10-08-2011, 06:58 PM
WHiiP wrote:
"Console" speakers to me, means REALLY OLD speakers. And they look like it. I don't think they will last more than a chord or two, at least it you turning the amp up to "5" or so. YMMV.
Yeah, they are from the 50's. My wife bought the console several years ago, gutted it, and made it into a scandinavian cabinet (the wood is very pretty). I recently wondered what the guts were, and went out into the garage, and was surprised to find a really nice amp. It has 4 6V6s, two 5Y3GTs, an 12AX7, and the phono preamp has one 6AV6 (which is basically half a 12AX7). Some of the Fender Tweeds had about the same complement of tubes (not to say it's comparable).
I took all the tubes out, cleaned the contacts with deoxit, and also used it on a lot of the other contacts and stuff. The phono preamp had a phono input (imagine that), so I plugged my guitar into it and fired it up. Seriously, it sounds incredible. I've played through vintage fender tweeds, and I'm not going compare them, but this thing sounds good. The amp also has an rca input, so I could use a proper preamp and forget the phono preamp, although afaict, there's no reason to. I actually doubt the eq on the phono preamp is RIAA.
One of the 5Y3GTs is clearly damaged (the plastic peg on the bottom is broken off, etc.), so I'm going to order a matched pair to replace both. I don't know why it still works with only one of these functioning correctly. I also don't know anything about setting the bias, but as long as it sounds good, I'm not going to worry about it. I wish I could test all the tubes. But, finding that it sounds good, I put a whole evening into polishing the metal base of the amp. I couldn't do a great job, but it looks pretty sharp. Next I have to make a cabinet of some sort.
Which is why I want to use only one speaker. I would rather it be a smaller combo. The speaker wires are soldered to the amp, which make me even a little more hesitant to experiment. I'll let it sit for a while and give it some thought. Thanks, kj.