Garrrad 401, WAF 0 - World-Designs-Forum

lt_texan · #1 27th April 2007, 02:50 PM

I just got my 401 up and running. I built a plywood plinth (two sheets glued and screwed together) and I have Vic's tremendous air bearing arm.

I snuck it in when my wife was at the gym. She hasn't seen it yet. There will be hell to pay when she does.

My other set up was Spacedeck, Spacearm.

The Spacedeck replaced my LP12/Ekos. When I got the Spacedeck, I never bothered putting the LP12 back in. It didn't make sense.

The 401, as said 2 sheets of 3/4" plywood, sheet cut big, 22"w x 18"d. Cut outs to preserve as much material as possible.

Well, what can I say. Wide, wide soundstage, very grippy low end - real powerful, there are subtle things in the mix I hear now. And where's the surface noise. (Gush, gush.) And the treble is there too. Not veiled or rolled off like I kind of expected.

I honestly didn't expect this much.

With such different setups, hard to say what contributes what. But the fact I have a plywood plinth, I think speaks wonders about Vic's tonearm!

I must listen much much longer before it gets kicked out of the house.

Dan

david counter · #2 27th April 2007, 02:53 PM

that looks nice Dan

Mike G · #3 27th April 2007, 04:39 PM

Hi Dan,

That looks great, considering you have used plywood sheets, what kind of finish have you used? Looks very shiny almost piano black gloss. I'd not have guessed it was ply unless you had mentioned it. Well done.

Mike.

lt_texan · #4 28th April 2007, 12:26 PM

Thanks guys,

I finished the plywood with lots of coats of primer. And lots of block sanding. First I used plaster filler on the sawed edges. I used an oil based exterior house primer for wood that I had on hand as well as an oil based high gloss exterior black. The black didn't sit down enough, so there are visible brush strokes when looking at reflections off the surface. Also, the paint is too soft - it scratches. An acrylic enamel or lacquer is needed.

I will probably use the plinth as the basis of a wall mounted shelf, all hidden inside a cabinet.

My wife has already opined on the aesthetic, "that looks like something out of Noah's Ark, something out of the 70's" (yes dear, you're very close) "and that thing sitting on it doesn't even look like it belongs" (yes dear, it wasn't make to look like it belongs).

Oh well, the kids love it. "Mommy, its really cool that daddy makes his stereo." They're 12 and 9.

Dan

Paul Barker · #5 28th April 2007, 12:52 PM

Mine r 9 and 13 but when they were in the womb I was building amps, the novelty has worn off. Their dad is a crackpot.

My wifes opinion isn't invited. Initially in 1978 I gave up every hobby due to her jealousy.

Latterly after a period of incapacity through m.e. and looking back having realised you can't make them happy anyway, you may aswell enjoy your own hobbies. Why should two bored people be sat there with no interests.

When I am no longer able to persue the thoughts of a fertile mind I shall daily ask God to take me home.

Nobody will rob me of my hobbies again.

alnewall · #6 28th April 2007, 04:03 PM

Quote:

My wifes opinion isn't invited. Initially in 1978 I gave up every hobby due to her jealousy.

Latterly after a period of incapacity through m.e. and looking back having realised you can't make them happy anyway, you may aswell enjoy your own hobbies. Why should two bored people be sat there with no interests.

When I am no longer able to persue the thoughts of a fertile mind I shall daily ask God to take me home.

Nobody will rob me of my hobbies again.

Goodness me, most of that seems rather familiar.

Clive · #7 28th April 2007, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alnewall

Goodness me, most of that seems rather familiar.

There are probably quite a few of us who have gone through some sort of mid-life crisis or at least a mid-life re-assessment and decided that enjoying a hobby is not wrong and that we only one chance at life. So if valve amps and record decks etc are something we enjoy then we should not feel guilty about this

alnewall · #8 28th April 2007, 04:59 PM

Oh good, I feel better already!

Ali Tait · #9 29th April 2007, 04:35 AM

Well said Paul.Just one thing,your children are wrong.according to my 14yr old,you are not a crackpot,you're a nutjob.Get it right
Regards,Ali

lt_texan · #10 30th April 2007, 07:30 PM

Paul, you're oh so right. I have a hobby and she gets a bit of jealous. No hobby, and I'm always around bothering her. She's accepted that she can't have it both ways. Why must we spend 24 hrs a day together?

This is new to me (4 years). The children do think it's cool. I even came out of the closet at work.