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Heath and VoM - another first

wank

wank

Moks by popular demand
It seems like it's "tubes for noobs" day. I know I'm not alone in this, but I picked up my first tube amps today. Was waaaaay out of town on business and found myself next door to a St. Vincent de Paul. Stopped in, and $5 later walked out with a Voice of Music Model 563 console. Happened to also have a Heathkit UA-2 nestled in its bowels.

The Heathkit seems pretty well known - it's missing the two EL84/6BQ5. Existing tubes are a Heath 6AN8, and RCA 6CA4. It's a looker.

The VoM is a similar amp mounted on an angle, but complement is 6BQ5 x 2, 12AX7, 6AU6, and 5Y3.

I'll try to post pics later. Anyway, this guy feels good about being on his way to having some tube experience, but disappointed they don't match.

I'll learn.
 
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For $5 you can't be TOO disappointed...

The UA-2 schematic is easily found on the net... ask if you can't find it. The V-M is in Sams 557-12 - I MIGHT have it, I know I have the schematic for the V-M 560 with the same tubes less 6AU6.
 
No - not TOO disappointed. Pretty fired up really. It's not as bad as orphan speakers, but close. I love the idea of this heathkit, and now I'm committed to matching it with a mate.
Pics in a minute. I can post them again!
 
I've found the UA-1 schematic, and not too worried about finding the UA-2.

On the V-M I've got a schematic glued to the inside bottom of the console with tube layout and all. Not sure if that gets it done, but at least I'll know what I'm looking at.

Speaking of looking at - a before group shot all dirty:
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and after with just the UA-2. I swapped the 6BQ5s into the Heathkit for the shot.
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That Heathkit is a nice amp. If you ever want to sell it to make funds for some stereo tubage, let me know, I'd be interested. That being said, if you found another one you'd be sitting pretty!

I had a pair of those VM Monoblocks. I traded them to Kegger, who has them to this day I think. Here are some pics of the ones I used to have, and a pic of the schematic that was on the inside of the console they came from.

http://tubehacker.com/sale_item.php?item_id=72
 
Thanks for the idea Squidward, but I just got it. I'm also leaning really heavily toward finding a mate for it. So I'd be interested in picking up another.

Your pictures of the VM monoblocks don't load. I found one thumbnail of the pic you were talking about on your website, and it looks similar.

I'm thinking I might just get this VM up and running and see how the two sound together - I still need to decide if I'm interested in a tube setup.

Since I need some EL84/6BQ5 - and should probably try to replace all 4 instead of just the two missing - what is a decent economical brand? If I'm fairly non-committal, what EL84s would you all recommend?
 
wank said:
The Heathkit seems pretty well known - it's missing the two EL84/6BQ5. Existing tubes are a Heath 6AN8, and RCA 6CA4. It's a looker.
Click to expand...

Looker indeed, it looks to be mint. Worth a princely amount too. Last set I sold went for $450 or so about 10 years back. Don't know where they are at now but I can guarantee that there is someone out there looking for one more desperately than you are.
 
That's a shame. I was hoping it wouldn't be worth too much so I could find the other easily. Seems like finding valuable stuff usually just costs me money.
 
Well, I couldn't help myself. I left the Voice of Music (made in Holland) 6BQ5s in and brought it up slowly with the light bulbs method. This after I hit the level control and switches with some deoxit.
No problems whatsoever.
Connected it to my ipod (that's hilarious to me) and my ElectroVoice Guinea Pig and got good clean sound.
Ended up spending about an hour listening to some mono tunes, with the lights off. When my wife and girls (3yo and 4yo) came in, the lighted tubes were the coolest thing ever, and they spent another half hour in there with me.
Very nice.
It's tough to really decide how it sounds, but I'm ready to try.
Here's what it looks like in decent light - there's a corner with worn off paint.
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wank said:
there's a corner with worn off paint.
Click to expand...

Easy fix w/ DupliColor paint from your local auto parts store. There are usually a couple golds that are nearly exact to the Heath paint. As you only need to touch up a small area it will blend nicely. One of mine looked like it had been hit repeatedly with a bike chain but after I finished with it you could not tell without a magnifying glass.

A little primer, a little paint, a little wet sanding, a little wax.....

:thmbsp:
 
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