Shaka's Gerrard Deck

[Andy G]

I know this has been hammered to death on this board, but can some one remind me of the model of Gerrard Shaka has used from time?

Peace

[JahJahMusic]

4 HF (H)

[Anbessa]

Forgive me if my question is silly, or if it has already been answered one million times, but what's so special with this particular deck, apart from the fact Shaka uses it ?

[russ d]

Forgive me if my question is silly, or if it has already been answered one million times, but what's so special with this particular deck, apart from the fact Shaka uses it ?

it looks beautiful !....

besides shaka many other sounds used those decks back in the days, both in the uk and ja, so has a particular history to reggae sound system, but really i doubt there`s anything else specifically that makes it a standout deck for sound system use... shaka may disagree tho !

[Reggaemusicstore]

Andy, it's Garrard not Gerrard. Anbessa, it's an old (1950's originally i think) very heavy duty deck which is ideal for one deck style sounds especially as it can withstand any amount of vibration from basslines without jumping. Years ago i can recall standing very close to shaka's control tower in a dance & seeing the deck vibrating up and down a good 2 or 3 inches from the bassline without jumping at all. Correct me if i'm wrong anyone who knows better but i don't think he uses it any more, probably cos it's hard to find spare parts/needles for it....

[Anbessa]

Thanks a lot for these answers !

[Jugz]

I think you'd be nuts to use it for a sound in this day and age. Would be very nice for the front room, though.

[Anonymous]

I think you find he still uses the deck, i was at the last dance he played at before the smoking ban, (dingwalls) and the turntable was still in action.

[Rootsman]

It also has the crucial 16rpm setting which any real soundman will tell you, is the only speed for cutting "real" dubplates!

[JahJahMusic]

the cart is hard to find ,but musonic stock plenty of needles for it.
shaka does still use the deck,or did last time i noticed,its use in reggae music goes before shaka even started playing out,by his own words.
and it just doesnt give feedback thru the bass,that alone makes it nice and easy to use!

[munky lee]

It also has the crucial 16rpm setting which any real soundman will tell you, is the only speed for cutting "real" dubplates!

can you please explain more?

i thought it was an evidence that the speedier record is cut, better is the sound (dynamic, freq range etc....)

just as an analog multitrack recorder tape, also like the difference between 16 pictures per seconds and 24 for cinema etc.....

thanx,
mat

[munky lee]

we (the black wheat sound system) have 2 garrard 4hf decks.

the we have is the extreme high output level of the ceramic carts, so it overload the riaa preamp of our mostec preamp.

i should find something like a 10db attenuator.

but with a magnetic cartridge, this deck is wonderfull!!!!

mat

[richmrpa]

I think the 4hf has the same motor etc to the legendary 301 which goes for silly money nowadays - even the BBC used these. The advantage of the 4hf is that it is a complete unit including the arm (an it's a fair bit cheaper).

[ital steppah]

Check the Turntables 16rpm settings what does that mean? post for the history of the 16rpm records they say its not very good sound soundbwoys.Which im gonna put back up.
Peace & Guidance

[JahJahMusic]

yes the 4hf is a cheaper model to the transcription style 301/401
same motor , pulleys and idler etc.
altho of course you put a goldring lenco arm or whatever on a 301 and then you suffer the same problems every other deck with tube section tonearm gets,except of course mister aps' models...Feedback!