RADAR is a price search engine. We link to the original listing — we never sell direct. Transactions happen on the source site.
A Garrard 301 transcription turntable in original condition, schedule 51400/2, serial 4509, offered as a highly desirable vintage idler-drive classic with strong provenance. Even though it has not been used for more than twenty years, it runs extremely quietly, and has been strobe-checked for stable speed.It comes complete with the original mat, original 3rd edition 1957 manual, original inspection report, and mounting templates, providing original documentation and confirms the schedule designation.Cosmetically, the deck presents very well for its age with honest, age-appropriate signs of use rather than heavy wear. Photos are provided both with and without the mat so buyers can clearly assess the top plate and platter condition. The overall impression is of a carefully preserved example that will appeal to collectors and serious analogue enthusiasts alike.The Garrard 301 remains one of the most revered turntable motors ever made, prized for its engineering, musicality, and enduring status in classic high-end analogue systems. This is a fine opportunity to acquire an original, well-documented example with the right combination of originality, condition, and completeness.Collection is preferred from Newcastle upon Tyne due to size, weight, and value but happy to send by courier at cost (and it's heavy!).
At US$2,836, this used Garrard 301 is a clear bargain compared to the obvious alternative of buying a grey schedule-one at nearly US$2,000 or higher, since it sits well below the 25th percentile of US$2,927 for recent USD listings. The median asking price for comparable Garrard 301s is US$3,277, with the 75th percentile at US$3,600, making this listing a strong deal for an enthusiast who values the 301’s legendary low-mass, rigid-chassis design and exceptional midrange clarity.
The Garrard 301 remains a top-tier choice for analog purists because of its precise tracking, minimal resonance, and timeless build quality that pairs beautifully with high-quality tonearms and cartridges. Buying at this price offers immediate upside, especially if the unit is in original-owner condition or includes a matching plinth and accessories, which are often missing in later listings. With no red flags in the listing description and a price that rewards early action, this is a genuine buying opportunity for anyone serious about high-fidelity vinyl playback.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Garrard Turntables trace their origins to the Garrard Engineering and Manufacturing Company, established in 1915 in Swindon, Wiltshire, England, as a division of the renowned jeweler Garrard & Co., founded in 1735. Initially tasked with producing motors and range finders for World War I, the firm pivoted post-war to consumer audio, crafting silent spring-wound motors for gramophones supplied to brands like Columbia and Decca. By 1930, it unveiled its first complete gramophone turntable, building a legacy in precision engineering amid the vinyl era's dawn.
The brand's product focus centered squarely on high-quality gramophone turntables, with iconic idler-wheel models like the 301 (launched 1954) and 401 (1965) standing out for their robust four-pole induction motors, aluminum chassis, and support for 33, 45, and 78 rpm speeds. These transcription turntables, favored by the BBC and European broadcasters, eschewed modern direct-drive or belt systems in favor of grease-bearing designs and eddy-current braking, often sold without plinths for custom integration. Garrard innovated in record changers and autochangers but never diversified into amplifiers, speakers, DACs, headphones, or cables.
Garrard occupies a revered niche as a vintage collector's cornerstone in the high-end hi-fi market, synonymous with the golden age of analog playback. Sold to Plessey in 1960 and ceasing production by the late 1970s, its decks remain prized today for their torque, build quality, and musicality among audiophiles restoring "Swindon iron" script-logo classics. No active modern entity perpetuates the original line, cementing its status as a benchmark for idler-drive excellence.
See all Garrard listings on RADAR.
