Zenith console, tube or SS?

[elitopus]

I’m thinking this is a tube console. Did I miss any obvious “solid state” markings anywhere?

And it also looks like it’s before Zenith starting doing the 3 channel stuff. So late tube stereo but not too late.

Thanks

 

[BmWr75]

Looks like a tube unit to me.

 

[Dswankey]

Search "Zenith 5G29 tube amp" which is what could be inside as they also used a "5F29"

Also, if you can, ask for pic of the back it should look like this

 

[elitopus]

Awesome. Thanks for the info. I’m supposed to go check it out tomorrow afternoon

 

[Mingo]

If there's a warning label on the back of the console that says "No owner serviceable parts inside", it's a solid state unit.

 

[elitopus]

Originally the seller only posted a pic of the front. I asked for more pics. Then they sent me the pic with the top open. I was pretty sure it was tube just from looking at the record player, but not positive.

It’s always impressive that people that ID the tube amp just by the control layout. I’ll update the thread once I see it in person.

In the past I owned a big SS Zenith, and also a 3 channel tube Zenith. I don’t see as many consoles for sale these days. Or tube organs

 

[orthophonic]

1961 budget model, tube.

 

[Lavane]

I ran across a Magnavox console that just looking at the turntable I figured it was tube. I was half right. After removing the back panel to check to be sure, I found it was a hybrid setup. It had a solid state amplifier, and a tube tuner/preamp. So you can't always go by the turntable.

 

[bluesky]

That console looks almost, or may be exactly, it may even be the model!, that my dad bought back in the day. I think that's it!!

So much appreciated posting this post!! Thanks.

 

[cademan]

It's tubed, and it is possible that this one has the 6BQ5 single ended amp inside. Zenith also made a hot chassis tube console amplifier.

Here's the tuner:





I am currently looking for that amp.

Here is that hot chassis amp!

 

[elitopus]

@Dswankey was correct about the amp P/N


And the inside. Notice the woofer has been replaced with a Rat Shack unit. The other side is original.

I didn’t know some consoles came with reverb tanks. I’ve only seen them in organs before

Notice it also came with an extra rectifier tube…



And the amp. Looks like it still has zenith tubes. Is the part of the bottom an add on, or did they have it on all the 5G29 amps?

 

[oldflame]

Nowadays I smile at the woofer size in those old consoles, as they had so little bass. My father never caved-in to my frequent bugging him to get a console stereo with their UUGE woofers ... Solid-State, of course. Our 6BQ5, single-ended, Channel Master stereo might have sounded as good, or better, in comparison.

 

[Dswankey]

SFF2607-1 Ch= 5G29 R-Player Zenith Radio Corp.; Chicago, IL, build |Radiomuseum.org

SFF2607-1 Ch= 5G29 R-Player Zenith Radio Corp.; Chicago, IL, build 1961 ?, 1 pictures, 1 schematics, 5 tubes, United States of America , semiconductors, Sound

www.radiomuseum.org

...Is the part of the bottom an add on, or did they have it on all the 5G29 amps?

Definitely looks like it's added (connected) on as in not part of the main chassis, definitely Zenith OEM though. First time I've seen one, the one I had did not have one.

GV21 Ch= 4G24 Ampl/Mixer Zenith Radio Corp.; Chicago, IL, build |Radiomuseum.org

GV21 Ch= 4G24 Ampl/Mixer Zenith Radio Corp.; Chicago, IL, build 1961 ?, 1 pictures, 1 schematics, 4 tubes, United States of America , semiconductors, Audio

www.radiomuseum.org

 

[elitopus]

In this application it’s being used as a preamp?

 

[Dswankey]

..I didn’t know some consoles came with reverb tanks.

In this application it’s being used as a preamp?

Per the pic it's listed as a "Reverberation Amplifier" that being said I don't know if that would be considered a preamp.

Hopefully others will stop by and clarify.

 

[cademan]

The reverb amp IS considered a preamp! It injects the reverb signal directly into the amp and is controlled via a volume control.

This one looks to be an add-on but they can be part of the amp chassis or separate.

I have a Packard-Bell console amp with reverb where my reverb amplifier is separate from the main amp and tuner but connects via an umbilical into my tuner preamp chassis.

Off the top of my head, Motorola, Fisher, RCA, Packard-Bell, Zenith just to name a few, had reverb units in some of their lines.

I kinda like the reverb every now and then. Nowadays, it just seems to be a passing gimmick.

 

[elitopus]

That was going to be my next question, is the reverb on all the time. But it seems like it is. That’s interesting.

The seller of the console said they had everything appraised recently (I’m assuming after the death of a parent etc). The console was originally listed for $200 but then they kept lowering the price until it was $25. After I shined my phone light through the back grill to verify all the tubes were present, I happily paid the $25.

 

[Dswankey]

A little off topic, but from past threads I've read the Zenith woofers get quite a bit of love in the Open Baffle community.

If you plan on looking for an original replacement as opposed to the RS one that's currently in there you might want to search "Zenith 49CZxx" series woofers

Glow in the Dark Audio - Zenith 49CZ852 1950's Alnico full range driver

Glow in the Dark Audio showcases Kevin Davis’ personal collection of small-scale, DIY and one of a kind hifi audio gear, with a focus on single ended and push pull tube amplifiers and full range open baffle speakers.

glowinthedarkaudio.com

Glow in the Dark Audio - Zenith 49CZ1064 10 inch wide band drivers

Glow in the Dark Audio showcases Kevin Davis’ personal collection of small-scale, DIY and one of a kind hifi audio gear, with a focus on single ended and push pull tube amplifiers and full range open baffle speakers.

www.glowinthedarkaudio.com

 

[elitopus]

I might have one of those woofers. I have a bunch of console drivers. I’ll have to look at the stash and see. Hopefully the other woofer in the console is good

My plan for this is to go through it and see what else is broken or missing. I’ll pull the amp out and get it running by itself, and then go from there. As long as the iron is good it shouldn’t need too much work (caps, resistors) to get going.

I’m down to 3 consoles right now. I have a Magnavox (with the 9304 amp) I got semi-recently that has a bad PT. I also have a later model tube Grundig console.

 

[elitopus]

Right on about the woofer P/N. And this is how you control the reverb. Although I’m not sure how it works since the reverb tank is mono and the console is stereo