Anyone using a Gray 108?

Robert Young

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I've got a magnesium Gray Research 108 off to Karmadon in the Ukraine for a restoration of the finish. It has a GE RPX in it, though I've heard that some have had great success with a Denon DL 103. I've got a Zu DL 103r that needs an arm, and thought I might try it (the arm is wired for both mono and stereo). I'm curious if anyone else is using one of these masterpieces, and what cartridges they've tried, and what has worked...
 

Robert Young

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Oct 22, 2020
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Soooo....no one here is using a Gray 108? I'm a bit surprised. Anyway, I'm excited to get the arm back from Serge, and to start trying various cartridges in it. Despite "internet wisdom" to the contrary, the magnesium Gray is quite light, so I'm going to try a full range of MCs and MMs of varying compliance.

But I'd still love to hear from any shy denizens of What's Best who might be using or used a Gray.

267D2270-7626-4A98-B527-95F376112758.jpeg
 

Robert Young

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Oct 22, 2020
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New York CIty
Soooo....no one here is using a Gray 108? I'm a bit surprised. Anyway, I'm excited to get the arm back from Serge, and to start trying various cartridges in it. Despite "internet wisdom" to the contrary, the magnesium Gray is quite light, so I'm going to try a full range of MCs and MMs of varying compliance.

But I'd still love to hear from any shy denizens of What's Best who might be using or used a Gray.

View attachment 98227
So no one except me uses this arm? I'm a bit surprised, given the esoteric bent of so many analogue fanatics. It's an amazing arm, getting great sound from a GE RPX and a Denon DL 103r (I've had the original mono wiring restored, and added a second stereo harness).

Don't overlook these broadcast arms, particularly the 108 in magnesium. Even Frank Schroeder likes it!
 

Robert Young

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Oct 22, 2020
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You have the Karmadon version? Cool..,Serge is a master craftsman. Mine’s original: i had Serge restore the finish. But i hear that his version is every bit the equal.
 
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hairyderriere

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Aug 19, 2018
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So no one except me uses this arm? I'm a bit surprised, given the esoteric bent of so many analogue fanatics. It's an amazing arm, getting great sound from a GE RPX and a Denon DL 103r (I've had the original mono wiring restored, and added a second stereo harness).

Don't overlook these broadcast arms, particularly the 108 in magnesium. Even Frank Schroeder likes it!
Care to give us a full report, with your Zu 103?
 

Robert Young

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Oct 22, 2020
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Hi Hairy...

Unfortunately I got quite sick, and have been focused on my recovery instead of my toys. The arm is sitting on a shelf, taunting me with its beauty, right next to a SIgnet XK-50, a Grado Lab Series Wood, and an Infinity Black Widow. All need something to get fully back in operation, but I'm low on energy these days. And I need to develop a 'table that will do well with a broadcast length arm. Oh no, another project!

The Zu has gotten about 0 hours in my system, but had 2 or 3 in a friend's. He was going to buy it from me, but it didn't sing with his SUT, so I still have it, sitting here, forlorn.

Additionally, there are 30+ cartridges, mostly the greats from the glory days of the Moving Magnet, but I think given the change in my activity level I may be listing much of this stuff in the Classified section soon.
 

je2a3

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Apr 25, 2020
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jelabs.blogspot.com
Soooo....no one here is using a Gray 108? I'm a bit surprised. Anyway, I'm excited to get the arm back from Serge, and to start trying various cartridges in it. Despite "internet wisdom" to the contrary, the magnesium Gray is quite light, so I'm going to try a full range of MCs and MMs of varying compliance.

But I'd still love to hear from any shy denizens of What's Best who might be using or used a Gray.

View attachment 98227
Hi Robert,

I just saw your post and hope you've fully recovered!

Congrats on your 108, Serge always does a great job!


Here's my 108 mounted on a Gray Research turntable. It's used primarily in my mono hifi with either a GE RPX Pro or VRII Pro.

I've been using Japanese viscous damped clones since the early 2000s.

Although I've mounted a DL103 on the Velvet Touch, my favorite pairing with a 9" Japanese clone for stereo is a Shure M7D.

JE
 

Robert Young

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Oct 22, 2020
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Hi Robert,

I just saw your post and hope you've fully recovered!

Congrats on your 108, Serge always does a great job!


Here's my 108 mounted on a Gray Research turntable. It's used primarily in my mono hifi with either a GE RPX Pro or VRII Pro.

I've been using Japanese viscous damped clones since the early 2000s.

Although I've mounted a DL103 on the Velvet Touch, my favorite pairing with a 9" Japanese clone for stereo is a Shure M7D.

JE
Very cool! And whaddya know? I happen to have a Shure M7D currently sitting on a Grado Lab Series wood that i’m about to sell…i may just pull it and give it a try on the Gray!

Serge is an incredible craftsman. I can’t find a single flaw in the work he fid to redtore the Gray. It is perfect. And it sounds great with a GE mono cartridge ( i don’t know which one it is: it’s gold in color, and has only a one-sided stylus).
 

je2a3

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Apr 25, 2020
86
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north of philly
jelabs.blogspot.com
Very cool! And whaddya know? I happen to have a Shure M7D currently sitting on a Grado Lab Series wood that i’m about to sell…i may just pull it and give it a try on the Gray!

I hope that works out!

Serge is an incredible craftsman. I can’t find a single flaw in the work he fid to redtore the Gray. It is perfect. And it sounds great with a GE mono cartridge ( i don’t know which one it is: it’s gold in color, and has only a one-sided stylus).

Mounted on the tonearm is a GE RPX Pro (shiny chrome), the metal/red is a VRII Pro and beside it is a "single stud" RPX fitted with a 78 rpm stylus.

Also In the foreground is a Karmadon slide from Serge, which can also be used with Japanese clones.:)
 
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Robert Young

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Oct 22, 2020
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Mine looks like the RPX, just in gold…it has a new stylus from Joseph Long for older monos…unfortunately, I don’t have any 78s that could be played. There are about 20 variations of the fox trot my dad picked up after the war, sitting in a box in the basement, but they look like someone used them to scrape grunge off the inside of a litter box. Dad’s 98 (!), won’t let me have them anyway! Even though he’s got nothing to play them on…
 
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Robert Young

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Oct 22, 2020
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I had Serge send me some of those slides, specifically for the DL 103r (the Gray is wired for both mono (original wiring harness) and stereo (new harness ftom STS/ Greg Metz), but i neglected to tell Serge it was a Zu model. The Zu body doesn’t have those deep screw insets….:(
 
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je2a3

Well-Known Member
Apr 25, 2020
86
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jelabs.blogspot.com
Mine looks like the RPX, just in gold…it has a new stylus from Joseph Long for older monos…unfortunately, I don’t have any 78s that could be played. There are about 20 variations of the fox trot my dad picked up after the war, sitting in a box in the basement, but they look like someone used them to scrape grunge off the inside of a litter box. Dad’s 98 (!), won’t let me have them anyway! Even though he’s got nothing to play them on…
I have a couple more GE RPX bodies in nickel, which have a yellowish hue depending on the lighting conditions. But I can't claim to have seen all versions.

Anyway, it seems like we share a couple of common equipment and interests like the Bokrand tonearm, Thorens TD124, photography, Leitz, etc. :)

 

Robert Young

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Oct 22, 2020
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New York CIty
I have a couple more GE RPX bodies in nickel, which have a yellowish hue depending on the lighting conditions. But I can't claim to have seen all versions.

Anyway, it seems like we share a couple of common equipment and interests like the Bokrand tonearm, Thorens TD124, photography, Leitz, etc. :)

Indeed!!! And i have a real soft-spot for 2a3s. Even though my amp is push-pull and el34, it is a Don Garber and Noriasu Komuro collaboration (only 2 in existence, i think), so spiritually i’m in the flea-power SET gang…

nice camera too! In addition to the stunning optics, nothing sounds as nice as a leica.
 

je2a3

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Apr 25, 2020
86
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jelabs.blogspot.com
Indeed!!! And i have a real soft-spot for 2a3s. Even though my amp is push-pull and el34, it is a Don Garber and Noriasu Komuro collaboration (only 2 in existence, i think), so spiritually i’m in the flea-power SET gang…

Nice piece to own and listen to. Congrats!



I had very fond memories hanging out at 30 Watts St!

I saw a few ST70s in the shop but remember Don demo'ing Nori's DC coupled ST35 amp. Very nice!

nice camera too! In addition to the stunning optics, nothing sounds as nice as a leica.
Thanks! :)
 

Robert Young

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Oct 22, 2020
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Fi was a second home for me. The smell of solder and single malt kept me happy, as i learned about an entirely new world.

One evening in the east village i pulled a Dynaco ST-70 out of the trash. Took it to Don the next day, and he and komuro whipped up a beauty. Also bought my speakers - JC Morrison’s Pipe Dreams using Focal 7v513 drivers full range - from Don, and over the years had 2a3 and 300b X-amps too. Stoopudly i sold those when i bought Carl Bernstein’s sonus faber Amati Homages (drove those, now sadly gone, with Nagra VPAs, also really really sadly gone).
 

je2a3

Well-Known Member
Apr 25, 2020
86
248
105
north of philly
jelabs.blogspot.com
Fi was a second home for me. The smell of solder and single malt kept me happy, as i learned about an entirely new world.

Too bad we didn't cross paths. Although I didn't live in NYC anymore, I was there frequently for gigs. Hence, the opportunity to hang out at Fi during down time.

One evening in the east village i pulled a Dynaco ST-70 out of the trash. Took it to Don the next day, and he and komuro whipped up a beauty. Also bought my speakers - JC Morrison’s Pipe Dreams using Focal 7v513 drivers full range - from Don, and over the years had 2a3 and 300b X-amps too. Stoopudly i sold those when i bought Carl Bernstein’s sonus faber Amati Homages (drove those, now sadly gone, with Nagra VPAs, also really really sadly gone).

I remember hearing jc's pipe dreams and open baffles, both with Focal drivers.

Fi was an audio art gallery ran by an artist!
 

Solypsa

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