G'day All, first timer, so please be kind.
Recently bought a set of Gale 401c's, external condition great for their age, unfortunately that's where it ends. The hf's are some inferior garbage. The original tweeters in these were Celestion HF 2000's, which are impossible to find in Australia and just about everywhere else. Seas recommends their 19TFF1 H0737 as a HF 2000 drop in replacement, anyone familiar with just how compatible they would perform?
One of the Peerless mid range has recently ceased to function as well, can these be repaired?
Any information you could provide would certainly be gratefully received.
Thank you all.
Recently bought a set of Gale 401c's, external condition great for their age, unfortunately that's where it ends. The hf's are some inferior garbage. The original tweeters in these were Celestion HF 2000's, which are impossible to find in Australia and just about everywhere else. Seas recommends their 19TFF1 H0737 as a HF 2000 drop in replacement, anyone familiar with just how compatible they would perform?
One of the Peerless mid range has recently ceased to function as well, can these be repaired?
Any information you could provide would certainly be gratefully received.
Thank you all.
probably get much better response in multi-way forum - or here
galeaudio.com | Dedicated to the works of Ira Gale
galeaudio.com | Dedicated to the works of Ira Gale
Firstly let's get everybody on board about one of the best yet most flawed speakers ever made.
The Gale 401C:
It came with handsome chrome caps on the ends too. The 401A IIRC. Two Acoustic Research style 8" low Qts bass units wired in parallel and using acoustic suspension aka heavily stuffed closed box. A lively peerless 4" mid with a little cuppy enclosure and a celestion HF2000 tweeter.
Flawed because the impedance went horribly low around 3 ohms, and tended to fry amps. Good, because it had huge slam in the bass and a detailed mid and top end.
At heart it's your regular three way.
SEAS-3-Way-Classic
Restoring them is a labour of love:
Gale GS401 Re-foam Project
We discovered some problems with the published crossover schematic which I corrected out of the goodness of my heart.
If it was me, I wouldn't spend time trying to rustle up replacement components. I'd adapt that Troels Gravesen design to update the box. It's really not hard to double up basses and wire them in series. You just double inductance and resistance in the bass filter and halve capacitance. The Gale was closed box, so I guess you can reuse the original woofers if they are still working.
Whatever, it's doable. You could end up with a better speaker. 🙂
The Gale 401C:
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
It came with handsome chrome caps on the ends too. The 401A IIRC. Two Acoustic Research style 8" low Qts bass units wired in parallel and using acoustic suspension aka heavily stuffed closed box. A lively peerless 4" mid with a little cuppy enclosure and a celestion HF2000 tweeter.
Flawed because the impedance went horribly low around 3 ohms, and tended to fry amps. Good, because it had huge slam in the bass and a detailed mid and top end.
At heart it's your regular three way.
SEAS-3-Way-Classic
Restoring them is a labour of love:
Gale GS401 Re-foam Project
We discovered some problems with the published crossover schematic which I corrected out of the goodness of my heart.
If it was me, I wouldn't spend time trying to rustle up replacement components. I'd adapt that Troels Gravesen design to update the box. It's really not hard to double up basses and wire them in series. You just double inductance and resistance in the bass filter and halve capacitance. The Gale was closed box, so I guess you can reuse the original woofers if they are still working.
Whatever, it's doable. You could end up with a better speaker. 🙂
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I used to like the sound of the Peerless K040MRF. It was part of my first three way which combined it with a KEF B200 and a SEAS H086. Those were the days...
there are many Gale 401 owners in Australia, particlulary WA, who could help. There is also at least one expereinced restorer in Perth worth hunting down and I am sure there are original spare drivers floating around with 401 owners. The place to start looking/posting is Stereonet Australia (SNA). Search and you will find all you need I am sure. Good luck
Alan
Alan
Thanks a lot guys for some very informative info. The common opinion I seem to gather is that these are worthwhile restoring to their original specs, I haven't heard of any rebuild using non original speakers, seems that Gale got it right with the celestion, peerless and A R combo. Its a daunting prospect, attempting to source these speakers, especially the celestions. Guess it'll keep me busy for a while. Thanks again for the information and articles, much appreciated.
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