Hacker GP42 Gondolier query? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

alexpop · 18th Oct 2021, 9:34 am

I had a GP42 bought in 1969, but it was a transistor model ( not with valves ). Looking to get a Gondolier again how do I know if it comes with 2 valves model ?
Believe it was optional in 1969, valve model more expensive.

Station X · 18th Oct 2021, 9:40 am

Are you sure the player you bought in 1969 wasn't a GP45 Grenadier?

alexpop · 18th Oct 2021, 9:46 am

Hi Graham.
Could have been.

ajgriff · 18th Oct 2021, 9:49 am

Like Graham I thought the Grenadier GP45 (model year 1970) was the transistorised version. Never seen or heard of a Gondolier with anything other than valves.

Alan

alexpop · 18th Oct 2021, 9:53 am

I checked the spec for the GP42 couldn’t find any mention of valves.
Though believe there is 2 valves used.?

Cobaltblue · 18th Oct 2021, 9:55 am

2 times ECL86 according to RM entry

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/hacker...lier_gp42.html

Cheers

Mike T

alexpop · 18th Oct 2021, 9:56 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajgriff

Like Graham I thought the Grenadier GP45 (model year 1970) was the transistorised version. Never seen or heard of a Gondolier with anything other than valves.

Alan

Do believe it was the GP45( now) the GP42 was more expensive, hence getting the GP45 ( Christmas present

).

Station X · 18th Oct 2021, 9:57 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobaltblue

2 times ECL86 according to RM entry

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/hacker...lier_gp42.html

Cheers

Mike T

Plus an EZ80 rectifier.

alexpop · 18th Oct 2021, 9:58 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobaltblue

2 times ECL86 according to RM entry

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/hacker...lier_gp42.html

Cheers

Mike T

Cheers thx for the clarification guys.

Now on the lookout out for a fifty year old + GP42 record player.

TowerRadio · 18th Oct 2021, 11:07 am

Unless you wish to go down the restoration path yourself you may have to bite the bullet and pay out lots of money for a fully restored and guaranteed working model.There seems to be lots available,at a cost.The add-on amp seems more hard to find.Les

Cobaltblue · 18th Oct 2021, 11:11 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Station X

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobaltblue

2 times ECL86 according to RM entry

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/hacker...lier_gp42.html

Cheers

Mike T

Plus an EZ80 rectifier.

Thanks Graham I have made suggestion in RM to add the rectifier

Cheers

Mike T

Edward Huggins · 18th Oct 2021, 12:54 pm

The Hacker GP42 was known as the "Rolls Royce" of record players. Even so, there are others that are as good. This means that the their Online Auction prices are high. But if you have some basic skills, a non-worker can be bought for as little as £50-00 and can be fixed. It's most ususally a deck problem and there is plenty of help on here for that!

alexpop · 18th Oct 2021, 1:53 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward Huggins

The Hacker GP42 was known as the "Rolls Royce" of record players. Even so, there are others that are as good. This means that the their Online Auction prices are high. But if you have some basic skills, a non-worker can be bought for as little as £50-00 and can be fixed. It's most ususally a deck problem and there is plenty of help on here for that!

Thank you for information.
Looked about a year for a Dansette HIFi model .. but no luck. Just bought a GP42 for £100.00 cosmetically good/working .. as is, disc spinning / sound. Not really looked at it since brought it home( arm still elongated).
Thx again guys.

Nickthedentist · 18th Oct 2021, 2:27 pm

Well done.

There are two capacitors in the amplifier that you really must change, to avoid later disaster! We can tell you more. It's not a difficult or expensive job.

I carried one about 3 miles up a hill from a jumble sale in the late 1980s. Even then, they were considered superior to the usual jumble sale stuff; most mono record players typically sold for a quid, but these always seemed to be priced at a fiver

alexpop · 18th Oct 2021, 2:38 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nickthedentist

Well done.

There are two capacitors in the amplifier that you really must change, to avoid later disaster! We can tell you more. It's not a difficult or expensive job.

I carried one about 3 miles up a hill from a jumble sale in the late 1980s. Even then, they were considered superior to the usual jumble sale stuff; most mono record players typically sold for a quid, but these always seemed to be priced at a fiver

Weight ?
Still easy peasy compared with upright piano.

Thx for tips.

alexpop · 20th Oct 2021, 6:35 pm

Well I tried it out today and the 3000 turntable doesn’t work, stops last minute of the song(Single ).. auto changer doesn’t work, speed selector works. So I’ll have to get it repaired in London.

Edward Huggins · 20th Oct 2021, 8:14 pm

Is the Centre Stacking Spindle Still in situ on your deck? There is plenty of help on here as to how to service this Garrard deck, it might be something you can do yourself to avoid what might be high costs?

ben · 20th Oct 2021, 9:52 pm

If you have some flat bladed screwdrivers, some alcohol and q tips and some oil, then you can fix that problem yourself!

The start of this video is relevant here.

kirstyd · 20th Oct 2021, 10:06 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nickthedentist

Well done.

There are two capacitors in the amplifier that you really must change, to avoid later disaster! We can tell you more. It's not a difficult or expensive job.

I carried one about 3 miles up a hill from a jumble sale in the late 1980s. Even then, they were considered superior to the usual jumble sale stuff; most mono record players typically sold for a quid, but these always seemed to be priced at a fiver

carrying a gondolier 3 miles is no mean feat. I have vivid memories of constantly swapping hands

alexpop · 20th Oct 2021, 10:25 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward Huggins

Is the Centre Stacking Spindle Still in situ on your deck? There is plenty of help on here as to how to service this Garrard deck, it might be something you can do yourself to avoid what might be high costs?

Large spindle attached( inside ) small spindle on turntable.

18th Oct 2021, 9:34 am	#1
alexpop Triode Join Date: May 2007 Location: London, UK Posts: 27	Hacker GP42 Gondolier query? I had a GP42 bought in 1969, but it was a transistor model ( not with valves ). Looking to get a Gondolier again how do I know if it comes with 2 valves model ? Believe it was optional in 1969, valve model more expensive.

18th Oct 2021, 9:40 am	#2
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,288	Re: Hacker GP42 Gondolier query? Are you sure the player you bought in 1969 wasn't a GP45 Grenadier? __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

18th Oct 2021, 9:46 am	#3
alexpop Triode Join Date: May 2007 Location: London, UK Posts: 27	Re: Hacker GP42 Gondolier query? Hi Graham. Could have been. Last edited by alexpop; 18th Oct 2021 at 9:51 am.

18th Oct 2021, 9:49 am	#4
ajgriff Nonode Join Date: May 2004 Location: Halifax, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 2,587	Re: Hacker GP42 Gondolier query? Like Graham I thought the Grenadier GP45 (model year 1970) was the transistorised version. Never seen or heard of a Gondolier with anything other than valves. Alan

18th Oct 2021, 9:53 am	#5
alexpop Triode Join Date: May 2007 Location: London, UK Posts: 27	Re: Hacker GP42 Gondolier query? I checked the spec for the GP42 couldn’t find any mention of valves. Though believe there is 2 valves used.?

18th Oct 2021, 9:55 am	#6
Cobaltblue Moderator Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Exeter, Devon and Poole, Dorset UK. Posts: 6,865	Re: Hacker GP42 Gondolier query? 2 times ECL86 according to RM entry https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/hacker...lier_gp42.html Cheers Mike T __________________ Invisible airwaves crackle with life or at least they used to Mike T BVWS member. www.cossor.co.uk

18th Oct 2021, 11:07 am	#10
TowerRadio Hexode Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 388	Re: Hacker GP42 Gondolier query? Unless you wish to go down the restoration path yourself you may have to bite the bullet and pay out lots of money for a fully restored and guaranteed working model.There seems to be lots available,at a cost.The add-on amp seems more hard to find.Les

18th Oct 2021, 12:54 pm	#12
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,327	Re: Hacker GP42 Gondolier query? The Hacker GP42 was known as the "Rolls Royce" of record players. Even so, there are others that are as good. This means that the their Online Auction prices are high. But if you have some basic skills, a non-worker can be bought for as little as £50-00 and can be fixed. It's most ususally a deck problem and there is plenty of help on here for that! __________________ Edward.

18th Oct 2021, 2:27 pm	#14
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,846	Re: Hacker GP42 Gondolier query? Well done. There are two capacitors in the amplifier that you really must change, to avoid later disaster! We can tell you more. It's not a difficult or expensive job. I carried one about 3 miles up a hill from a jumble sale in the late 1980s. Even then, they were considered superior to the usual jumble sale stuff; most mono record players typically sold for a quid, but these always seemed to be priced at a fiver

20th Oct 2021, 6:35 pm	#16
alexpop Triode Join Date: May 2007 Location: London, UK Posts: 27	Re: Hacker GP42 Gondolier query? Well I tried it out today and the 3000 turntable doesn’t work, stops last minute of the song(Single ).. auto changer doesn’t work, speed selector works. So I’ll have to get it repaired in London.

20th Oct 2021, 8:14 pm	#17
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,327	Re: Hacker GP42 Gondolier query? Is the Centre Stacking Spindle Still in situ on your deck? There is plenty of help on here as to how to service this Garrard deck, it might be something you can do yourself to avoid what might be high costs? __________________ Edward.

20th Oct 2021, 9:52 pm	#18
ben Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK Posts: 7,498	Re: Hacker GP42 Gondolier query? If you have some flat bladed screwdrivers, some alcohol and q tips and some oil, then you can fix that problem yourself! The start of this video is relevant here. __________________ Regards, Ben.