1960's or 70's autochangers?

[19Seventy7]

Hi, I am interested in two record decks, both Garrard.

The first one I know is from the early 1960s, but I do not know the model of it. and I would like to know

The second is a Garrard 6-300, but I would like to know its era. My guess is very late 60s to mid 70s.

I am more interested in the early 60s one, but I also like the 6-300, which is better?

[Edward Huggins]

The Garrard "Autoslim" (1960) is the basis of many fine later variants (including the AT6 and SP25) and is recommended. It is relatively easy go service and there is much guidance on this site in the Stickys above.

The 6-300 is from 1969/70 and ostensibly looks better with its larger platter and more elaborate arm. However, these are largely cosmetic touches - the unit is very difficult to service should one be, or become, faulty. Hopefully you will get other Member's views.

[19Seventy7]

Okay thank you, I'm more drawn to the Autoslim, anyway. I like both and I just thought the 6-300 was more unique with that tone arm. Thank you for responding.

[Michael Maurice]

Originally Posted by Edward Huggins

The 6-300 is from 1969/70 and ostensibly looks better with its larger platter and more elaborate arm.

I think you will find the 6300 is from the late 1970's possibly even early 80's

[RojDW48]

The AT6 is a good bet because, as it has a detachable headshell, you can change cartridges easily and, as Edward observes, this forum is a bottomless source of info on autoslim Garrards. I have revived lots of old Garrards over the last few years and I think in every case the faults have been down to hardened old grease! Old BSRs are fun too and, in my experience, much easier to revive because they didn't slap on anything like as much grease as did the Garrard engineers!

[RojDW48]

PS - don't forget about the rest of it! In the 60s and 70s virtually all British RP makers imported Garrard or BSR decks.......into players ranging in quality from very good indeed to not very good at all!

['LIVEWIRE?']

I would favour the Autoslim over the 6-300. Recently, I've been trying to get a 6-300 in a Dynatron Stereo working properly, with limited success. The deck is fitted with a Shure M75 magnetic cartridge, and, try as I may, I cannot get it to track every record correctly.

[19Seventy7]

Oh okay, Autoslim it is then due to it being rated better. It's funny you should say about the Shure M75 as I have a Dynatron myself with an M75-6S cartridge which doesn't always track records properly, I usually have to “pull” the tone arm closer to me (with no force) which usually sorts it out.

['LIVEWIRE?']

No doubt your Dynatron, INH, is equipped with the Garrard 6-300 deck, maybe without the overarm. Please clarify what you mean by 'pulling' the one arm closer to you.

[19Seventy7]

No, it is fitted with a Lenco Goldring 101. And I mean literally pulling it closer to me, if I'm standing in front of it I just hold the headshell and pulling it towards me, it seems to “reallign” it. Obviously don't pull it out of place and break it.

Just a quick semi-off topic question, would a 6-300 fit into a Dynatron HFC51? It's only temporarily.

['LIVEWIRE?']

Your Dynatron has, IMHO, the better deck, but I can't advise you as to how to cure the mis-tracking, other than to ensure the tracking weight is set correctly, the arm is free to pivot, and the stylus in good condition.

[19Seventy7]

Yea, it just needs some work which is out of my range at the moment, so I would like a temporary deck, and I found a 6-300 working for £10. On closer look, I think my tone arm is slightly broken, causing it to misalign.

So would the deck fit and work with my Dynatron?

[Edward Huggins]

The Garrard 6-300 is an autochanger and thus taller than the Goldring single player, so it may not fit. In terms of working with your Dynatron, it all depends on what cartridge is fitted, whether Ceramic or Moving Magnet.

[19Seventy7]

Oh okay. It is fitted with a shure m75 6s which is magnetic cartridge. Which does yhr 6300 have? Ive look online with no luck.

[Techman]

It doesn't have any particular cartridge fitted to it. It's up to the end user what cartridge they decide to fit, be it the record player manufacturer or someone who just buys the deck to make up their own system. Just fit your Shure cartridge to it.

[RojDW48]

I also like the G101 - a proper little transcription deck at a budget price in its day. Sounds like it's tracking in too much - there is supposed to be anti-skate adjustment on these but I can't remember how to do it. I have a G102 in an old Decca RP - I shall have a look!

[19Seventy7]

Yeah. It is a good deck I agree. I think the antiskate is just a slider type, but mine has seized. It is only tracking at around 2.5 grams.

['LIVEWIRE?']

As I noted earlier, a single play version of the Garrard 6-300, fitted with a Shure M75-6 Magnetic cartridge was used in some Dynatron Stereos. Whether such a deck would be a straight swap with a Goldring-Lenco Deck I know not, though I have a feeling that the way they are mounted is different. As to the 6-300 used in the Dynatron, AFAIK, it is identical to the auto-change version, but without the overarm & stacking spindle.

[Nuvistor]

I don’t know about the 101 but the GL75 had rubber bearings for the tone arm, these rotted and required replacing. It is possible the 101 uses the same suspension ?

They were very easy to replace.

[D_S_J_R]

Huge number of threads on Vinyl Engine about these 'Unimech' based Garrard models. A HUGE backward step these were and now with seized mechs and bad flimsy tonearms with high lateral friction in most, I'd tend to avoid all but the last top models and even then...