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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2018 11:38:54 GMT
Always had a craving to try these in my youth Gale 401.  via Imgflip Meme GeneratorOut of my price range at the time......Anyone tried em? |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2018 11:48:02 GMT
Never tried any in my system, but I have heard them several times and liked them.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jul 7, 2018 11:59:09 GMT
Only had the 301 which have some nice qualities, especially on vocals. Almost always need a reform but that’s half the fun for me, 401s are usually a safe purchase because they are collectible and should be an easy sell if you ever want to move them
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Post by dsjr on Jul 7, 2018 15:23:40 GMT
Oh, you wouldn't like them - stuffed to the gunwales with wadding..... In spite of or because of it, the 301's need POWER and at the time, a Meridian 105 pair was one of the fave amps to use (the pro sector was leaving the domestic arena big time i recall but I don't remember the 301 really taking interest until the latter half of the 70's). There's a faint rumour that ATC's Billy Woodman may have had a hand in the design of these (I'm sure I'm not totally wrong, but can't substantiate this in any way). Given the power, these speakers were wonderful for jazz. With modern powerful amps able to drive low impedances and well restored ancient power houses, I'd love to give them a try again. We had the 402's later, but only in the walnut finish and these were good too (different tweeters I seem to remember as Celestion had discontinued the Hf2000)
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2018 15:27:23 GMT
I liked the 301. They sounded rather like another speaker I also liked, the Ruark Swordsman. Probably because the designs are quite similar.
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Post by dsjr on Jul 7, 2018 15:42:49 GMT
When Gale packed it in, we bought loads of 301's and the two cheaper models (210 and 220?) for *very* little money each pair. The 301's didn't work at home in the same way Kans and Rega ELA's didn't - no bass and peaky highs, but as I knew Alan Coleman well at the time - he was a regular visitor to the store, I should have asked about some 402's, although I think I either had NS1000's still or possibly ES14's. Damn - another missed opportunity. Just showed my wife the classic 401 - no way she'd have 'em. Maybe the 'C' version with curvy fronts?
Nothing on ebay of any interest right now and they'd need refoaming and grille cloths re-covering, but the basic 210 and 220 were like simpler looking 301's. Great taut bass and clear mids (simple crossover not seemingly intrusive), maybe a tweeter re-thing would update the design (Gale liked their crisp high frequencies in lower models  ). Gale didn't quite follow the 'ten times production costs' rule, but the factory costs of these was incredibly reasonable (£200 approx retail prices) |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2018 16:42:58 GMT
When Gale packed it in, we bought loads of 301's and the two cheaper models (210 and 220?) for *very* little money each pair. The 301's didn't work at home in the same way Kans and Rega ELA's didn't - no bass and peaky highs, but as I knew Alan Coleman well at the time - he was a regular visitor to the store, I should have asked about some 402's, although I think I either had NS1000's still or possibly ES14's. Damn - another missed opportunity. Just showed my wife the classic 401 - no way she'd have 'em. Maybe the 'C' version with curvy fronts?
Nothing on ebay of any interest right now and they'd need refoaming and grille cloths re-covering, but the basic 210 and 220 were like simpler looking 301's. Great taut bass and clear mids (simple crossover not seemingly intrusive), maybe a tweeter re-thing would update the design (Gale liked their crisp high frequencies in lower models ). Gale didn't quite follow the 'ten times production costs' rule, but the factory costs of these was incredibly reasonable (£200 approx retail prices) Dave, you should have a column in one of the mags. You have far more knowledge, content and interesting things to say than anything i read in them. Gale 401c are either completely new to me or long forgotten. Either way they are fascinating to hear of. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2018 17:15:43 GMT
Aye if you ever enter a hifi quiz, you'd want Dave on yer team.
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Post by dsjr on Jul 7, 2018 17:55:25 GMT
I know a bit about what I've experienced, but take me out of the UK and I'm more of an idiot than ever  Until '75 or so for me, Gales were things you lusted after in mag adverts (the one with two slicked down fellas and three laydeez, one dressed rather 'nicely...' The thing is, the 401's looked totally different, so caught the eye, but in the flesh once we had them in stock, they were great as well. The 3 ohm load was taxing though and of course the thirst for Watts.. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2018 18:16:53 GMT
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jul 7, 2018 20:54:25 GMT
You have to love those chrome end caps. |
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). Gale didn't quite follow the 'ten times production costs' rule, but the factory costs of these was incredibly reasonable (£200 approx retail prices)