Old Tube amps? From where?

[tromba]

I don't know much of anything about tube amps. I've seen some mono block ones for sale, and they look pretty old (Fisher) and I'd guess they might be from before stereo and were simply mono amps in something.

Id guess these were pulled from some old stuff. What were they pulled from? What kind of old stuff I might see in a thrift store would have a usable (or fixable) tube amp?

When I bought my high end stuff in 1971 my friends either got Sony ES pre and power amp, or McIntosh. I got Sony and always wondered if I should have gotten McIntosh....

 

[similost]

Good luck finding anything worth while in tubes in a thrift store.. You might find an old console, but most places don't even want to take them... I've been doing thrifts for years and have yet to find a tubed amp in one..

You might find an old organ, but not often at a thrift either... so there's your choices.. an old organ amp, or an old console to pull from..

 

[awise1961]

The amps could have been pulled from an old all in one stereo console, or an old electric organ.
Fishers were most likely from a console.

Al. Wise

 

[Saratoga48]

I don't know much of anything about tube amps. I've seen some mono block ones for sale, and they look pretty old (Fisher) and I'd guess they might be from before stereo and were simply mono amps in something.

Id guess these were pulled from some old stuff. What were they pulled from? What kind of old stuff I might see in a thrift store would have a usable (or fixable) tube amp?

When I bought my high end stuff in 1971 my friends either got Sony ES pre and power amp, or McIntosh. I got Sony and always wondered if I should have gotten McIntosh....

You may get lucky and find one at a thrift store. Your best bet is to watch craigslist for tube consoles. Some of the sellers will not know what they have so you may have to go look.

 

[for_p1]

I don't know much of anything about tube amps. I've seen some mono block ones for sale, and they look pretty old (Fisher) and I'd guess they might be from before stereo and were simply mono amps in something.

Id guess these were pulled from some old stuff. What were they pulled from? What kind of old stuff I might see in a thrift store would have a usable (or fixable) tube amp?

When I bought my high end stuff in 1971 my friends either got Sony ES pre and power amp, or McIntosh. I got Sony and always wondered if I should have gotten McIntosh....

Do not bother with old stuff if you do not have enough knowledge. Get a new amp from one of Chinese brands. It will cost you between $500 and $1000. Reconditioning of old junk won't be cheaper than that.

 

[tromba]

The amps could have been pulled from an old all in one stereo console,

Stuff like this (don't know if it's tube or not):

Another view

 

[tromba]

Do not bother with old stuff if you do not have enough knowledge. Get a new amp from one of Chinese brands. It will cost you between $500 and $1000. Reconditioning of old junk won't be cheaper than that.

Hadn't thought of that.... Don't know what's involved in reconditioning.

 

[similost]

That would be a tubed unit. but as someone else said, you better know what you're doing, or know someone that does, and have a pile of money, because it's not an easy nor cheap job to refurb those old receivers.

I wouldn't even consider getting into tubes unless you have 7 or 800 laying around.. to either buy nice new stuff, or to be able to pay someone and for the parts to rebuild...

 

[tromba]

That would be a tubed unit. but as someone else said, you better know what you're doing . . . buy nice new stuff, or to be able to pay someone and for the parts to rebuild...

This is my first enquiry into tubes, so I certainly don't know what I'm doing. I just got a new NAD receiver so I'm not in a position to spend anything.

Would something like that be worth picking up at all (cheap) to play with or learn on in the future?

If not for me, is it of value to anyone?

 

[similost]

A reciever would not be the first thing you want to get to try learning about. Yes, the one you posted would be desirable to some.

Your best bet might be to get a cheap (that's a relative term with tubes) amp kit and build it. That can still cast you into the hundreds, but it would teach you a lot about soldering, what parts are, and what they do..

Then maybe find you an old cheap organ or console amp and recap and refurb it.... I know some about electronics, and after spending thousands , and not having any working amps, I am leaving the tube world. Even an amp in good repair is a pain in the ass to maintain.. .I just want to listen, and never have to mess with the gear.

 

[Dandy]

If you know of some old Fisher mono tube amps for sale, and you want to get into tubes, I would get them. IMHO, the nicest sounding tube is the 6BQ5 (also known as EL84). A mono amp running two of these will give you a taste of the pleasures of tubes.

If you can solder and follow instructions, a kit is a good way to go. I personally would prefer a $500 US kit than a $500 Chinese amp. You will get better quality and support for your money. My post crossed with that by similost and I would say don't be afraid of a reputable kit (e.g. Dynaco).

 

[tromba]

Even an amp in good repair is a pain in the ass to maintain.. .I just want to listen, and never have to mess with the gear.

Sounds like my computer. In the early days I loved tinkering with them. Now I'd rather it just WORK!!

 

[buglegirl]

Hiya,

Not to be argumentative.

I personally would prefer a $500 US kit

Well its prob full of the same Chinese parts as the 500.00 Chinese amp. But you are right its a better novice geared exercise than trying to rebuild something vintage.

Frannie

 

[Dandy]

Tromba: Sounds like you'll be happier sticking with your NAD receiver then. It's safer that way. This tubes thing is a crazy obsession best avoided.

Frannie: I understand at least the iron in this is US made. http://triodeelectronics.com/diy35kit.html

 

[GordonW]

Even an amp in good repair is a pain in the ass to maintain.. .I just want to listen, and never have to mess with the gear.

My HK A300 has been in service for nearly 8 years, since I rebuilt it.

Other than having to spray some DeOxit on a dirty tube socket last winter (it got noisy on startup on one channel), it's not required one iota of maintenance of any sort during that time.

Same went for my Stromberg ASR-333 that I recently sold- except it ran for about that same 8 year period, needing NOTHING at ALL done to it. Before I sold it, I finally replaced the power supply caps, for insurance- but even those were still working when I took them out.

IME, I've had better overall luck with tube gear, than my SS gear. I've never had to throw out a tube amp, that couldn't be fixed. SS gear, OTOH... I've had to pitch a number of amps and receivers... no parts to be found, or too complicated/time intensive to fix, for what they were worth...

Regards,
Gordon.

 

[for_p1]

If you know of some old Fisher mono tube amps for sale, and you want to get into tubes, I would get them. IMHO, the nicest sounding tube is the 6BQ5 (also known as EL84). A mono amp running two of these will give you a taste of the pleasures of tubes.

If you can solder and follow instructions, a kit is a good way to go. I personally would prefer a $500 US kit than a $500 Chinese amp. You will get better quality and support for your money. My post crossed with that by similost and I would say don't be afraid of a reputable kit (e.g. Dynaco).

OP probably DOES NOT want to know how to build and tune tube gear. He only want to try it without breaking the bank. That is why "ready to use" Chinese amp is what he needs. There is little or no support for them, but that is why they cost so low.

 

[tromba]

OP probably DOES NOT want to know how to build and tune tube gear. He only want to try it without breaking the bank.

Yep. I was thinking it's like vintage speakers -- refoam and recap doesn't break the bank and it's something for a DIY. But it sounds like something like the one in my pictures would break the bank and isn't for a new DIY

 

[GordonW]

Unless it's been stupidly abused or hacked on- parts cost for refurbishing one of these old amps isn't that much.

It does take some time, though- to pull the amp out, check the existing parts, order new capacitors and such (things like terminal strips to hold new caps, that may be different size and shape from the originals, etc), unsolder/replace the capacitors, and test. That is the more "demanding" part... it does take time, to do it right.

Fortunately, if you're thorough, and you do it correctly up-front, you don't usually have to do it again... probably not for another 20 years! Most of these amps ran that long originally without major service, and there's no reason they shouldn't do it again, if they're updated properly...

Regards,
Gordon.

 

[similost]

Just parts for my Quicksilver amps, a very minimal amp basically was about $250 for caps, and a few other assorted parts.. . That's not cheap in my eyes.. that's a really nice pro amp or two if you shop well.

 

[mjennens]

Just to add my 2 cents... I was in the same boat as the OP. I wanted to see what the tube issue was all about. I had my eye on one of these http://store.tubedepot.com/diy-k12g.html. They seem highly regarded, especially for their price range. Plus, there is a lot of info on the web about upgrading them.
Before I had a chance to get one, I found an 1963 Packard Bell console tube stereo in a thrift store for $25. After some work removing the amp and doing some reading, I decided to recap it and refurbish it. With the help of a few knowledgeable folks on AK, and after about $100, I had a working tube amp. I'd say if you're curious about them, either be patient and watch for something in a thrift store, grab that Fisher, or pick up one of the S-5 amps. If you are willing to learn, there are folks who will be willing to help.
One word of caution: tube amps have some very high voltages involved. Be careful and find out what you can about your amp if you buy one to refurbish.
Have fun with it!
Mike