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Heathkit Mystery find - GD-61 Reverb unit

birddog

birddog

Addicted Member
Heathkit GD-61 Reverb unit :scratch2:

Scored this off of FreeCycle this afternoon, and Google came up short, exept for a few links to manuals for sale.

Anyone familiar with this unit? It is an all-in-one unit, with a speaker, tubes, and a large spring reverb in it. Has a hum balance pot, and a R/L input balance knob on the rear of the chassis. The one tube I can see is a 6BQ5. On the front is a rotary switch, missing the knob, and with no markings. There is a red jewel pilot light as well.

My camera is buried somewhere, but if pics are needed I could find it.

I thought it would be easy to find the info on it, since there seems to be no shortage of Heathkit info on the web. Was shocked to find there was nothing out there! Any help would be welcomed!
 
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I'll try to dig out the camera tommorow, I'm off to get some rest (Still really sick, no NYE party for me this year!) maybe some AK'er will have an alcohol induced flashback this evening during their NYE festivities, and remember something about this unit!
 
I'll check the few old Heathkit catalogs I have (probably not old enough to have a tube reverb).

Great to see you back, buddy! Happy New Year!
 
I think it's from 1961, I saw a catalog cover from '61 that appeared to have the reverb on the cover... was kind of hard to tell.
 
Pics, and some info.

Well, I finally took some pics, and gave it a quick once-over. The tube compliment is as follows: 1 12BH7 (Missing), 2 6EU7 (Original Daystroms), 1 EZ81 (original Daystrom/Mullard), and 1 EL84 (Also original Daystrom/Mullard).

It looks like it appears on the cover of the 1964 catalog, but it is not a 100% ID. :scratch2:

Here are a few pics for ya. The spring reverb is behind the long, thin aluminum panel that runs along the bottom of the cabinet.

I would love to find out anything about this unit. It's in excellent shape, and I would like to see it return to its former glory! I have not fired it up, as I have no variac here, and I don't want to fry it, or myself.
 
I'll forward the question to a group of organ gurus I know, as I suppose the reverb was ment for instrument/organ usage?
 
Thanks Davo!

The inputs are just screw terminals... you would think if it was for instrument useage, it would have a 1/4" jack on it? Plus, it has a left/right input level control, which would be a little strange as well for plugging in your guitar or other instrument as well.... The control pot on the front would appear to be the on/off and volume control. I'm kinda scratching my head on this one, I would love to have someone find the catalog reference for it!
 
Hm, well the screw terminals was basically the reason I thought that it was supposed to be used in organs, as atleast some organs have lots of screw terminals inside them. Also I recall there being some other add on reverb amp like this one for organ usage.

What is the reason for reverbration in home stero? Seems like a worthless gadget..
 
I suspect this was an extension speaker cabinet for an organ. As you can see from the catalog, Heath sold organ kits back then. This would account for the extra connections on the amp in the cabinet as well as the reverb unit.

You are right not to try to power it up without some conditioning first. I see that many of the online manual sellers have copies of this model available, too.

Cheers,

David
 
Finally got around to scanning info on this piece from a 1961 Heathkit brochure.
The piece in question is currently in that Purgatory known as my basement... sometime (when I get a "round tuit") I'll see if we can get it going for birddog!
It is missing its 12BH7, which, sadly, is not the easiest nor cheapest tube to find out there. I am grilling the usual suspects, trying to turn one up.

heathreverb.jpg
 
pssssst . . . hey birddog :para:

I think I have a couple 12BH7's that want to go home with you . . .
 
markus said:
pssssst . . . hey birddog :para:

I think I have a couple 12BH7's that want to go home with you . . .
Click to expand...

Well, Cowboy, Saddle on up and mosey over to yer Pm's, the Pony Express has done gone and left you some of that fancy new E-Lectronic mail.... :D
 
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