GAS Son of Ampzilla

[Nightbrace]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=9701557059&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEBI%3AIT&rd=1

I heard from a couple people that there are some reliability issues with these amps, what do you guys think is a fair price?

[doodlebug]

but the GAS amps were highly regarded in their day. Their designer (Jim Bongiorno), I believe, still provides support for them. I always wanted one back then and may run across one some day.

Google his name as he also has piano recordings published.

Cheers,

David

[Nightbrace]

Yes, I know him, he is very highly regarded, but just wondering if you guys have had experience with them..

[Mr. Widget]

I've had two GAS Grandsons... the first I bought new back in the day... still regret selling it. The second I bought years later on the used market, I never could get it to work properly... doubt this helps.


Widget

[Wardsweb]

That was actually a good price. Not as many collectors running the price up on GAS stuff. Unlike SAE of the same vintage he also designed. What are you looking to drive or how do you plan to use whatever amp you get? (I've know James for years, I'm his webmaster too)

[Rolf]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=9701557059&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEBI%3AIT&rd=1

I heard from a couple people that there are some reliability issues with these amps, what do you guys think is a fair price?

Good price? $100. Reliability: 2. Sound: 4.

10: Best
1: Worst

[Nightbrace]

wow, so your saying that 60% of all the amps made will be better.

I bid up to $120, I know about the reliability issues, thats what steered me clear.

[Wardsweb]

FYI: if you're looking for a decent vintage amp. I've been running an SAE A502 in my office 8am to 5pm, five days a week for the last 6 years without any problem. Granted I'm not cranking it but it just keeps on keeping on. :)

[Rolf]

FYI: if you're looking for a decent vintage amp. I've been running an SAE A502 in my office 8am to 5pm, five days a week for the last 6 years without any problem. Granted I'm not cranking it but it just keeps on keeping on. :)

Yes Wardsweb... Bu isn't the SAE somewhat "like a "rock" on JBL? That is my experience.

[BMWCCA]

Good looking amp! Well bought, too.

I've been using the D-series Crowns with my JBLs since before they became part of the Harman family. (Okay, I'll admit to better than 30 years.) Pretty bullet-proof and the D150A-IIs are currently bringing about the same price as the GAS. Oddly enough, I've been able to buy DC300A-IIs on Ebay for not much more than the D150A-II brings.

[Ian Mackenzie]

Nightbrace, the term relibability needs to be qualifed.

Are you saying they are unstable design or are you saying the SH units are prone to blowing up?

Any amp as old as these is bound to be unreliable due to aging of parts..read the output stage and capacitors. BJT power transisters tend break down due to aging and tend to produce a loud cracking sound before saying good night Irene to your expensive JBL's!

That said I have a box full of parts for the Ampzilla 111 amp (designed 10 years after the first Ampzilla article in Popular Electronics Oct 74.) It was a bridged design according to the article in TAA 4/84 200 into 8 ohms 400 into 4 ohms.

I might look at it one day.

[jim campbell]

generally speaking an amp will last longer in a well kept audio rack at home than in some smokey barroom,or after being loaded into a truck every night.sometimes the pros label something unreliable because it cant handle the set up tear down night after night but will perform great in the home.