Garrard 301
Vintage & classic turntables · 1954–1965 Discontinued
£1,500 typical UK used price
Garrard's transcription motor unit, built in Swindon from 1954 in grease-bearing then oil-bearing versions, and sold without an arm for mounting in a plinth of the buyer's choice. Its massive idler-drive motor and eddy-current speed adjustment made it the BBC-era professional standard.
The archetypal British idler-drive turntable, now a blue-chip collectable that fetches four or five figures when professionally restored.
Who it suits
Best suited to: buyers comfortable assessing used condition and budgeting for servicing (drive mechanism, bearing, stylus). Less ideal for: a no-hassle purchase with a manufacturer warranty — buy a current model instead.
Good to know
- No built-in phono stage — use an amplifier with a phono input or add a separate phono preamplifier.
- This is a used-market purchase. Ask about condition, originality and service history — for this drive type, check the idler wheel (a common wear/perishing point) and rumble through the speakers, plus the stylus regardless.
Specifications
| Drive | idler drive |
|---|---|
| Speeds | 33/45/78 rpm |
| Operation | manual |
| Built-in phono stage | No |
| USB output | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Platter | cast aluminium |
| Tonearm | none (motor unit, sold without arm) |
| Years | 1954–1965 |
Where to buy the Garrard 301
2 UK merchants handle used or discontinued decks like this — each outbound link searches the deck on that merchant’s site.
| Merchant | Type | Delivery | Product search |
|---|---|---|---|
| eBay UK | used marketplace | Varies by seller | Search at eBay UK ↗ |
| Vinyl Revival | music retail | UK delivery | Search at Vinyl Revival ↗ |
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