Great American Sound (GAS) Sleeping Beauty NOS cartridge

[jaym481]

I need to clear some stuff out and get some cash in for a few projects, so I'm going to take a stab at selling here. On offer is a NOS GAS Sleeping Beauty elliptical. If the stories are true, these were made for GAS by Coral, and were specially selected Coral 777 cartridges.

It has the original box with foam, jewel case, test printouts and accessory pack (screwdriver, mounting screws/nuts, stylus brush, and headshell leads). Missing is the "manual" such as it was, but relevant compliance and VTF info is available at Vinyl Engine.

Asking £250.

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/Old_School_BMW/Audio/DSC_0068.jpg
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/Old_School_BMW/Audio/DSC_0070.jpg
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/Old_School_BMW/Audio/DSC_0069.jpg
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/Old_School_BMW/Audio/DSC_0071.jpg

[Spectral Morn]

Wish I had the cash for this as GAS and its driving soul James Bongiorno are legendary. Does the name Ampzilla ring any bells.... If not have a read below

http://www.davidsaudio.com/html/gas_line.html

[DSJR]

Had 'em at KJ W1 in the late 70's. Naim was on the ascendancy and tended to dominate everything - so much went the way of the Dodo bird back then in many UK dealers and the trouble was, we honestly thought we were right back then.

The cartridge had a crispness and life as I remember, as did many MC types, compared to the bland tones of many mm types of the period for example. That immediacy was tamed in more recent models sadly, but back then, MC cartridges were pretty new to us apart from the very low output Ortofon SL15 series (the SPU was regarded as an ancient prototype for the modern ones back then and the DL103 was a dinky relic too, the true classic status of these yet to happen as I remember).

Sorry, don't mean to cr@p everywhere, but just trying to put some perspective from the era as one of a small number of Top End dealers of the mid to late 70's who gradually turned to the dark side for a while...

[Spectral Morn]

Had 'em at KJ W1 in the late 70's. Naim was on the ascendancy and tended to dominate everything - so much went the way of the Dodo bird back then in many UK dealers and the trouble was, we honestly thought we were right back then.

The cartridge had a crispness and life as I remember, as did many MC types, compared to the bland tones of many mm types of the period for example. That immediacy was tamed in more recent models sadly, but back then, MC cartridges were pretty new to us apart from the very low output Ortofon SL15 series (the SPU was regarded as an ancient prototype for the modern ones back then and the DL103 was a dinky relic too, the true classic status of these yet to happen as I remember).

Sorry, don't mean to cr@p everywhere, but just trying to put some perspective from the era as one of a small number of Top End dealers of the mid to late 70's who gradually turned to the dark side for a while...

I think that is fine Dave and interesting to read. I only know of GAS from reading about them in Stereophile and Absolute Sounds. However I have read enough about them to know GAS gear is pretty good and revered by those in the know.

[jaym481]

Sorry, don't mean to cr@p everywhere, but just trying to put some perspective from the era as one of a small number of Top End dealers of the mid to late 70's who gradually turned to the dark side for a while...

I'm not sure I consider "...cartridge had a crispness and life..." as cr@pping! It is a great cart, but I simply don't need it (and may regret this one day). I'll also throw in one with a broken cantilever - I've had a quote for a re-tip which is remarkably similar to what I'm asking for the NOS one.

Maybe it's not enough of a bargain, so I'll entertain serious offers, but hope people will keep it realistic. Every day it stays in my hands is a day closer to it being ripped out of the box and bunged on the dirty end of some Danish or English tonearm (nothing Scottish though - that's just where I get my whisky - no offence to Scots).

[jaym481]

And on another note, I've often wanted to try out some of the GAS hardware at the other end. The Thaedra is one of the few solid state preamps I would consider, and the Ampzilla? Well, who can resist something with a name like that?