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Thread: Five Tube Radio

  1. #1
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    Default Five Tube Radio

    Went along with the family on their regular Saturday flea market run and scored a couple of cool pieces for cheap.

    One a 50's home audio tape deck with 6V6 SE amp inside, complete with power and output transformers.
    Gutted that and kept a few good cosmetic parts.

    But the home run is a working 5-tube AM radio.
    Yes, it works!



    It will make a very cool little guitar amp combo though, easy and very cool looking.


  2. #2
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    I nearly bought a 40's Gretsch Lap Steel today, but didn't.... price was about average, and condition was poor... cool to play though.
    ..... the REAL Ben....

  3. #3
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    That would be cool to hang on the wall!

    How did your amp build go?

  4. #4
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    I HATE YOU.
    fett Buttler; "Frankly, my gear. I don't give a damn"

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by fett View Post
    I HATE YOU.




  6. #6
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    Well, i've got the Preamp wired up since last summer, haven't touched it since.

    Or do you mean that old SS VOX monstrosity i got?
    ..... the REAL Ben....

  7. #7
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    No, I mean the Univox guts.



    BTW, the radio will be removed intact and I will use the cab only.
    5 tube radios are not safe to use as instrument amps unless an isolating transformer is installed...etc.
    Might as well preserve what works for someone else to enjoy.


  8. #8
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    Radio is pulled, intact.
    Found a cool little SS chassis and gutted it with no regrets.
    Built a 5F1 Tweed Champ onto it and here's a couple of initial gut shots,
    upside down.

    She works but has a bad pot!







    Mounted the "preamp" on the front panel.
    The power switch, vol control, and input jack are all outboard, forward and mounted on the old radio box.

    Last edited by Cygnus X1; 04-01-2012 at 08:20 PM.

  9. #9
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    Back view.
    Who knows if that old speaker will do the trick.
    You can see it's 8 ohm!



  10. #10
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    Had it together, sounded real good, then it farted out.
    I had to put it on the test rig.
    Long story short I thought the recycled power transformer was bad.
    But it was just that I had the secondaries pinched.

    Re-insulated the leads, now time to reinstall everything.

    Tested with a monster PT on the "rig":

    Last edited by Cygnus X1; 04-07-2012 at 02:55 PM.

  11. #11
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    Just about done.

    Sounds great!


  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Cygnus X1 View Post
    Just about done.

    Sounds great!

    I luuuuuve it...yeahaah, old skool baby!
    Pel Custom Guitars & Tube Ampz
    http://www.pelcustomguitars.com


    Custom LesPel --> BTR2000 --> Nady TD1 - Big MUFF pi - Keeley TS9 Flexi --> Keeley Cry Baby --> Marshall 36 Watt --> 1960A/1960B Stack
    PacerC1 - Claw PacerC2 - Beak Pacer Deluxe - ClawRetta - Claw Vanguard - Maple Vanguard 'Classic V' - SpaceKline Baretta - SpaceBo Claw ProRetta - Forum IV Bass - 420S Bass (all lefties)
    http://www.myspace.com/pelcustomguitars

  13. #13
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    Thank you pel.
    That white diamond is actually brass.

    And the airplane is a Motorola logo.
    It seemed to fit, so there it is!

  14. #14
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    Nice job Cyg, I remember building a super hetrodyne tube radio in high scholl They dont teach that anymore, so people like us are a dying breed, keep doing what U do, BTW your test fixture likes like a cobra waiting to strike!! I should know, been bit by HV a few times

  15. #15
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    Some member got a great snag. See Klassifieds.
    fett Buttler; "Frankly, my gear. I don't give a damn"

  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by fett View Post
    Some member got a great snag. See Klassifieds.
    Not a member here.
    I will post what transpired when it gets here though!


  17. #17
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    Tacking on to this thread to report I got another couple of very cool antique radios.
    One is working as I type, the other looks really great but will need work.

    Also scored a 60's Tiesco guitar,or something like it.
    All for cheap of course.

    Pics soon, maybe tomorrow.

  18. #18
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    If you make a SE EL84 amp looking like something like this...I am game! 2 12AX7's and an EL 84 in an old radio outfit hooked up to a 1960 4x12..ain't get more Rawk & Roll than that AB would even be better...but that's not youre regular radio setup
    Pel Custom Guitars & Tube Ampz
    http://www.pelcustomguitars.com


    Custom LesPel --> BTR2000 --> Nady TD1 - Big MUFF pi - Keeley TS9 Flexi --> Keeley Cry Baby --> Marshall 36 Watt --> 1960A/1960B Stack
    PacerC1 - Claw PacerC2 - Beak Pacer Deluxe - ClawRetta - Claw Vanguard - Maple Vanguard 'Classic V' - SpaceKline Baretta - SpaceBo Claw ProRetta - Forum IV Bass - 420S Bass (all lefties)
    http://www.myspace.com/pelcustomguitars

  19. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by pel666 View Post
    If you make a SE EL84 amp looking like something like this...I am game! 2 12AX7's and an EL 84 in an old radio outfit hooked up to a 1960 4x12..ain't get more Rawk & Roll than that AB would even be better...but that's not youre regular radio setup
    We'll see what fits.
    Those radios are bigger than what you might think!
    Pics are in a new thread:

    http://www.kramerforum.com/forum/sho...tar&highlight=

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