THE GRAND WAZOO – AN EXPLANATION
Hello to anyone who can be bothered, or is foolish enough to be interested in reading about me!
I’ve been into hifi (i.e. spending money on it) since I was about 16 (Garrard SP25, Sony amp, Wharfedale speakers – don’t ask about model nos. I can’t remember, or be bothered to go up to my daughter’s bedroom to see what the amp was.
I’m a forester by profession, having managed woodland for various characters who could loosely be described as ‘the idle rich’ (Baronets & a couple of Dukes). I’ve also spent a while consulting in the very narrow part of the spectrum where the disciplines of forestry and renewable energy meet.
I use the name The Grand Wazoo rather reluctantly and here’s why.
I have a thing about people using internet forums (‘fora’ I think is probably more correct, but anyway…?) and using assumed names. I think that this can give licence to people to say things that they would not normally feel able to say. This encourages rudeness, crudeness and in the worst cases, probably libel. I do not believe that in a normal situation people should be able to say anything without accountability. However, in the case of this forum, I feel I have to alter my stance somewhat. The reason for this is that I will probably be speaking about highly desirable, valuable and portable possessions, worth, in total, far more than the new value of my family car. I will not do anything to allow the guys with the stripey shirts and the bags marked ‘swag’ to find out where my prized possessions reside. Therefore, I will not, in this case, be using my real name.
The name, by the way, if you don’t recognise it, is not a reference to my status as an egocentric git. Nor does it allude to my rank in some arcane secret society. It is a musical reference – if you value interesting and diverse music, with a very healthy dose of virtuosity, you should find out a little more about the The Grand Wazoo and other work like it!!
Hifi gear currently in use is the following:
Michell Gyrodek (bronze export version – bought new in ~1990 a little while before they really caught on).
Michell QC power supply
Zeta tonearm (one of the first 20 ever made, handbuilt by Phil Gray, the designer – gold coloured arm tube. It was £150 with a free Koetsu Black thrown in from classified ads in 1990 – a frantic drive south from Penrith to Liverpool on the same day as we moved house north to Scotland!!).
Koetsu Black - my 3rd one
Accuphase DP67 CD player
Accuphase T101 tuner
ARC SP8
Bent Audio Mu Step up transformers
Mark Levinson ML9 (100 watts) driving bass - 2nd hand 2005
Mark Levinson ML11 (50 watts) driving mid / treble- 2nd hand 1999
Mirage M3si speakers – (Ebay £280, retail when new - £3700!!)
I also have a big Isol8 mains filter for everything but the power amps, HNE beech & granite racks.
Other bits lying round the house are things like:
Grado SR325 headphones
HNN/RR Headcase headphone amp
Troughline Mk II tuner – still has the brown card tag on it with the factory quality inspector’s signature & date Feb 1963.
Radford STA15 power amp (Rebuilt for me by Len Gregory, the Cartridge Man with Audio Note capacitors etc) – tatty as hell but wonderful!
SD Acoustics OBS speakers – new in 1991 still wonderful!
Tannoy Mercury speakers (the original ones)
Gennexa ProLX5 speakers (with the funny ribbon tweeters)
Mission Cyrus 2 amp
LFD MC1 phono stage
Marantz 1515L receiver hooked up to the computer (Ebay £16)
Sansui 350A receiver – wonderful but needs attention! (Ebay £0.99!!)
Pioneer SX440 receiver (Ebay £0.99 pence with a pair of ratty old speakers thrown in for good measure!!!)
………………….Guess what?…………I’m playing around with receivers at the moment!!
And finally… very understanding wife, who appreciates the benefit of a half decent hifi!
Thanks for reading if you made it this far!!
Cheers