Late '70s Sansui GX-300 rack...very extremely rare rack

[bluesky]

Not affiliated...

Here is a 'very rare' Sansui GX-300 turntable and equipment rack, LPs fit into the bottom. Looks like it's in pretty good shape. This rack was made for the monster amps, the really large ones, so pretty much any amp will fit of any size! It's bigger than it looks in the photos.

Only seen one of these GX-300 racks come up for sale about 4 years ago.

Only problem: local pickup only. Maybe he would ship it. It's 'really easy' to dissemble and package.

I have the GX-100 and love it. It's a beautiful rack, very 'modern art' looking. Really nice looking design.

If I lived close by I'd buy it and pick it up for a second rack.

This rack is very rare and never comes up for sale.

I paid $150 for an NOS GX-100.

Shipping would be about $45. It's very heavy. Well constructed.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-197...pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item2570d56236

 

[Galaxie65]

I was also looking at this, I was wondering if they would break it down and ship... something tells me that they won't, I've had a few that wouldn't when I asked. I'd love to have that rack as well, the styling would match my home

 

[bluesky]

It is a beauty! Beautiful styling. Simply fine! Looks really sharp.

It's so easy to take apart, like 4 or 6 screws, that's it.

Talk with the seller and tell him you will pay him extra to package it right. Tell him how you need it packaged! He may go for it!

Or maybe he could take it to one of those 'pack & wrap' shipping places. Yeah, that may be best so there's no damage.

Yeah...it's a beauty! And the largest one too of the series. (GX-100, GX-200, and the GX-300)

Good luck.

 

[Ghonk]

I thought about getting it,looks kindda beat to me.

 

[dragonhead00]

Very interesting piece. I'd love to have it, myself. I'm sure it would clean up nicely.

 

[bluesky]

It may not be minty, but it looks like it's in real nice shape and it is really very RARE.

I would clean up good. Just so you know: the 4 holes on the bottom LP shelf are suppose to be there. No one drilled holes in it. There is suppose to be bent chromed wire seperators there to seperate LPs. So the 4 holes are normal. It's just that the metal seperators are missing, no big deal, super easy to make.

It's RARE. And the 300 is really a big rack. Monster amp size.

I looked daily on eBay for this exact style GX rack for 4 years before I found one. It's a really 'sharp lookin' rack!

If I knew someone near the seller I'd buy it in a heartbeat just for an extra rack to be used at a later date. Easily restorable.

Just so you know, it's a strong rack. Very sturdy.

I really hope one of you AK guys get it.

 

[bluesky]

I contacted the seller said he would take the rack to a professional shipper for dissassembly and packaging. So that may be $35-$40?

This rack is BIG and 'HEAVY', more than I thought it would weigh. Weight 100 LBS approx! Shipping would be $70+? So it's like whatever the rack would cost, tack on another $100-$110 for total shipping.

It's becoming 'not cost effective' real fast but...it's a nice rack if you have the bigger or monster type sized equipment. It's rare, no doubt.

It's for sure a local pickup item to keep costs down.

Anyway, the seller will ship.

My thinking is 'total' $225 and it would be a good deal. Maybe even $250 if you really needed the 'monster' size.

I'm passing, don't need it.

 

[Galaxie65]

Yeah he sent me the same response last night. I was really tempted on the rack, but then again next I'll be needing a 22000.....

 

[stereo_dog]

May be bidding on this one. Asked the seller to give me his exact location, to see how long a drive it is. My G-9000 would look good in this rack, I think...:yes:

 

[michaelhigh]

It looks like a POP retail display (point of purchase). I'd dig owning one too.

 

[bluesky]

Yeah he sent me the same response last night. I was really tempted on the rack, but then again next I'll be needing a 22000.....

Isn't that the way it goes!!

May be bidding on this one. Asked the seller to give me his exact location, to see how long a drive it is. My G-9000 would look good in this rack, I think...:yes:

It would look beautiful!! G-9000. You would have plenty of room around the amp for breathing. It's a big rack! And 100 Lbs. The sides are really solid and stable. And really nice looking with the metal type aluminum trim, or whatever it is. It's a quality build. It's not junk. It's for real.

The GX-100/200/300 are really 'fine looking' racks. Just saying. My favorite(s) for sure, of 'any' racks. And they are strong racks too. Not flimbsy. Seriously, it's a 'great' design. You'll see it when you get it and put it together. It looks like it should be in a museum. Waited 4 or 5 years for mine. 5 years without a rack...waiting for THAT model one. Then, finally, there it was! A GX-100, just the size I needed. I couldn't be happier. Perfect.

I won't be bidding so you don't have me to worry about me goin against ya. I was seriously thinking about it but it would just be an extra rack that wouldn't ever get used. Just don't need it. Yet.

If I were you...quite honestly...I'd buy it in a heartbeat!! It's a really fine rack. And very RARE.

They very rarely ever come up for sale ever. Seen one GX-300 in 7 years and it was beat up a bit, a lot of dents and nicks, just looked abused. Also only seen one GX-200 in 7 years, but it was totally trashed. Only seen one GX-100, I bought it. What's it worth? An easy $150+, no problem. And...it's the GX-300, the big boy! If I needed the big one...I'd go $300+, honestly. This is a one-time-shot for 'the' Monster Amp Sansui Rack. And they look so cool with the LPs below everything when it's all set up. Honestly...I'd go $350+ without problem if I could pick it up locally. It will sell for much cheaper than that, my thinking is $170-$225 maximum, unless someone is 'Zoomed In On It'. Probably total packaging and shipping will cost the same as the rack cost. It's a quality build and the shelves are easily restorable to like new condition if you wanted to make it look perfect: Wood. It could be easily made to 'look like new'. It actually looks pretty darn nice in the photos already. It's worth $350, like that.

The only drawback to the design of this rack is that they have only 2 shelves for your gear below the TT platform. But...with the GX-300 you could easily double stack equipment on the shelves if you had to. No problem. Can't do that with the GX-100 unless you stack a really slim tuner on top of a CD player. or vice-versa, that could be done. But with the 300 you have a lot more room to play with.

The 4 holes drilled in the bottom shelf were drilled by Sansui. They are for metal type chrome bent 'wire' LP seperators/dividers. They are missing but they could easily be fabricated. No problem at all.

Good Luck.

 

[Bozzmonster]

Good audio only racks are becoming pretty rare to find. Too bad, really!

 

[stereo_dog]

Isn't that the way it goes!!




It would look beautiful!! G-9000. You would have pleanty of room around the amp for breathing. It's a big rack! And 100 Lbs. The sides are really solid and stable. And really nice looking with the metal type trim.

The GX-100/200/300 are really 'fine looking' racks. Just saying. My favorite(s) for sure. And they are strong racks too. Not flimbsy. Seriously, it's a 'great' design. You'll see it when you get it. It looks like it should be in a museum. Waited 5 years for mine. 5 years without a rack...waiting for THAT design. Then, finally, there it was! A GX-100, just the size I needed. I couldn't be happier. Perfect.

I won't be bidding so you don't have me to worry about! I was seriously thinking about it but it would just be an extra rack that wouldn't ever get used.

If I were you...quite honestly...I'd buy it in a heartbeat!! It's a really fine rack.

They very rarely ever come up for sale ever. Seen one GX-300 in 7 years and it was beat up. Also only seen one GX-200 in 7 years, but it was trashed. What's it worth? An easy $150+, no problem. And...it's the GX-300, the big boy! If I needed the big one...I'd go $300+, honestly. This is a one-time-shot for 'the' Monster Amp Rack. And they look so cool with the LPs below everything when it's all set up. Honestly, I'd go $350+. It's a quality build and the shelves are easily restorable to like new condition: Wood. It could be easily made to 'look like new'. It actually looks pretty darn nice in the photos.

The only drawback to them is that they have only 2 shelves for your gear below the TT platform. But...with the GX-300 you could easily double stack equipment on the shelves if you had to. No problem. Can't do that with the GX-100.

Good Luck.

Been chatting back and forth with the seller, he has been very helpful. I can drive to get it or ship it.

 

[bluesky]

This is all the information I have on these racks. Hope this helps...

---

1979-1980
GX-100

Specifications (measured):

18.5 inches wide for amps. Plenty wide enough. Room to spare on the sides.
Top shelf for TT: 20 1/16” x 14 5/16”. A SR-838 fits perfect with room to spare. Perfect.
2nd shelf from the top: 7.25” high. Totally high enough for a CD player or any other item.
3rd shelf from the top: 7.50” inches. Totally enough for your amp to breath.
4th shelf, which is the bottom shelf for the LPs. So cool. It’s a TT designed rack.
Height: 31 15/16 inch
Width: 20 1/8 inch.
Depth: 14 5/16 inch, deep enough for any regular piece of gear, way deep enough.

Also to note: the shelves swivel up, when required, for installation of gear. Didn’t need that but a very nice feature for dusting.

---

1979-1980
GX-200

I think this would be the size rack for a G-9000 amp. but it would be tight, as in it would fit, no problem, but you wouldn't have a lot of breathing room. Guessing: one inch on each side of the amp, maybe 1.5 inches.

No size information

---

1979-1980
GX-300

The largest rack of this style made for the ‘monster amplifiers’, very large and wide shelves.

Specifications (told):
Inches:
Rack: H 40 x W 25.5 x D19.
Shelves: W 25.5 x D19.
W 25.5 x D19.

9.75" between top (TT) shelf second shelf
9" between second shelf and third shelf
14" between third shelf and the bottom (LP) shelf

 

[bluesky]

Good audio only racks are becoming pretty rare to find. Too bad, really!

Yeah, great racks are really hard to find. 'I know'.

It's all generic regular now-a-days. Guess the 'new regular' racks are ok. I don't like them. Believe me, I've checked out all the sites. Nothing special.

But good quality audiophile racks can be had for $1000+. The $1000 racks used, when you can find them, sell for $500-$600 on the bay, when they do pop-up.

Pioneer made some really super fine 'consoles' 8-10 years ago in 'piano shiny black'. I bought one for another stereo system, 5.1, in the house. Really super fine, but it's a console and not a rack. Don't know if they make them anymore, no idea. But they are fine! You know, swinging glass doors, mirror shiny finish, etc. Came in 2 sizes. The tall one (which I got -$700) and the shorter one where you could put a TT on top (think it was like $575 or so). It was nice too. Especially if you have a TT.

I thought about getting it,looks kindda beat to me.

Doesn't look that bad. Looks pretty good really, nice. It will clean up nicely. The sides look really nice, that the important part! The simulated wood trim and the aluminum side pieces. No dents or damage, no problem, don't worry about the rest. The shelves is just a simple 'make it look better' project, one afternoon's fun job!

At the auto store you can buy Meguilairs PlastX which will remove sratches (and paint). Just be careful with it! Don't remove too much black paint. Piece of cake. That, and a little gloss black touch up paint on the shelves, maybe some wood putty first in any dings...done deal. Looks like new.

It's in nice shape. It's 34 years old!! It's the 'real deal'. Perfect.


As you guys can tell...I really LOVE this style rack!! :>)

If I didn't already have a GX-100, I'd buy it. And believe me, I 'would' win the auction. haha. The rack would be 'mine'. It's rare and a 'work of art'. And Sansui!

If one of you guys win the auction, tell me, and I will post photos, with dimensions, of what the bottom shelf LP 'wire' separators are suppose to look like so you can fabricate your own. They would be really easy to make.

That's all I know about it.

Good luck again! Hope one of you AKers get's it!! :>)

 

[bluesky]

Been chatting back and forth with the seller, he has been very helpful. I can drive to get it or ship it.

If you can drive to get it, that would be perfect. Save on packaging and shipping. I think packaging will be like $50. It's big, it's heavy, it's cumbersome, and it could get damaged in shipping due to weight. I mean, the seller said it's 100 (one hundred) pounds!

Awesome, isn't it!! :thmbsp:

If you drive there in a car...bring blankets and sheets to wrap it all up when you take it apart and put it in the car. It comes apart really easy. Super easy. You may need a 'hex' wrench for the 6 sided hole bolts, 1/8th inch (about - very close - just measured mine).

 

[stereo_dog]

Thanks for all the good information. I'm going to try and get it. It would be a nice rack for the G-9000, some albums and a couple other components.

 

[Galaxie65]

Well I guess I'l bow out of this one, I have yet to hear back from the shipping company for a price. I was going to place a bid but don't want to against another member.

 

[bluesky]

Just one more item guys:

This sides of this unit are super heavy and the shelves, while built strong, couldn't really handle the weight of the sides. If one of you guys were going to get it...if it was me, I would FOR SURE have them ship the rack to me in '2 different boxes':

1. One box for only the two heavy sides
2. One box for the shelves and hardware.

That would better the odds 'dramatically' against something, like the shelves, getting smashed, cracked, or broke during shipment. If the heavy sides of the rack got loose in the same box with the shelves...that would not be a good thing at all.

---

How to win on eBay: This system WORKS.

There may be other guys bidding on this rack as well.

I know you know how eBay works but to just review to get the cheapest possible price...which is always the goal.

Decide the maximum price you are willing to pay way before the auction ends.

Put in an 'initial low bid' to get things rolling but 'Do Not Bid Again'. Don't jack up the price. Let other eBay 'players' do that.

Then... then in the last 15 to 20 seconds (25 seconds if you get nervous - LOL - been there, done that, it takes practice) put your 'final big maximum bid' in. Always bid a little more than your really willing to pay. That guarantees you get it! Cause the other guy knows what it's worth too and by doing this you will beat the other high bidder every time. Usually you will get the item much cheaper that way than if you were bidding and jacking up the price all the time. Anyway, you don't even want any other bidders to even know your bidding.

But doing it that way is: you either win or lose cause you don't leave yourself any time, 'or anyone else any time', to put in another counter bid. Also by doing that your not bumping up the price constantly and starting, or engaging in, a bidding war. The other guy thinks no one is bidding, or just a couple folks are bidding at best, they are 'playing the eBay game', then you sneek in in the last 25 seconds and 'bam, it's over,...it's yours'.

And then 'they' immediately are thinking: "WHERE IN THE WORLD DID THAT GUY COME FROM!!!!!!!! They are pi$$ed. lol. (been there too!!) They were 'playing the game' >>> you were 'playing to WIN'. And you did. That's the difference.

And you usually, almost always, will get the item for a 'much lower price' because you weren't jacking up the price constantly. The idea is to get your final very big bid in and it's to late for anyone else to bid, auction is over. That's the secret.

And usually always you will get it at a much lower price than if you played the game. But if there is another guy 'Playing to Win', he is doing it exactly the same as you. In the last few seconds you better have a bigger bid in than him!! Almost all the time you win, on very few occassions you lose. That's the way it goes. It all comes down to the final BIG bid and how bad you want the item.

(I.E.: The item is worth $150 to you, but the item is really special. So your max bid will be $200. Your HIGH BID will be $250 and you will get it and probably pay $130, or less! But you might pay $240? Or, some other guy might sneek in at the same time and bid $261 cause he knows someone will bid $250 in the last 15 seconds. LOLOL. Yeah, that's the way it goes. So you know that so you bid $273. You got it!. If the item is 'really important to me', and it's a major purchase...I always way overbid just to play it safe. I've never paid what I have bid, it's always been much cheaper. But ya can really bite the bullet doing that too and pay a very high price. But it's ok, you got the item.)

The eBay game...It's a casino but you can put the odds in your favor, stack the deck in your favor so to speak.

Good Luck!

 

[Ghonk]

Oh well,didn't win.Had it all planned how i was going to fix it up.