Gates CB-500. Big.

watt

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I bought two of these, actually, about five or six years ago when I was thinking about putting together the world's most cumbersome DJ setup.

Kidding--I bought two because I thought that I might need a parts unit to get one up and running. (Why did I buy them at all? Weakness. Or a lonely impulse of delight.) Luckily, though, they both seem OK. And they've survived sitting neglected in my basement well enough.

It's a big turntable. 16-inch platter. I think that Redboy had one for about a minute a few years ago. Slim chance for me of getting it onto a rack or stand, so I thought to build a base that would make it kind of a standalone unit. I think I was influenced by memories of some photos of a gentleman playing records on his Garrard 301 sitting cross-legged on the floor. But now that it's here . . . Did I mention that it's big?

It runs. Pretty smoothly. I plan to change the motor mounts at least. And to put an arm on it. :tongue:

More to come.

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I bought two of these, actually, about five or six years ago when I was thinking about putting together the world's most cumbersome DJ setup.

Kidding--I bought two because I thought that I might need a parts unit to get one up and running. (Why did I buy them at all? Weakness. Or a lonely impulse of delight.) Luckily, though, they both seem OK. And they've survived sitting neglected in my basement well enough.

It's a big turntable. 16-inch platter. I think that Redboy had one for about a minute a few years ago. Slim chance for me of getting it onto a rack or stand, so I thought to build a base that would make it kind of a standalone unit. I think I was influenced by memories of some photos of a gentleman playing records on his Garrard 301 sitting cross-legged on the floor. But now that it's here . . . Did I mention that it's big?

It runs. Pretty smoothly. I plan to change the motor mounts at least. And to put an arm on it. :tongue:

More to come.

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View attachment 32090

looks like maple; pretty!
 
Is there a good main bearing as Garrard 301?

I've never had a Garrard 301 here, so I can't offer a direct comparison. But the CB-500 bearing seems pretty simple to me, though well made. A ball bearing that sits in an indentation at the bottom of the bearing well. If I remember correctly, the bearing well is oilite, maybe? The platter spindle is quite wide and part of the platter, as with a ROK. The platter is lighter than you'd expect. It's driven from the inner rim, rather than the outer part of it. From what I've read, the most notable thing about the drive on these turntables is the lower-RPM motor.
 
True. But I only blame Nate for the good stuff. :)

Looking through the audio closet of shame reminded me that I did acquire a couple of arms that could work on this one, or the other one.

I tried sidling it up next to my existing audio rack just to get a sense of how it would look. I do like the vibe, but nothing shows you that you live in a 1930s house with small rooms like lining up three turntables next to one another. Not to mention the refrigerator-size speakers on the adjacent wall.
 
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Is there a good main bearing as Garrard 301?

It can best a Garrard 301 or a Thorens TD124. I have a bunch of experience will the CB77, CB500, Garrard 301, 401 and Thorens TD 124 (less experience but I own one now and have owned one two other times).

When properly running and in a nice thick layered plinth, the CB77 has created the best sound I personally have ever heard in my own home in my own system. Music freaking leaps off the platter like nothing else, the bass is insane, and it can do just about everything right.
Why?-my theory is because the Gates uses a different system than any other Idler table I have seen-most Idler wheel tables drive the platter by pushing on the edge of the platter (or the whacky Lenco's that use a vertical Idler instead of horizontal). The Gates has a very large "hub" in the center of the platter and the idler drives the platter against the hub. This is purely my theory, one of you EE, or ME or rocket scientist can feel free to tell me why I'm wrong...but its my theory as to why it "can" sound better than the others.

So, why don't I currently own one (I am actively looking for another 1 or 2)...well, there are a few caveats to the above...

No matter how hard you try, no matter what you do, I don't think you will ever get it completely silent. I believe I have had 6 or 8 total Gates tables and had two CB77 up and running for a long time that were completely redone (new idler wheels too-there was a guy in Russia making them for a while). I could live with this, but the other issue is that they never seem to stay aligned perfectly. The shifter will drift, and you will find they will not perfectly be in the slot for each speed select. You can get it setup to where it feels like precision, listen to 5-10 records and all the sudden it will be just slightly off. Drove me insane.

I have been talking to Bill @BillWojo about these tables for months. We are hoping to acquire a few, so please don't tell everyone all this LOL. With Bill's metal skills, I think we can remakes the speed selector arms and linkage in a way in which once it is setup, it will stay setup-I think. If we are successful, I can see a date when I part with my Garrard 301 and my Thorens TD124.
 
Thanks for the description! Guess I need to get to work.
(new idler wheels too-there was a guy in Russia making them for a while). I could live with this, but the other issue is that they never seem to stay aligned perfectly. The shifter will drift, and you will find they will not perfectly be in the slot for each speed select. You can get it setup to where it feels like precision, listen to 5-10 records and all the sudden it will be just slightly off. Drove me insane.

Karmadon, right? I hope that he's still making them. I need a couple. . .

Do the CB77 and the CB500 share the linkages that you describe?
 
Thanks for the description! Guess I need to get to work.


Karmadon, right? I hope that he's still making them. I need a couple. . .

Do the CB77 and the CB500 share the linkages that you describe?

Yes, I think that was the seller. Let me know if you get an answer, maybe I'll buy a few too.

Yes and no, the CB77 and CB500 have a similar design on the linkages, but not at all the same. From my experience the CB500 is better but still not great
 
Yes Karmadon. I've one of his wheels for a couple years. Spot on.

@musialovr, that's a perfect description of the gearing and table attributes. I'd like to see your idea of the solution.

Best table I have owned by far. I like my gussied up 1200 techie. But, the Gates, I have the CB77, is just so close to perfect.
 
I agree with @musiqlovr + @golana I almost gave up on my CB77 until I decided to follow my instincts and not the manual in setting up the idler tension relative to the inner drive hub. Otherwise, wow was intolerable! Even if my original idler was in good shape I got Serge's idler wheel as a spare. Changing idler wheels on a Rek O Kut is almost as simple as changing a flat tire. But on the CB77, I have to go through the whole process of adjusting the idler wheel > inner drive hub tension again if I were to switch between the original and Serge's.

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FWIW, my CB77 + Calrad SV16 + currently fitted with a DL102 for playing stereo LPs in full dimensional monaural hifi.;)
 
Watt, did you put a finish of some sort on that maple base? Can't tell if there is s clear coat on it or not. If not, get one on there before it warps on you. Both sides.
 
Watt, did you put a finish of some sort on that maple base? Can't tell if there is s clear coat on it or not. If not, get one on there before it warps on you. Both sides.

Yep, both sides. Thanks for the tip. 👍
 
Any advice regarding plinth for a gates cb-500?

Heavy? Light? Materials?

Wooden board 3-5cm thick
Simple but stout wooden legs
I think what jelabs did in the pic above is ideal.
but good hardwood board will sound better than laminate.
 
Any advice regarding plinth for a gates cb-500?

Heavy? Light? Materials?
Heavy. Dense... but not overly hard.

Good options would be quality baltic birch ply, solid hardwood, slate, soapstone, garolite, phenolic, concrete(?), SpectraPly, paperstone... PaperStone! I really think PaperStone® might be the ideal product...

Avoid granite, marble, and solid metals that are too hard and might ring -- you really want your plinth to dissipate and sink vibrations.
 
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