Homebrew tube listening session Sun Feb 24 12:30-4:30

daves · « **on:** 14 Jan 2019, 08:20 pm »

I have sold off a few things, which prompted me to go in the back room and dig up a couple of long unused pieces of tube gear... Willie will like these.
The amp is an old Conn or Rodgers organ amp with Sansui 1000a output transformers, and a 5881 push-pull configuration, built by Mark Rotsch.

The preamp is a pre WWII line stage with 37 tubes, one of the grandparents of the 6sn7 tube, in gorgeous rosewood cabinets.

The usual setup... we have some drinks. Help out with an appetizer or drinks, bring some tunes.
We will have the low mu preamp setup on the Altecs, the big Threshold setup on the big Thiels, and the First Watt F6 Clone, the Anthem preamp, a phono pre, on some way old 1950s JBLs.

justauby · « **Reply #1 on:** 14 Jan 2019, 08:28 pm »

Stop posting beautiful pics of gear! My wallet can't handle this anymore

Scott F. · « **Reply #2 on:** 14 Jan 2019, 09:31 pm »

Dave,

How quiet is that line stage? Is that a hum pot I see on the power supply? How is the gain?

I'm curious

daves · « **Reply #3 on:** 14 Jan 2019, 09:51 pm »

Scott, it is pretty quiet. I don’t hear any noise with it cranked all up on the 19s. The digging I did shows about 10 dB gain. The knob on the power supply is the on switch, and from right to left on the pre are the non detented balance, the input selector, and then a pronounced step detent gain attenuator.

Underneath are some luscious filter caps!

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #4 on:** 14 Jan 2019, 11:18 pm »

This is a great tube device, dont shy to post more photos

Those times people used big power transformers, not small ones as today.

Ericus Rex · « **Reply #5 on:** 14 Jan 2019, 11:43 pm »

I count only four, where are the other 33 tubes?

Seriously though, way cool!

sturgus · « **Reply #6 on:** 14 Jan 2019, 11:56 pm »

Sweet looking!!!

daves · « **Reply #7 on:** 15 Jan 2019, 01:38 am »

The Mundorf Silver M caps are the bomb on this preamp

Scott F. · « **Reply #8 on:** 15 Jan 2019, 03:42 am »

Nice!

daves · « **Reply #9 on:** 13 Feb 2019, 09:22 pm »

Bump for the event

Freo-1 · « **Reply #10 on:** 13 Feb 2019, 09:55 pm »

Should be a good time had by all. Wish I was closer, as I would bring a Thomas Mayer 6AH4 clone preamp to the event.

daves · « **Reply #11 on:** 13 Feb 2019, 10:17 pm »

Freo, I would be honored if you came for a visit with your Mayer! Maybe you could pilot a boat up The Mississippi to St. Louis; it would be quite a trip!

daves · « **Reply #12 on:** 13 Feb 2019, 10:26 pm »

How about paella for the snack?

daves · « **Reply #13 on:** 15 Feb 2019, 07:11 pm »

So far, we have RSVPs from
Bryan
Willie
Kent
Adrian
Jake
Steve
Jack
Bob
Debbie and Mel
Mike
Damon
Gordon
Mary Kay
Jerry
Ken
Bob
Rich
Susan
Don
Bryan
Gene
Bruce?
Kevin

daves · « **Reply #14 on:** 15 Feb 2019, 11:04 pm »

For the fourth system, we may run one of the following tube amps with a pair of vintage Altecs upstairs.

The 1956 Acrosound Ultralinear Mark II kits.

daves · « **Reply #15 on:** 15 Feb 2019, 11:06 pm »

The circa 2000 Sun Audio SV2A3 kit wirh 2A3s.

daves · « **Reply #16 on:** 15 Feb 2019, 11:06 pm »

The JFL Horus served as an inspiration for Eric Mandaville to built these from scratch, also 2A3 based.

daves · « **Reply #17 on:** 15 Feb 2019, 11:08 pm »

Mike Stehr custom modded this lowly Magnavox console pull, and gloriously retromodded it as a Single ended Stereo 7189 based amp.

daves · « **Reply #18 on:** 15 Feb 2019, 11:11 pm »

This is a Sean Casper effort from Chicago, it is a Western Electric 91a knockoff, using a WE 421 dual triode as the output tube. Quite tasty!

daves · « **Reply #19 on:** 15 Feb 2019, 11:14 pm »

In the realm of hitting harder than its weight class, the Eico HF81 is one of the evergreen standard bearers for a great sounding EL84 push pull integrated. This one was rebuilt by Mike Missel.

Poll

Which extra amp would you like to hear Sunday?

Homebrew tube listening session Sun Feb 24 12:30-4:30