Finally Got Around to it.....
- Thread starter djwhy60
- Start date
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If you can find another Pilot that would really Rock...
Nice amp, Love their stuff.
Nice amp, Love their stuff.
Neat to play with, not so fun to use. Do you want to get them up and running to test them or use them? In my eyes, I see a lot of parts- The cost of recapping them for any long term use may be more than the final project is worth. If you get them up for testing (dim bulb) check the can caps to make sure they aren't getting hot- I see that a lot. I'd grab quick measurements of the DC resistance of the speakers (I'm betting they are all 4 ohm). If they are the same output impedance the output transformers ~might~ be similar enough to use together. Each power transformer will only the HV current rating to do single channel push pull (so you could build two 6V6 PP monoblocks from them), or do two stereo single ended amps if you buy transformers. I usually sell the mis-matched/single 4 ohm transformers on the 'bay to guitar guys- they go about $20 a piece.
I am not too worried about their final worth. More to listen to. I figured the Pilot would be a mono. The RCA, mono??? When the RCA actually played....many moons ago, it sounded pretty nice.
I know- I did not mean final financial worth, more final "usefulness" worth. I bet they do sound nice- for a radio. I can only speak to my own values- I've played with a ton of stuff like this - fun to tinker with, get going, ~maybe~ a garage set-up and listen for awhile, but eventually the thrill wears off because it's crusty mono and probably 4 ohm. But then again, I build stereo tube amps, so I just see parts. Not trying to discourage at all.
They are both mono- One OPT on the RCA speaker, one OPT on the Pilot chassis. Both are 6V6 push pull. You might get really lucky and those 6V6 tubes test quite good- I see many that do.
They are both mono- One OPT on the RCA speaker, one OPT on the Pilot chassis. Both are 6V6 push pull. You might get really lucky and those 6V6 tubes test quite good- I see many that do.
I am thinking this would give me some sort of eye into tubes....never really messed with them before. These have been in their original "housing" since new....and I needed to clean the garage....so here they are now naked!
Will try to evaluate my skill level vs what they will need to breath again.
There is complete service literature available on the RCA A-106 for free at this link at World Radio History. Page 32 (pdf page 52). Has all of the radio alignment instructions, etc.
I was just parting out one a lot like this. It uses "back biasing"- has grounded output tube cathodes, and is generating a negative grid voltage via R44 between ground and the center tap of the power transformer secondary winding. Output transformer is for a 3.2 ohm speaker.
I don't have anything on the Pilot.
I was just parting out one a lot like this. It uses "back biasing"- has grounded output tube cathodes, and is generating a negative grid voltage via R44 between ground and the center tap of the power transformer secondary winding. Output transformer is for a 3.2 ohm speaker.
I don't have anything on the Pilot.
You just sounded like Charlie Browns teacher......LMAO.....I have a BUNCH to learn....
The speaker from that unit has its own transformer....says i needs power to work right.
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Yes- the transformer on the speaker has a primary that is driven on either side by a 6V6 high voltage plate- very lethal voltages.
Take the transformer off, and the speaker itself is just a 3.2 ohm.
Will take a look in a bit...I didn't see one when I took it out
albusark
Dynaco Fan
One of my favorite audio experiences was buying an aa5 tube radio at a thrift store as a kid. It had an aux channel so I hooked up an audio source and I played a few Howling Wolf albums on it and it sounded alive. I learned that day that coloration of sound is delightful, and audio standards like thd and spectrum analysis are just guidelines. In the end you're going to be listening to your gear, not measuring it, so whatever sounds good is great. Nothing sounds better than gear that you built.
Actually, and with all due respect to your ambition;
If your as new to tubes as you indicate, and since Gadget has said the Pilot is the better of the two, it'd be a good plan to start with the RCA first. Better to get your "learning curve" mistakes out of the way with the lesser set first, and then use all those newfound skills on the better one
There is some excellent material I can suggest on vacuum tubes- a really excellent website called The Valve Wizard.
Assuming you have some basic understanding of electrical circuits, this material should be a bit less "wah-wah"
Start with "The Triode Gain Stage", a chapter available in .pdf. It covers basic fundamentals.
Any questions? Please ask here- we love to help.
Assuming you have some basic understanding of electrical circuits, this material should be a bit less "wah-wah"
Start with "The Triode Gain Stage", a chapter available in .pdf. It covers basic fundamentals.
Any questions? Please ask here- we love to help.
