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GEC monoblocks?

titanstats

titanstats

Go Habs Go!
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Hi all.

Tube noob, here. Have a chance to buy a pair of what the owner says are GEC monoblock amps. Her husband bought them at the end of the 50s in England. Has the original GEC speakers, too -- weird metal-coned items. She says that they were quality items, and that they were originally "test equipment", and thinks they are 12 watts apiece.

Since I know basically nothing about tube audio, I was hoping for some tips on what to look for/how to tell if they are quality? I don't want to show up there and seem like the unknowledgeable guy that I really am! :)

Thanks again.
 
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hi titanstats,

unfortunatley i cant help you with value on them but i did find a link to what they possibly look like.scrollto the bottom of the link and youll see a pr offered for 400 pounds.link to gec amps sorry i cant be of more help mabe someone else will know what they are or sound like.
 
Thanks for the info, Radioactive -- much appreciated.

The amps in question are GEC BCS 1851. The one for sale in that link says BCS 2418A on the front of it, but I'm guessing that the monoblocks will be decent items. Hopefully I'm a happy boy later in the week! :)
 
Well, apparently I was seized with a bout of dyslexia or something when I read your link, Radioactive -- the amps are the BCS 2418A pictured, and the speakers are the BCS 1851. I'm checking them out tomorrow morning, and still kinda wondering what to do about it. I know that I shouldn't really fire them up, but then how do I know if there is anything wrong with them?

In your guy's opinions, are these amps worth buying untested & unheard? I only want to wander into the tube market for a fairly quality product; as wives are generally not impressed with these sorts of thngs, it needs to be worth it! :)
 
hi titanstats,

i wouldnt fire them up right off if the've been sitting unused for any length of time .you will have to bring them up slowly on a variac to give the caps a chance to reform otherwise you might hear a big bang by just plugging them in.if you dont have a variac there are some threads here on ak where you could build one cheap just using a light bulb .just do a search for variac and you'll find lots of info on how to build one and use it .also with any amp this old even if bringing it up on a variac and no troubles arise the amp should eventually should be recapped>after all its about 40yrs old)although i havnt heard any G.E.C. amplifiers i'd still go have a look and if you can get them for a reasonable price with the speakers i say go for it.if those speakers are the same as the ones in the link that you posted you could always recoup money there if you dont spend alot on the whole system.i'm going out on a limb here and may sound cheap but i'd offer probally $200 for the whole setup if the amps are not rust bucket and nothing looks burnt underneath and the speakers are working.just my .02 cents.good luck and let me know how it turns out.
chris
 
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