Garrard Record Players

[Texas_Blues]

I was at a local thriftshop today and found a record player. It was a Garrard 2025tc player. I was wondering if anyone knew anything about them. All the parts moved when turned on, it just needs a new stylus. It was selling for $14.
What replacement parts are there for this unit. Ill get pictures of it tomorrow.

Would it be worth it?

 

[aeolian]

These were considered better "changers" back in the 60's. Nothing like the various Thorens, Rek-o-cut, and other "transcription" tables. But popular with the McIntosh crowd.

They carried the brand name into the twilight of consumer turntables with various simpler single play tables, but were never up to the level of cheaper and much better budget audiophile tables like Rega or Music Hall.

If it's one of the old white record changers, chances are that it will need all new rubber drive wheels. You would have to find some specialist hobbyist place on the net for parts. And then you would have something interesting to look at and talk about, but with none of the sonic attributes that audiophiles rave about vinyl for. And all of the wow, flutter, rumble and other artifacts that the digital folks look down on records for.

 

[Texas_Blues]

It looks like this one, but without the 8 track and fm, it's just the player.

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?type=3&campid=5335828753&toolid=10001&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2FGarrard-2025-TC-turntable-with-FET--AM-FM-%26-8-track_W0QQitemZ160391011995QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20100101%3FIMSfp%3DTL100101012007r34813

 

[aeolian]

That's a 70's changer. Idler wheel drive which will have either gone hard or have a dent in it where it presses against the motor drive spindle. Ceramic cartridge (with the flip over needle for LP's or 78's) which won't sound that great, tracks poorly and carves up records, but at least it won't need a phono preamp. Ceramic cartridges put out near line level signals and the response just by chance happens to be close enough to an inverse of the RIAA eq curve that it works.

I wouldn't play any of my records on it, but if you want a conversation piece to play Goodwill store cast offs on, and can restore the drive, it might be fun.

Of that era, I'd look for an old Dual and put a $25 Grado magnetic cartridge in it. That I would play my records on.

 

[supergenius365]

Check on Audiokarma. I got a Garrad once. Some member there referred to it as "the Record Scratcher".

 

[trisonic]

They were cheap British decks that everyone owned............in England.

Best, Pete.

 

[Bluedano1]

I was at a local thriftshop today and found a record player. It was a Garrard 2025tc player. I was wondering if anyone knew anything about them. All the parts moved when turned on, it just needs a new stylus. It was selling for $14.
What replacement parts are there for this unit. Ill get pictures of it tomorrow.

Would it be worth it?

I remember when I was in high school in the mid-70's component stereo systems were the rage at electronics and department stores (mixer/power amp/turntable and speakers+ cassette deck if you had a few more $$) Garrard or BSR turnables were always in the low-mid price systems. Brings back memories of being into the lates taudio thing, and what I could afford...kind of like the whole guitar gear cravings (for me) of today

 

[Texas_Blues]

Hahaha, thanks you all just saved me $14 and some gas (like literal gasoline).

 

[musicofanatic5]

You could stack up a half dozen platters on there for near non-stop listening pleasure! I remember the three LPs in Europe '72 were sided 1 and 4, 2 and 5, and 3 and 6, so you could play sides 1 thru 3 and then flip ther whole stack. Don't even consider paying $14 if it doesn't come with the spindle adapter for your 45's!

 

[gkoelling]

I remember those! Of course, I remember dial telephones and black & white televisions too and we had no air conditioning or color TV until around '70 or '71 and then the ac was one window unit. We all hung out in the family room.

 

[abearse]

go on the "oak tree" site they sell old everything electric/musical and parts.

 

[mc5nrg]

If you are in sort of urban area , Craigs List and estate sales are your friend for a decent used turntable. Also swap meets and the remaining independent electronic stores etc. Lots of info on the web as well.