1962 Magnavox console restoration
- Thread starter reallyaduck
- Start date
reallyaduck
New Member
Thanks! I downloaded the schematic they attached and I’ll bring the technician a copy
Love the Kitty waiting for some tunes!
Dswankey
Lunatic Member
Congrats!!!!
The amp is held down on the console bottom by 4 crews, you will see them on the side flanges as seen in 2nd pic so it's pretty easy to remove.
To add to what @Lavane mentioned the Molex connector is this just pinch on both sides and it will pull right out again pretty easy
Finally on the back there will be speaker wires clipped into a pair of connectors, the wires will unclip pretty easily just be sure to mark the wires with some tape denoting which clip it came off of
I chose this pic as I wanted to give you an idea of what to expect on the inside. One of the reasons these amps are beloved is there is not much going on down there and easy to move around and work in.
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Dswankey
Lunatic Member
As for transporting it just wrap a blanket or similar to make sure you don't break the tubes, It'll fit inside a regular size cardboard box so set it in there with it wrapped up and other then bouncing off pot holes, bumpy roads you should be fine.
One last thing, those original tubes maybe 60+ yr's old but that doesn't mean they need to be replaced. If the tech says they need to be replaced with "new" be sure to ask him why and can he provide the test scores to back it up.
One of the beauties of Magnavox amps is they used good tubes and more times then not even after 60yr's they're still fine.
One last thing, those original tubes maybe 60+ yr's old but that doesn't mean they need to be replaced. If the tech says they need to be replaced with "new" be sure to ask him why and can he provide the test scores to back it up.
One of the beauties of Magnavox amps is they used good tubes and more times then not even after 60yr's they're still fine.
Lavane
Lunatic Member
From his picture looks like it has Mullard 6BQ5's. They have those blotchy spots. Mine came with Magnavox Mullards. I'm still using two in my DG1 amp. One finely lost vacume.
century tek
Addicted Member
There should be plenty people in your general area that would be willing to help you out. I am in SW Washington in the Kelso/Longview area.
Personally, I wouldn't put other guts or speakers in that console but rather build or rebuild it as stock because those speakers are only rated at 10 watts and are voiced and designed just for that console. I can't even begin to tell you how many of those speakers I have yanked out of those consoles only to find out that they sounded really shitty when put in individual boxes or cabinets. In the original console, they sound great. Also being only 10 watts, I can't begin to tell you how many I have blown by just hitting the power button on some high power amp I was using at the time. Does the word "Phase Linear 400" power amp mean anything to you?
Lavane
Lunatic Member
If keeping the console, the only mod I would possibly make to it is installing a more modern turntable with an inexpensive phono preamp. It would sound a lot better than that Turntable with a crystal cartridge. You wouldn't have to destroy the original turntable or mod the console itself.There should be plenty people in your general area that would be willing to help you out. I am in SW Washington in the Kelso/Longview area.
Personally, I wouldn't put other guts or speakers in that console but rather build or rebuild it as stock because those speakers are only rated at 10 watts and are voiced and designed just for that console. I can't even begin to tell you how many of those speakers I have yanked out of those consoles only to find out that they sounded really shitty when put in individual boxes or cabinets. In the original console, they sound great. Also being only 10 watts, I can't begin to tell you how many I have blown by just hitting the power button on some high power amp I was using at the time. Does the word "Phase Linear 400" power amp mean anything to you?
I'm not a fan of those record grinders they put in those things.
I kept the 15" woofers and horns out of the beat up console I had.
Someday I might build some open baffle speakers with them.
I am asking this question so I can learn a little more myself as I recapped a console pull amp several months ago. My question is: other than checking the tubes and using Deoxit on the controls, what work should be done on the preamp/tuner?
Thanks in advance,
Jeff
Thanks in advance,
Jeff
replace any paper caps in there, if there is a filter cap (I don't know, but some did have one) replace it, and maybe check the resistors in circuit for any that are out of tolerance. Clean the sockets and tube pins. Don't adjust anything in the tuner bits unless you have the gear to re-align a tuner.
mind you I'm bad about taking my own advice. I have the guts out of a mono Magnavox console, only the coupling caps in the power amp have been changed. Everything in the tuner and all of the filter caps are original from 1959. My Hoffman console also is running original filter caps. Same with my SE Magnavox console pull. All a case of I know better, but its gear that gets very little use and its currently functional. If I ever put it into regular use it will get sorted but I can't quite justify the effort and money for new caps that are just mostly going to sit doing nothing.