Serge Gainsbourg's audio gear

[hockman]

Serge Gainsbourg's house in Paris left bank is now open to public. Looks like he was into hifi gear:

Is that a Transcriptor turntable (pic is too low resolution)? And a very early Philips CD player and lots of Macs! Also see another CD player on the lower right.

I don't know much about his music but what a personality! Will probably go visit when I get the chance.

 

[chartz]

The bottom right player seems to be a Mac MCD7000 – in reality a Philips CD304 in disguise!
I remember a documentary where we could see his Michell playing his latest reggae–style record.

 

[cobbers]

Is that a Transcriptor turntable

Gale GT I think

 

[Tony L]

Gale GT I think

It is really weird, it doesn’t look right for either a Gale (plinth is wrong) or a Transcriptors (platter is wrong). No idea what it is. Maybe a Transrotor of some description (German, related to Transcriptors/Michell, but still independent somehow)?

PS The cool round-dial tuner is a Sansui TU-777.

 

[cobbers]

I thought maybe Gale platter /drive in a special plinth - certainly the platter looks a lot like the GT2101.

 

[Alex N]

It’s an IMF Transcription 300. One here playing Histoire de Melody Nelson…

(More of Serge’s apartment, still as it was in 1991, can be seen in the video for Charlotte Gainsbourg’s ‘Lying With You’.)

 

[adamdea]

Serge Gainsbourg's house in Paris left bank is now open to public. Looks like he was into hifi gear:

Is that a Transcriptor turntable (pic is too low resolution)? And a very early Philips CD player and lots of Macs! Also see another CD player on the lower right.

I don't know much about his music but what a personality! Will probably go visit when I get the chance.

This was clearly what made him irresistible to generations of chanteuses.

 

[Meursault]

Serge Gainsbourg's house in Paris left bank is now open to public. Looks like he was into hifi gear:

If it

Is that a Transcriptor turntable (pic is too low resolution)? And a very early Philips CD player and lots of Macs! Also see another CD player on the lower right.

I don't know much about his music but what a personality! Will probably go visit when I get the chance.

If it’s still there when I’m next in Paris, I will definitely go. Useful post.

 

[ff1d1l]

https://zstereo.co.uk/2014/06/25/imf-transcription-300/

 

[hockman]

This was clearly what made him irresistible to generations of chanteuses.

You are stating the obvious...

 

[hockman]

That turntable is very cool. Didn't know IMF made turntables. I want one!

 

[RJohan]

^^^^^^
Me to!

 

[Alex N]

I want one!

Yep, it joins Florian Schneider’s Micro Seiki on a list of turntables I want after seeing them in musicians’ 70s apartments. The 300 is apparently for how many were made, so erm, plenty for pfm.

More words and pics here: https://blog.cobrason.com/2019/12/serge-gainsbourg-hi-fi-audiophile/

IMF Transcription 300
Philips CD100
Sansui TU-777
Sony TC-850
McIntosh C 26 / MC 2505 (etc)
JBL L200 (‘Plus lourd que la belle Jane Birkin…’)

A+
Alex

 

[theadmans]

He was very much the anglophile:-

- English wife

- Recorded in England

- Histoire de Melody Nelson was based in the exotic setting of Sunderland and featured a Rolls Royce.

- Serge owned a 1966 Triumph TR6 and generously bought a Mini Clubman estate for Jane.

...so I am surprised he didn't own Quad, Naim or Linn!

 

[RJohan]

Yep, it joins Florian Schneider’s Micro Seiki on a list of turntables I want after seeing them in musicians’ 70s apartments. The 300 is apparently for how many were made, so erm, plenty for pfm.

More words and pics here: https://blog.cobrason.com/2019/12/serge-gainsbourg-hi-fi-audiophile/

IMF Transcription 300
Philips CD100
Sansui TU-777
Sony TC-850
McIntosh C 26 / MC 2505 (etc)
JBL L200 (‘Plus lourd que la belle Jane Birkin…’)

A+
Alex

Well, then I own one piece of the kit, the near cousin 4331B.

 

[hockman]

It's interesting he favored solid state over tubes for his Macs. How unusual.

I think I will also redecorate my home ala Gainsbourg i.e. 'boudoir' style.

 

[ex brickie]

The women will be queueing at the door @hockman….. or the police