1000 to spend on a turntable and didn't want to go DIY on an old idler (probably the best path to great sound for relatively little money) I would definitely be looking at buying secondhand. 

I graduated from a VPI Signature Scout to a Garrard 401, DIY plinth (they came without a plinth when bought new, back in the day), Dynavector 501 arm, and Zu Denon 103R cart. The idler drive is an exceptionally good drive system, the 301 and 401 Garrards are hard to beat, IMHO.

The Dynavector arm is something I really enjoy, great sound, very precise feel, and much better to use than the VPI Unipivot, with its annoying wobble. As with every aspect in audio, there are many ways to get where you'd like to be. This worked for me.

Regards,
Dan