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Garrard DDQ-650 turntable

wizargoz

wizargoz

Super Member
Bought a Garrard DDQ-650 (direct drive)turntable in a dusty garage and paid $10 for it. I cleaned it up and it looks beautiful and plays great! But except for manuals for sale on the web, I can't find any information on this model, even on Ebay. Anyone out there know anything about it?
Thanks!
 
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All i can tell you is that it dates from the early 1980's and was one of Garrard's last turntables from before they closed down in 1982. It uses a cheaper Matsushita direct drive motor and, whilst not one of their best models, it should give a decent enough performance. You don't say what cartridge it has, but good results can be had with an Audio Technica AT95E.

But the most important thing is - you like it, so that makes it a steal for $10!! :thmbsp:
 
I believe its from the period when Garrard was owned by a Brazillian company, which I think was named Gradiente. I remember some comment (from someone in Brazil) about a Gradiente turntable, so its possible that they were sold under that name also, and that might be another way to find info.
 
Beobloke: Thanks for the info- had an old Ortofon MKIII but a busted headshell- so swapped an Denon headshell with OMB10 in, and plays fine. It does appear pretty obscure, so the fact that it plays at all means it's a good back-up for my Denon DD.
Thanks!
 
Nat said:
I believe its from the period when Garrard was owned by a Brazillian company, which I think was named Gradiente. I remember some comment (from someone in Brazil) about a Gradiente turntable, so its possible that they were sold under that name also, and that might be another way to find info.
Click to expand...

Just done a bit of reading here - and it appears Gradiente bought the company in 1979. I know that the UK factory was shut for production in 1982 so i suspect that the DDQ650 was a "run-out" model that was already designed and ready for production before the sale. After 1982 the Garrard name was only really seen on Far Eastern BPC until it was rescued by Terry O'Sullivan in 1997.

Also appears that the DD motor was Garrard's own, and not the Matsushita one, as i thought - must research my answers better in future!!
 
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