Garrard AT-6 (1956 – )
The Garrard AT-6 is a four-speed automatic record changer that Garrard built for a long run starting in 1956. It sat in the middle of the company's early-1960s lineup - below the luxury Type A and above the economy Autoslim. In October 1963, Audio (Oct 1963, p.5) listed the AT-6 at $54.50, against $79.50 for the Type A and $39.50 for the Autoslim. Garrard's own advertising claimed more people chose one of those three models than all other record playing components combined.
The AT-6 uses a center spindle drop mechanism for automatic play, a 4-pole induction motor, and a die-cast aluminum platter weighing 2 pounds 11 ounces. The tonearm got the attention. High Fidelity (Jan 1962, p.36) noted that Garrard had fitted a cast aluminum tubular arm, dynamically balanced and counterweighted - the sort of arm you previously had to buy separately as a component. That was a notable feature for a changer at this price.
The record on the AT-6 is thin on hard numbers, and some of what circulates conflicts. Sources disagree on whether it plays 16 rpm (vinylengine lists only 33/45/78; hifiengine and radiomuseum include 16). They also disagree on dimensions and weight. Figures of 420 x 330 x 120 mm at 6 kg and 435 x 350 x 150 mm at 7.5 kg both appear. Tracking force is documented only as a maximum of 6.0 g, with a diamond stylus. The 16 rpm inclusion and the larger dimensions are the more likely values, but none of it can be confirmed with certainty.
Owners consistently describe the AT-6 as a solid, good-sounding changer rather than a high-end table. The common restoration issues are the usual ones for Garrards of this era. The idler wheel needs replacing, the grease hardens and must be cleaned out and relubricated, and the automatic mechanism can be finicky after years of sitting. It's all routine work, but budget for it.
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