Decca Gold Garrott Bros. Microscanner

After accidentally damaging my old tonearm during a house move 5+ years ago, I recently replaced it and got my turntable back up and running. Now I have 2 cartridges and I'm looking to get an idea of what they are both worth with a view to letting one of them go.

My t/t is a Nottingham Analogue Mentor Reference with a new Rega RB300. Cartridges are a Nott. Analogue Tracer 4 from the early 90's, and a Decca Gold circa 1987 with the original Garrott Brothers' Microscanner tip profile. Both were purchased direct from Tom Fletcher at Nottingham Analogue Studio.

The Tracer permanently replaced the Decca as soon as I got it and is the one I personally favour for daily listening. Overall, it's a smoother-sounding cartridge and I prefer that. Although, you cannot beat the Decca for flat out excitement and dynamic range.

I paid £380 back in 1987 for the Decca, but I've no idea what it might be worth in today's market. Condition is very good and I have both the red plastic carrier bracket and the bottom cover too.

The Tracer 4 looks like it will be staying with me, but it would also be nice to know what its value might be today.

I've searched several audio-related websites looking for used Decca Microscanner values but have yet to find anything. I haven't seen one come up for auction on eBay worldwide either.

So, if anyone here has an idea of the fair market value for my Decca, I would appreciate the input.

 

Decca

you have pm

 

I have one similar in a glory-hole , kinda 30 years old cartridge..

 

Value...around, perhaps the price of a re-build ?

http://www.hifitools.co.uk/rewire.htm

Or...this price http://store.securehosting.com/stores/sh204131/shophome.php?itemprcd=deccaLG

 

Thanks for the sound advice, spica (no pun intended).

I saw a used standard Gold and Blue (not Microscanner tip) sell on eBay last month for £360 and £330 respectively. The original Garrott Brothers are no longer alive, so I'm thinking my Decca may have some intrinsic value because of this tip profile.

I've also contacted Len Gregory (The Cartridge Man) for info too.

Cheers!

 

In a glory-hole? Are you sure?? :bakeoff:

 

I've also got a mint example I don't use - in the proper box and everything

I'm gonna sell it if its worth £360

 

Dunno how to translate "vecchio cassetto" .. this is the translation offered by my helper

http://www.wordreference.com/enit/

 

That translates as "old drawer" according to my Italian colleague (i.e. I have one of these cartridges lying around in an old drawer). Your online dictionary has mislead you quite heinously

 

Please don't make a fool of me...

No translation found for 'heinously'.

http://www.wordreference.com/enit/heinously

 

'Heinously' is a word that in the wrong hands and with the wrong accent can be so misleading.

 

If you were to google 'glory hole' you would get results very different to 'old draw'. DO NOT search for this at work!!!

For 'heinously' you would need to search for 'heinous':

 

I was kidding .. Stuart! .. btw thanks for the help

 

Actually 'glory hole' is a very good, traditional translation. My mother (and I) would understand immediately.

Like the word 'gay' it's a phrase which has been stolen in recent times. The fact that others mis-interpret doesn't mean you've made a mistake

(However, it's also probably important that you understand that it can be interpreted in a specific way)

 

Fair enough - it's too hot here for humour!

 

That's it, rub it in! .

 

I know .. Chris ... but whatchagonnado? .. we should apologize some "illiterates" here ... LOL

 

3 days of 40+ is just a little much, especially with another one forecast for tomorrow! At least we'll be back into the 30s for the weekend

 

Although the Garrott Brothers died in a suicide pact with their wives (they thought that all their work and expertise was now worthless with the advent of CD), one of their co-workers retained all the jigs and instruments. The current Garrott Brothers can retip your Decca to the same standards with the rebuild mods too for Aus$765. I'm going to give them atry some time with my old Maroon. I still have an original Garrott Gold.

Charlie

 

Hi,

The current company are here

http://www.garrottbrothers.com/


The Garrott brothers died in 1991, as topoxforddoc has stated, in a suicide pact with their wives. I understood that John Garrott had terminal cancer so he closed down his business. The two brothers were very close and quite reclusive. It seemed the brothers didn't want to be apart hence the suicide pact.

They seemed to have left clear instructions about their death and their company.

SCIDB