Guitars for Real Musicians

gmzanatta · Playing Club Dates Joined: 27 Dec 2009 Posts: 431

**WARNING** Anyone who is into restoring vintage tube radios please do not read any further, as this will likely give you a heart attack Razz

Background Info: This past weekend, an add showed up on Kijiji (our local equivalent of CL) for a vintage floor model tube radio. The seller was asking a measly $20. It was one of those with a turntable inside. I thoguht "what the hell, for $20 it'll be a fun toy". I'm really into vinyl and was hoping it would be a good little radio to use. Ends up the turntable was crap and completely unfixable. So I thought to myself: hey this would make a cool little guitar amp.

So this brings us to the project. I decided to turn the radio in a guitar amp using only parts from the floor model (including all the wood). The radio had a phono input which led itself to hooking up a guitar. I went to my local shop, got a 1/4" jack and went to town. This project took about two days. One day taking it apart and one day making the amp.

I completely forgot to take pictures of the original radio :uh: Also, keep in mind I used ONLY parts from the floor model and nothing else (except for a grill, which will be explained). So, look below for pics, and enjoy!

Radio info: 1965 Shelbern floor model (made in Canada, with a BSR UA-14 turntable)

First up is a picture of the little amp itself. Not sure what the model or wattage is, as it was completely unmarked. The only thing that it had was a tube layout diagram.

Next is is the main enclosure. As you can see, I made a front plate from scratch and then used the speaker baffles for the sides. The speakers from the radio will be mounted on these, so it'll be a combo amp, which has a L/R balance knob on it.

The next three images are a quick mock up of the inside, before I made the front/back/top. It gives an idea of what the set up is like.

Here is a front shot, with the front of the amp finished. I added a little grill to the gap so that I can watch the tubes glow Smile

Here is a closer shot of the grill.

The next three shots are of the (almost) finished product. As you can see, I added a top on hinges, using the orignal radio's setup. This allows me to have a different sound depending on whether or not the top of the amp is closed. I have everything mounted and in place. The only thing missing was the hole for the power cord, since my drill's battery died.

These last three are of the finished product.

[Edited on 25-8-2010 by gmzanatta]

[Edited on 25-8-2010 by gmzanatta]
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Proud owner of: AL3000M HSB Plaintop, Douglas WR340N, Epi LP, Segovia acoustic, and 1962 classical guitar, 1965 Gibby Explorer Amp

Craig · Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 7:06 am Post subject:

That just goes to show what a little ingenuiity can produce. Nice work, sir! Very Happy

Maybe you can post up some sound samples when you get a chance?
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gmzanatta · Playing Club Dates Joined: 27 Dec 2009 Posts: 431

gmzanatta · Playing Club Dates Joined: 27 Dec 2009 Posts: 431

Forgot to say that I think it's putting out around 5W of power, but I'm not really sure.
_________________
Newest addition: RMO ES-335 Custom Build
Proud owner of: AL3000M HSB Plaintop, Douglas WR340N, Epi LP, Segovia acoustic, and 1962 classical guitar, 1965 Gibby Explorer Amp

Phantomotaku · Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 11:41 am Post subject:

Wow great project. Can't wait to hear it.
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When someone asks you if ya paid your dues, you just stare that big sucker right back in the eye, and you remember what ol' Jack Burton always says at a time like that: "Have ya paid your dues, Jack?" "Yessir, the check is in the mail."~ Jack Burton

pratteman · Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 3:06 pm Post subject:

What a great idea. Sound clips needed for sure.
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Guitars- Agile AL3100 CSB, 3100 Root Beer Wide, Schecter PT Fastback 3TS, Schecter C1-XXX
Schecter C1-Classic, Fender Satin Strat, Fender MIM Tele, Fender '72 Tele Deluxe Reissue, Fender Tele Blackout HH, Samick TR-2.

Craig · Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 9:03 pm Post subject: