ovrphil
Well-known member
Just thought someone might be interested. LOL. (ok, you billionaires are the exception).
Clairtone G2 Stereo Console Space Age 1966 - $5400 (Greenville SC)
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firedome
Well-known member
these are pretty sought after...
and every one I've seen is priced high. Audibly not bad but nothing exceptional, but the styling is out of this world!
and every one I've seen is priced high. Audibly not bad but nothing exceptional, but the styling is out of this world!
firedome
Well-known member
these are pretty sought after...
and every one I've seen is priced high. Audibly not bad but nothing exceptional, but the styling is out of this world!
and every one I've seen is priced high. Audibly not bad but nothing exceptional, but the styling is out of this world!
Sure is neat looking! Although I have no interest in mid-60's solid state electronics.
Full disclosure, I'm not a fan of consoles, but I can't imagine that this one can have any significant low end extension. That turntable is just itching for acoustic feedback.
Pricing might hint at substance a habit to support... But then again there are lots of people for whom form precedes function!
Full disclosure, I'm not a fan of consoles, but I can't imagine that this one can have any significant low end extension. That turntable is just itching for acoustic feedback.
Pricing might hint at substance a habit to support... But then again there are lots of people for whom form precedes function!
firedome
Well-known member
the last one I saw on ebay
was similarly overpriced. All about the look.
was similarly overpriced. All about the look.
More price than Fi-the High priced Fi!!!Remember seeing one of these or something similar in Meyer-Emco or Mcquires in the 60's while in Wash DC.Didn't listen to it.I am also not a fan of 60-70's SS amps.Most sounded pretty bad-esp when played thru horn mid and tweeter speakers.Did I spy a Garrard Lab-80 TT in that thing-used to have one of those TT's was very good!
estatesale_gary
Well-known member
I have a G2
I have one of these. I bought it many years ago at a sale in an affluent western suburb (Excelsior) of Minneapolis. Nobody wanted consoles regardless of style 15+ years ago so I got it really cheap. Still works great. Sounds nice but my tube sets are my preference.
I have one of these. I bought it many years ago at a sale in an affluent western suburb (Excelsior) of Minneapolis. Nobody wanted consoles regardless of style 15+ years ago so I got it really cheap. Still works great. Sounds nice but my tube sets are my preference.
firedome
Well-known member
Rex...
yep that's a Lab 80... iirc they touted the Afromosia (sp?) wood used in the arm. TOL around 1967ish, one of Garrards best imo. I also had one of their (now) nutty expensive 301 Transcription tables w/ SME arm, imo it was nice but nothing all that wonderful. Like so many things by the mid '70s Garrard TTs started to slide downhill and looked progressively cheesy. Not sure about performance of later ones as I never had one, by then I'd gone on to Dual, then Empire, Thorens, and now a Phillips 212. I can't swallow prices for current high end tables, just insane. A good Dual, Garrard &c with a decent cartridge is plenty listenable afaic.
Most consoles had rather mediocre changers that were not all that easy on the LPs they played, so it's usually worth upgrading to a good functioning Dual, Garrard, Miracord or some such if preserving records is a goal. None of those are terribly expensive or hard to find.
yep that's a Lab 80... iirc they touted the Afromosia (sp?) wood used in the arm. TOL around 1967ish, one of Garrards best imo. I also had one of their (now) nutty expensive 301 Transcription tables w/ SME arm, imo it was nice but nothing all that wonderful. Like so many things by the mid '70s Garrard TTs started to slide downhill and looked progressively cheesy. Not sure about performance of later ones as I never had one, by then I'd gone on to Dual, then Empire, Thorens, and now a Phillips 212. I can't swallow prices for current high end tables, just insane. A good Dual, Garrard &c with a decent cartridge is plenty listenable afaic.
Most consoles had rather mediocre changers that were not all that easy on the LPs they played, so it's usually worth upgrading to a good functioning Dual, Garrard, Miracord or some such if preserving records is a goal. None of those are terribly expensive or hard to find.
There's an interesting Wikipedia article on Clairtone...Interesting Canadiana.
In the broadcast sector Micro-Trak arms marketed to the radio industry used the same sort of Afromosia wood.Don't think ham handed DJ's care about that-have replaced these arms broken by jocks.They are pretty easy and fast to replace.Most Rek-O-Cut and QRK TT's were predrilled for Micro-Trak arms.SME arms fit,too-but keep those away from DJ's usually were used by progam directors that were more careful.I can go along with the STUPID pricing of Hi-Fi gear today-can't see buying a Clearaudio TT that costs as much as your house when there are TT's out there for less than 10th the price that could do the same job!Same with amps,speakers,CD players.I gave up on the BS containing high end hi-fi mags years ago.Couldn't stand their baloney and BS any longer!!Sometimes I LAUGHED at these magazines as though they were comic books!They might as well be!Sometimes if you are lucky-you will see Dual,Garrard TTs at yard sales.Then you may find stacks of records beside them!
twintubdexter
Well-known member
I've seen a few of these for sale where the speaker spheres looked like someone played basketball or soccer with them...big dents everywhere. The sellers still wanted a fortune for them.
