Garrard GT-25P conversion - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

mvdleeden · 20th Apr 2021, 5:51 pm

Hi all,

I’ve been converting/refurbushing a Garrard GT-25P. I’ve attached some photos. The goal was to get rid of all of the plastic casing and create a new, solid wooden casing. I’ve finished it with a Spanish burl veneer (which was my first ever veneering job). All parts are original, including the Shure M70B cartridge. I did get a new and original N70EJ stylus though. It works like a charm and plays really smooth now. Took me about 3.5 months, it is my first ever record player too.

Tell me what you think.

Cheers,
Martijn

Bufo Bill · 20th Apr 2021, 10:06 pm

Very nice job, it has a feel of luxury about it. The veneer is very nicely figured. Did you need to do much to it mechanically during the restoration?
Thanks for sharing your build.
Bill.

Kentode · 21st Apr 2021, 7:24 am

Well done Martijn, that is the best first project I've ever seen on this forum!

mvdleeden · 21st Apr 2021, 10:13 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bufo Bill

Very nice job, it has a feel of luxury about it. The veneer is very nicely figured. Did you need to do much to it mechanically during the restoration?
Thanks for sharing your build.
Bill.

Thanks Bufo Bill! The GT-25P really isn't bad at all, but it certainly looked...well, let's say, it could do better. I liked Garrard as a brand and the components are quite okay. Well anyway, it certainly looks more luxurious indeed.

To answer your question, no, not really. Just some typical things I guess. The mechanism for auto-return had lube on it, more like a thin oil actually, but that just makes that it DOESN'T function, rather than fix anything. It should actually be dry.

The piston for lifting the arm during auto-return needed silicon lubrication, easy job (remember, it was totally apart anyway). The biggest cog in the auto-return system needed a dash of thin oil on the side of the cog (not on the teeth!) which runs the piston for lifting the arm, it squeaked a bit.

I had to find a shorter version of the timing belt running the whole auto-return system: as precise as I tried to be, the spindle of the platter and the auto-return system ended up being just too close to each other. That was quite a search, but I found it.

What else...I had to rewire the tonearm (L+ and ground at some point made some sort of undesired connection. Turned out to be in the tonearm).

Other than some oil and lube that was it I guess, nothing major really.

Here's some photos of the inside:

mvdleeden · 21st Apr 2021, 10:13 am

Thanks Ken!

Bufo Bill · 21st Apr 2021, 4:07 pm

Wish my wood working was as beautiful to look at as yours, very well done indeed. You should be proud of a job like that!
Cheers from Bill.

unitaudio · 21st Apr 2021, 5:00 pm

Beautiful job!

Regards,
Paul

Radio tirana · 21st Apr 2021, 5:47 pm

What a transformation well done

I wish I had your wood working skills and the imagination to think of doing this in the first place. you should indeed be proud.
Kind regards RT

kirstyd · 21st Apr 2021, 10:03 pm

i did something similar to my 70s tuner amp and record deck some years ago .the amp had fake wood cheeks that looked ok when it was new .fast forward some 40 years and the finish was peeling off so i recovered the cheeks with real teak veneer .I was so impressed with the results i did the record deck as well

mvdleeden · 22nd Apr 2021, 5:45 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bufo Bill

Wish my wood working was as beautiful to look at as yours, very well done indeed. You should be proud of a job like that!
Cheers from Bill.

Thanks Bill!

Quote:

Originally Posted by unitaudio

Beautiful job!

Regards,
Paul

Thanks Paul!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radio tirana

What a transformation well done

I wish I had your wood working skills and the imagination to think of doing this in the first place. you should indeed be proud.
Kind regards RT

Thanks RT! I always struggle a bit with being proud to be honest, since I’m the one that clearly knows the flaws and imperfections, but with this project I must admit that I do feel proud. I took quite dome time and didn’t rush anything. That definitely pays off in the end. Especially the veneering requires calmness.

Cheers,
Martijn

Quote:

Originally Posted by kirstyd

i did something similar to my 70s tuner amp and record deck some years ago .the amp had fake wood cheeks that looked ok when it was new .fast forward some 40 years and the finish was peeling off so i recovered the cheeks with real teak veneer .I was so impressed with the results i did the record deck as well

Got my curious now; any pics to show us..?

Cheers,
Martijn

20th Apr 2021, 5:51 pm	#1
mvdleeden Diode Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Arnhem, The Netherlands Posts: 4	Garrard GT-25P conversion Hi all, I’ve been converting/refurbushing a Garrard GT-25P. I’ve attached some photos. The goal was to get rid of all of the plastic casing and create a new, solid wooden casing. I’ve finished it with a Spanish burl veneer (which was my first ever veneering job). All parts are original, including the Shure M70B cartridge. I did get a new and original N70EJ stylus though. It works like a charm and plays really smooth now. Took me about 3.5 months, it is my first ever record player too. Tell me what you think. Cheers, Martijn Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Cobaltblue; 21st Apr 2021 at 2:32 pm. Reason: Edit Title and text at OP's request

20th Apr 2021, 10:06 pm	#2
Bufo Bill Heptode Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Wolverhampton, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 777	Re: Garrard GT-25P conversion Very nice job, it has a feel of luxury about it. The veneer is very nicely figured. Did you need to do much to it mechanically during the restoration? Thanks for sharing your build. Bill.

21st Apr 2021, 7:24 am	#3
Kentode Octode Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Yorkshire, England. Posts: 1,303	Re: Garrard GT-25P conversion Well done Martijn, that is the best first project I've ever seen on this forum! __________________ Regards, Ken. BVWS member

21st Apr 2021, 10:13 am	#5
mvdleeden Diode Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Arnhem, The Netherlands Posts: 4	Re: Garrard GT-25P conversion Thanks Ken!

21st Apr 2021, 4:07 pm	#6
Bufo Bill Heptode Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Wolverhampton, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 777	Re: Garrard GT-25P conversion Wish my wood working was as beautiful to look at as yours, very well done indeed. You should be proud of a job like that! Cheers from Bill.

21st Apr 2021, 5:00 pm	#7
unitaudio Heptode Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Manchester, UK. Posts: 862	Re: Garrard GT-25P conversion Beautiful job! Regards, Paul __________________ ...No, it's not supposed to pick up the World Service, it's not a radio!

21st Apr 2021, 5:47 pm	#8
Radio tirana Pentode Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Oxfordshire, UK. Posts: 171	Re: Garrard GT-25P conversion What a transformation well done I wish I had your wood working skills and the imagination to think of doing this in the first place. you should indeed be proud. Kind regards RT

21st Apr 2021, 10:03 pm	#9
kirstyd Heptode Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 902	Re: Garrard GT-25P conversion i did something similar to my 70s tuner amp and record deck some years ago .the amp had fake wood cheeks that looked ok when it was new .fast forward some 40 years and the finish was peeling off so i recovered the cheeks with real teak veneer .I was so impressed with the results i did the record deck as well