Gale GS401A Part 1
Gale GS401A Part 2
Since I was 15 years old I loved these speakers, it wasn't just that they were (by a gulf) the best looking speakers you could buy, but there was virtually nothing that sounded so good too. I remember them costing around £600 a pair in the late 1970's - so what's that - ~£5,000 today? There was also a more 'aesthetically sedate' version with the normal vertical orientation and, if I remember correctly, walnut veneer cabinets, the GS401C.
Having looked for, but not seen, a pair for at least the last 25 years the moment I saw a pair on ebay there was of-course no doubt that they would be mine - that was until 10 seconds from the end of the auction and I was outbid by someone from the Netherlands or Norway (I was too distraught to remember). Then, as if by magic, there was a second pair available on ebay, this time in Aberdeen! This auction was somehow less appealing, but despite a late flurry of bidding, this time I was triumphant. Of course there was a convoluted route to get these (almost 20kg each) speakers and their original stands to Switzerland. Once setup they looked fantastic (apart from one of the stands not being quite level) so it was time for music - oops - awful. Okay, not awful, but not very good. There was a lack of balance and floppy, vibrating bass - I assume the speakers had spent 20 years in a Scottish reggae-bar.
Of-course there is now a project to start. The (I think Celestion) tweeters look great, everything else (in the cone department) is a big mess. The Peerless mid-range units shouldn't be too hard to source but the real problem will be the twin bass units; these were bespoke units for Gale and have no markings to help source alternatives - wish me luck. Then there's the crossover; interesting 'tone controlls' but unfortunately there's some static and drop-out when you use these - maybe some kind of by-pass will be required.
Look-out for part 2 as the project progresses...
undressing the Gale GS401A...
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unpicking detail
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tweety looks fine...
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can't say the same for mid...
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wonky woofers
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crossover
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