Supreme in its class
The original, honoured
Launched in 1954, the Garrard Model 301 Transcription Motor was recognised as supreme in its class, a judgement that holds to this day. The 301 Classic is that turntable: faithful in appearance and in engineering discipline, restored and built to order in house at SME in Steyning, West Sussex, England.
Begun as an original. Rebuilt as new.
The Making
Every 301 Classic begins with an original Garrard 301 drive, entrusted to the SME manufactory at Steyning, taken apart to the last component, cleaned and restored, and rebuilt to the condition of the day the 301 left Swindon. The restoration is SME's own from first to last, by the same hands, on the same machines and to the same standards that build SME's own turntables and tonearms.
The transcription turntable standard
The Garrard 301
The transcription turntable was born in the broadcast studio, an instrument made to reach speed the instant a record was cued and to hold that speed true, whatever the stylus met in the groove. Garrard's Model 201 of 1930 was the first, chosen by the BBC. The Model 301 of 1954 followed, and was soon at work in the BBC's studios and in broadcasting houses across the world, described at the time as the ultimate in electric gramophone motors. The 301 has been the reference among transcription turntables ever since, sought after as an original and built to order today as the 301 Classic and 301 Advanced.
Garrard 301 Classic
Specifications
| Header Column 1 | Header Column 2 | Header Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Chasssis | Die-cast aluminium | |
| Platter | Rim-driven, high mass, accurately balanced | |
| Motor | Induction, spring suspended and magnetically screened | |
| Tonearm | SME M2-12R | |
| Plinth | Solid walnut, isolation suspension | |
| Voltage | Dual range, 100-130 and 200-250 volts | |
| Frequency | 50 or 60 cycles to the motor pulley | |
| Consumption | 16 watts | |
| Wow | Less than 0.2 % | |
| Flutter | Less than 0.05 % | |
| Speed range | 33-34, 44-46, 76-80 rpm | |
| Dimensions | Width 640 mm, depth 480 mm, height 215 mm from feet to the top of the tonearm |
