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Post by rexton on Jan 26, 2024 19:42:41 GMT
I can't believe that no-one has listed this guy in the hall of fame. Sadly no longer with us but his products, to some, are unsurpassed!
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
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Post by Bigman80 on Jan 26, 2024 19:52:43 GMT
I can't believe that no-one has listed this guy in the hall of fame. Sadly no longer with us but his products, to some, are unsurpassed! I think the truth is that no one here knows that much about him. Undoubtedly one of the UKs great HiFi pioneers and certainly put the one-man-band type setup on the map...for which I, like others, owe him a nod. |
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Post by rexton on Jan 26, 2024 20:23:06 GMT
Only a small pamphlet of knowledge may be known about the man but vast volumes have been written regarding his amplifier designs
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Post by macca on Jan 26, 2024 20:53:29 GMT
I agree he should be in the hall of fame.
I had the Micro Basic for a while and the Series 7 power amp with it for a short time.
I think I am right in saying his personal system was SME turntable, with his own amps (obvs) and QUAD ESL '57'
Might have the TT wrong. In any case he had zero interest in digital.
I was told (by Haden Boardman, if anyone recalls him?) that the Micro Basic (£350 when it came out about 2010) made him no money and the dealers made next to nothing on it. He put it out because he thought everyone should be able to afford a valve pre-amp.
Anyway that's about all I know.
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Post by jandl100 on Jan 27, 2024 3:58:32 GMT
My first ever valve amp was a Croft 4SA power amp. Must have been around 1984. Kept it for a year or so, very impressed. Then upgraded to a Lumley valve amp.
Also much later had a Croft 5 power amp. Very good, too.
For some reason I've never heard or owned a Croft preamp.
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Post by bencat on Jan 27, 2024 12:22:43 GMT
I have used Glenn's amps both a 4SA, and 3 OTL . I was also lucky enough to meet Glenn on three occasions . His work in both design and you x quality was exceptional . His repair and servicing costs were stupidly low and he would never take any additional offered . His straight ahead no nonsense approach was a very big shock after meeting other more celebrated makers . He used OTL 3 monoblocks on his home system .
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Post by robbiegong on Apr 16, 2024 12:09:02 GMT
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Post by pete on Apr 16, 2024 14:31:50 GMT
Wow, current bids on this are for no money! |
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Post by robbiegong on Apr 16, 2024 14:35:25 GMT
Wow, current bids on this are for no money! Indeed! a one off / rarer than rare opportunity for the right person / tech. |
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optical
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Post by optical on Apr 16, 2024 14:51:17 GMT
Wow, current bids on this are for no money! Just the 148 'watchers' though . . .  I'm sure HiFi Hanger will have told most relevant parties too . . . |
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Post by pete on Apr 16, 2024 14:56:21 GMT
Wow, current bids on this are for no money! Just the 148 'watchers' though . . . I'm sure HiFi Hanger will have told most relevant parties too . . . I hate how eBay works! It’s just a seven day advert and then a 20 second bid fest in the last minute. |
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optical
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Post by optical on Apr 16, 2024 16:39:21 GMT
Just the 148 'watchers' though . . . I'm sure HiFi Hanger will have told most relevant parties too . . . I hate how eBay works! It’s just a seven day advert and then a 20 second bid fest in the last minute. Yeah it's a bit of a false economy. Nothing worth having goes for bargain money, or very rarely anymore anyway. It usually results in tat going for more than it's worth due to panic bids to "win". Half the time it's just to get one over the other bidders and someone's overpaid because of their ego.... I sometimes get lucky with valves etc though and they're cheap from the USA. If I'm selling stuff I'll just set a buy it now and wait. If someone wants it they'll pay the price I want and that's it, simple. |
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Post by mikeyb on Apr 16, 2024 17:48:49 GMT
Just the 148 'watchers' though . . . I'm sure HiFi Hanger will have told most relevant parties too . . . I hate how eBay works! It’s just a seven day advert and then a 20 second bid fest in the last minute. Isn't that how every auction works 🤔 |
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optical
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Post by optical on Apr 16, 2024 17:51:57 GMT
Yup it is but I know what Pete is getting at, the difference with a normal "auction" being, that it has some actual governance and moderation via the auctioneer, eBay is just how quick your connection and clicking hand is.
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Post by pete on Apr 16, 2024 19:17:19 GMT
I hate how eBay works! It’s just a seven day advert and then a 20 second bid fest in the last minute. Isn't that how every auction works 🤔 Well, not really. If I go to an auction someone bids and then someone else does, and it continues until everyone drops out, except the person with the highest bid. There is no time limit, it just goes on as long as it goes on. Also, Yahoo! auctions in Japan, that I have used, add an extra 5 minutes after the time the last bid is placed, which removes sniping. This may result in the best price for the seller. Just saying that, in my mind, eBay doesn't get the best result for the seller or buyer, as Optical says, it is just down speed of bid at the last minute. It works for eBay though, and I have had some good results on there both as buyer and seller. I do tend to go for the fixed price option when selling though. Just my thoughts, it is good to hear other opinions  |
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Post by donmarrese on Apr 26, 2024 19:47:12 GMT
I've been a massive fan of Glenn since 1991, when I bought a new Croft Epoch from Graham Tricker....and so over the years, I went on a "frenzied" quest to buy any Croft kit I could....strted with Series 5, the series 4sa, then a pair of OTL 2's monoblocs and an OTL 3 from Owestry. All in storage, was meaning to get them up the road to Glenn to service....but ran out of time!
I didn't like the sound of the Croft 6, and had the Croft 7 for a year untill a Tresham SR402 fell onto my lap! I had a lot of email correspondence with Glenn, calling myself one of his diciples, and I'd alway spread the word....and I did.
On one occasion, I sent Glenn an email,,,Glenn, any chance you could knock us up a cheap amp...got £350 cash at the mo?
A day later, he replied, with "I'll see what I can do...." 3 weeks later a box arrived form Royal mail...It was a Croft 7 amp...all new and perfect! I sent him the cash....What a decent human being...full of trust, faith and kindness.
Such a lovely bloke....he is sorely missed!
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,088
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 26, 2024 22:07:33 GMT
I've been a massive fan of Glenn since 1991, when I bought a new Croft Epoch from Graham Tricker....and so over the years, I went on a "frenzied" quest to buy any Croft kit I could....strted with Series 5, the series 4sa, then a pair of OTL 2's monoblocs and an OTL 3 from Owestry. All in storage, was meaning to get them up the road to Glenn to service....but ran out of time! I didn't like the sound of the Croft 6, and had the Croft 7 for a year untill a Tresham SR402 fell onto my lap! I had a lot of email correspondence with Glenn, calling myself one of his diciples, and I'd alway spread the word....and I did. On one occasion, I sent Glenn an email,,,Glenn, any chance you could knock us up a cheap amp...got £350 cash at the mo? A day later, he replied, with "I'll see what I can do...." 3 weeks later a box arrived form Royal mail...It was a Croft 7 amp...all new and perfect! I sent him the cash....What a decent human being...full of trust, faith and kindness. Such a lovely bloke....he is sorely missed! I loved my series 5, but just didn't need two amps. I've always kinda regretted selling it, but then I still don't think I need one lol Odd how we get attached to stuff isn't it. |
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Post by donmarrese on Apr 27, 2024 0:49:46 GMT
I loved my series 5, but just didn't need two amps. I've always kinda regretted selling it, but then I still don't think I need one lol Odd how we get attached to stuff isn't it. Absolutely....I have a collection beyond Croft gear, but recently, I've started selling off my wares as the penny dropped...I can only listen to one amp at the time! The offset to this is once you depart with your preloved kit, you will struggle to find a decent replacement again.....In the days (80's) when I'd visit the hifi shop in Bell St. Edgware, and trade in my magic eye pre...think it was an EMI unit, for a Rogers Cadet 3, matched with a pair of Tangent RS4's, a Revox B77 (which I still have) and a Garrard 401 (Bastin Plinth supplied by Tricker, (but Tricker, the crafty basket kept the orginal box)) with a RB300 and a Notts Analogue cart/stylus...I was in seventh heaven!!!!!! Got to remember at that time, my ears were younger and clearer!!!! |
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