Old member (mojojojo) back with new handle!

heekma

heekma

Well-Known Member
Howdy folks!

Old member here, previously mojojojo, now heekma. Forgot my old password and closed the email account associated with it, hence the new handle...

Here's a link to my last DIY project:

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=47420

I attached a couple pics of the last DIY amp since the server the images were hosted on is long gone...

Been quite a while since I posted--a new house (55-years-old, but new to me), a kitchen remodel, old motorcycles, old pocket watches and single action revolvers have been rotating in and out of interest for a couple years.

A few weeks ago a visit to a great uncle yielded a hoard of tubes. Among many, several each of 6V6s, 6L6s, 12AU7s, 6SN7s, 6SL7s, 811As and 5R4GYs.

A few calls to Heyboer Transformers for power and 3.3k SE output transformers for some monoblock 811A SE amps, a check of my inventory of resistors and sockets, some four-pin sockets, 4 chokes, 4 motor-run caps and the bug has bitten again...

This time around the build is going hi-tech. I have a close friend who manufactures structural moving equipment--dollys and such--who has a CNC water-jet table that will be doing the cutting for me this time around. Whoo!

I'll be sure to post pics of the progress in the coming weeks as this will be not only a very new, but very fun and educational experience to say the least!

Finally, the last straw came last week--a CL ad for some old Sansui SP300 horn speakers (105db/watt/meter efficient, and darn nice sounding speakers even while awaiting new film caps for the crossover re-cap) being sold by AK member kretinus, (great fellow BTW, check him out next time you're in Boone, IA)

Just when you think you're out, the DIY bug pulls you back in...
 

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heekma, I have merged your old account into your new one, so you didn't lose all your old posts.

If you, or anyone, have problems getting into your account, just shoot me an email at luvvinvinyl@audiokarma.org, and we'll get it straightened out.
 
welcome back to ak heekma(mojojojo) was wondering where you went to.hope to see you posting more regulary again seeing how the bug has bit you again:D

btw beautiful amps those and cant wait to see your new project.:thmbsp:

chris
 
Heya Radioactive!

Thank you for the kind welcome back!

I will be posting as the new 811A amps progress and on the(very)rare occasion I have a little something to add to the conversation.

Two things:

I see from your avatar you're a Sansui fan--any opinions on the sp300--good or bad, of course? I like 'em so far, but they're new and they're LOUD, so I'm still in a "honeymoon" phase. A bit shouty at high volume--maybe the recap will fix some of that?

Is that a radio tuner in your avatar pic? Kinda looks like a ham receiver as well...either way, it's a good lookin' piece of equipment!

Best,
heekma
 
hi heekma,

yeah im a bit of a sansui fan but mostly for the amps,receivers, etc.. but have not heard any of their speakers. as for the radio it's a national nc183d communications receiver that covers the broadcast band through 30mhz.

fwiw i still have the fairchild 248 preamp that you were so kind to pass along to me and it's still working great along with the fairchild 260's. i even found someone that is going to attempt to make me a knob for it.
chris
 
Welcome home! That is one of the nicest amp nudies I've ever seen. Beautiful workmanship. Thanks for sharing.
 
JonL,

Thank you for the kind words! I guess beginner's luck certainly applied to me that time around, but you're right--if I showed the "two steps forward, one step back" progress of that build, people would take me even less seriously than they do now, which is hard to fathom indeed...;)

Chris! Hey-Ho! My apologies for not recognizing your handle. IIRC, the last time I was here you had a Fairchild amp for your avatar...at least I think so!

That Fairchild pre-amp was truly breathtaking--even for a novice DIY'er such as myself. Even with my somewhat limited knowledge of all things vintage, after seeing the build quality of that pre-amp, I'm a believer in all things Fairchild as far as TOTL vintage--or TOTL new, for that matter--amps go.

I also have an article about the innovative Double "C" output transformers they used. If you haven't seen the article, let me know and I'll scan and send.

Did you ever delve into a recap, or use as-is? I'd think since pre-amps are easier on caps than power amps, it fared better than most...

Best,

John
 
Chris! Hey-Ho! My apologies for not recognizing your handle. IIRC, the last time I was here you had a Fairchild amp for your avatar...at least I think so!
Click to expand...

no problem heekma,and i think your right about the avatar.


That Fairchild pre-amp was truly breathtaking--even for a novice DIY'er such as myself. Even with my somewhat limited knowledge of all things vintage, after seeing the build quality of that pre-amp, I'm a believer in all things Fairchild as far as TOTL vintage--or TOTL new, for that matter--amps go.
Click to expand...

i'm a very firm believer :D


I also have an article about the innovative Double "C" output transformers they used. If you haven't seen the article, let me know and I'll scan and send.
Click to expand...


thanks but i already have it ,being a diehard fairchild nut there isnt much i dont have on their hi fi gear for home use.

Did you ever delve into a recap, or use as-is? I'd think since pre-amps are easier on caps than power amps, it fared better than most...
Click to expand...


i'm using it as is after straightening out the problem i had with 1 ch not working .there is some noise with the preamp but its not that noticeable. a recap when it does come will have to be thoroughly thought out as to what caps to use and not wreck the signature sound of the originals.
chris
 
Ah yes, I remember that amp, now! Very nice, heekmamojojojo... :D

Good to have you back, especially if you've got another project brewing. :thmbsp:
 
Thanks Hypertone!

I got it from a company in New York, but can't come up with a name--been a while...

Although it's got that "vintage" look, for my next project I'll be using teflon instead. Stripping both the cloth and the insulation is messy at best, and once the varnish and the cloth start to part ways...what a pain!

Best,

John
 
Welcome back, I'll look forward to your posts once again! I have gotta remember your new handle though.
Regards,
Jim
 
Awh, man...i'm going to start crying...its all so beautiful

Man, that wiring is something to behold, I've been wanting to use cloth wire for a while, but never ordered any, or thought about stripping it :scratch2: must be quite a bit different than plastic coated wire. Man, I really can't belive the neatness...I have to up my game :yes:. Was the case done with standard paint, or a special application?, I attempted a spray paint job on a guitar pedal I made, but it didn't come out nearly as well. Nice bit with the terminal strips :yes:.

Man, all I want to know is how it sounds...but I bet its great. Good luck on your new project:thmbsp:.
 
Thanks for the welcome back ehoove and 33!

33,

The insulation under the cloth-covered wire strips just fine, but the cloth itself tends to tear and unravel instead of stripping. Makes soldering difficult sometimes with little strands of cloth in the way.

Paint job is powdercoated. That was the solution after a botched paint job by yours truly which was sandblasted to bare metal for powdercoating.

I now have incontrovertible proof I cannot paint.

It sounds great! I'm always learning and know more than I know now. Although the VR tubes regulating screens on the 7691s is a "flashy" solution, ultra linear tapped outputs would be a much simpler solution.

Although there's much unnecessary gilding of the lily when it comes to this circuit. It's basically ultra linear PP 7591s. Some like ultra linear, some don't. It definitely has a crisp presentation, very solid state like, but with that great tube mid-range.

Best,

John
 
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