the beauty of a Garrard turntable (any model) is that with some simple work, it will get up and run.
having played around with all these decks for a long long time, I can tell you for sure that investing in expensive 'expert' resto jobs is a complete waste of money and time (especially if you've not paid the big bucks and bought a pro restored Garrard already)
my 2 cents (as always) is:
(1) If you want to run a vintage turntable, you've just to learn how to service it, repair it and even take it a part and put it back. If you can go further, you can even learn to get components rebuilt
(2) Garrard turntables (all models) are very well built machines. They will seldom breakdown unless really abused. Unlike most other mech equipment, a Garrard turntable which is stored away for decades, can still be made to run with some work and spares. Once you have a running Garrard, all that is required is some regular application of simple sewing machine oil (again experts will talk about all kinds of oils but sewing machine oil is simple and the best)
(3) For a start, the turntable has a mounting top plate, some levers with springs, a platter which rests on the bearing assembly, a motor assembly and its related electrical wiring and a rubber idler wheel that engages with the motor pulley and the inner side of the platter, that's about it. So its actually very easy to service if you have nimble fingers, a steady but strong hand and more importantly, some basic tools.
(4) Never go for exotic restos first up. There are the basics (as mentioned in the posts above) that need to be done, just do these. The fancy stuff can come later once the turntable is up and running. Its only then when you'll be able to leverage the "finer aspects" of these enhancements.
(5) There are many opinions when it comes to plinths. Some prefer the SME type which is essentially a hollow box with the mounting board resting on halves of inverted golf balls, then there is the hollow box with the turntable mounted with its traditional spring suspension and then there is the multilayered plinth. The multilayered plinth absorbs almost all the vibrations and gives you a smooth sounding deck. The SME type plinth is also not bad but i thought my turntables sounded quite thin with this plinth. It actually sounded like my turntable deck was not mounted in a plinth, just made to balance on some books and made to play. The old school spring suspension with a hollow box sounded the best to my ears but there were issues with rumble and feedback. The genre of music you'd listen to also needs to be considered in my opinion
(6) SME tonearm - this is the tricky part. Lesson-1 which I learnt very fast, always aim to get a NOS SME tonearm. Everything else out there tends to have some issue or the other, with them. Now, don't get disheartened by this statement. A tonearm is also a simple device but its the precision that brings out the performance. There are lots of resources on SME tonearms which can guide you. Personally I tried looking these up and making adjustments myself, and they worked almost all the time. But my subconscious mind was always prompting me to go the route of a new piece and so I did
An important part of servicing a SME tonearm is to use authentic spares (which are easily available but pricey). If you don't want to take a risk with it, you can actually send the tonearm to SME and get it serviced (which is as good as buying a new one, cost wise as well
)
All the very best!!
