Dynaco SCA 35 is it worth rebuilding?????

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic. Read 8509 times.

sueata1

  • Jr. Member
  • Posts: 103
Dynaco SCA 35 is it worth rebuilding?????
« on: 7 Aug 2010, 08:05 pm »
Hi Guy's,,,,just picked up a pretty clean Dynaco SCA 35 integrated amp (except for dusty).   Question it keeps blowing the 2 amp slo-blo fuse.  We checked all the tubes and replaced one that was bad BUT after replacing the fuse it blew again...  Does anybody work on these anymore,,,How about you Frank is this piece worth rebuilding???  I've heard good things about the sound of the 6BQ5 output tubes.  Thanx a lot guy's and any help appreciated...

Happy listening,,,
Mel

Otis

  • Jr. Member
  • Posts: 70
Re: Dynaco SCA 35 is it worth rebuilding?????
« Reply #1 on: 7 Aug 2010, 09:11 pm »
.

« Last Edit: 26 Mar 2013, 02:58 am by Otis »

TONEPUB

Re: Dynaco SCA 35 is it worth rebuilding?????
« Reply #2 on: 7 Aug 2010, 10:30 pm »
Wow, this guy has some nice stuff that is very cost effective...

DeadFish

Re: Dynaco SCA 35 is it worth rebuilding?????
« Reply #3 on: 7 Aug 2010, 11:10 pm »
Hey Mel,

You get your unit working, they are worthwhile to listen to.
Mine has powered some Maggies and Altecs, and currently drives speakers coming out of my peecee.
I'm not getting rid of mine as long as it works.  Those 6BQ5 put a nice jump to the music in my ears.
Regards,
DeadFish

rcag_ils

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 1105
Re: Dynaco SCA 35 is it worth rebuilding?????
« Reply #4 on: 7 Aug 2010, 11:20 pm »
I think the SCA-35 has pretty good sound, mine can use some newer parts. However, this guy at Audio Regenesis, his boards has been "temperorily out of stock" for the longest time, and he didn't answer email, so I don't think he's serious about selling his stuff.

Some outfit in China's selling the new boards for the SCA-35 on the Bay, and they look pretty good, there's where I'd go to if I ever need parts.

boycephoto

Re: Dynaco SCA 35 is it worth rebuilding?????
« Reply #5 on: 8 Aug 2010, 12:18 am »
I have an SCA 35 that I am rebuilding at the moment.  I just bought an Audioregenisis power supply cap board.  Very high quality, I have repopulated the stock pre-amp and power amp Dyna boards and getting ready to power it up.  I wish I would have realized how nice the Audioregenisis boards are before I rebuilt the Dyna boards.   I would have bought all the boards from him.  George at Audioregenisis is a nice guy and seems to want to help, just like the people in AC.  His rebuilds are beautiful and make me want to do the same to mine.  I think there is one of his rebuilts on Audiogon listed for $600. 

Dave

rcag_ils

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 1105
Re: Dynaco SCA 35 is it worth rebuilding?????
« Reply #6 on: 8 Aug 2010, 12:42 am »
If you just bought one, then you must have bought the last one that he had. Everytime I check that site, it's "temperorily out of stock", my email to him went deep into the cyberspace.

audioregenesis

  • Newbie
  • Posts: 1
Re: Dynaco SCA 35 is it worth rebuilding?????
« Reply #7 on: 8 Aug 2010, 02:22 am »
Concerning availability of  boards from www.audioregenesis.com. Please note that this is part-time endeavor which I do in between consulting work and various other activities. I assemble boards in batches, and some, like the SCA-35 capacitor board can go very quickly. During the Summer I often indulge in my "other" obsession, sailing, and may be away for periods of time so responding to email may take a bit longer, but I do answer all email. It's important to enter your email address correctly in my contact form or I won't be able to respond. As well, particularly during Summer, it is difficult to keep everything in stock as I'm away a lot, more consistent during the other seasons. My primary goal is highest possible quality at reasonable cost to make restoring your Dynaco tube amp. practical.

Regards,
George R.
Pacific Audio Regenesis

Brett Buck

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 393
Re: Dynaco SCA 35 is it worth rebuilding?????
« Reply #8 on: 8 Aug 2010, 03:47 am »
Hi Guy's,,,,just picked up a pretty clean Dynaco SCA 35 integrated amp (except for dusty).   Question it keeps blowing the 2 amp slo-blo fuse.  We checked all the tubes and replaced one that was bad BUT after replacing the fuse it blew again... 

   When they were running, they sounded pretty OK- nothing to write home about, but inoffensive. But they run incredibly hot and that means they have a lot of heat-related failures.

     Hard to say for sure what's wrong, but I would expect 40+ year old electrolytic power supply capacitors are a good place to start looking. You might get them to work by running the power supply voltage up very, very slowly (start at about 30V instead of 120, then go up in 10v increments every 3 hours or so. But I would't even bother, probably better replacing them - which then gets into redesign since the originals are probably unobtainium.

     Brett

rcag_ils

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 1105
Re: Dynaco SCA 35 is it worth rebuilding?????
« Reply #9 on: 8 Aug 2010, 04:01 am »
Thank you for responding here, George. Now I know that you are a busy man. I'll email you again, so that when your boards are available, I'll know about it.

Thanks again.

kurtbauer

  • Jr. Member
  • Posts: 33
Re: Dynaco SCA 35 is it worth rebuilding?????
« Reply #10 on: 10 Aug 2010, 03:24 pm »
This may no longer be appropriate for this Circle but...

A few years back I rebuilt an SCA-35 using ST-35 boards, a new PS board, and plopping a DAC where the phono stage used to be.  In the process, I accumulated a lot of info on restoring/modifying this unit.  The result was very good -- my wife uses it for her office system.  The only issue is that it runs hot -- a well-known issue for this guy -- with lots of warm stuff in a very small space.

If you're interested please send me a message and I will gladly give you the rundown on what I have.

Kurt

salb203

  • Jr. Member
  • Posts: 20
Re: Dynaco SCA 35 is it worth rebuilding?????
« Reply #11 on: 10 Aug 2010, 03:48 pm »
I have rebuilt 6 of them in the last 9 months if you need assistance restoring your amp.

Sal
http://www.dynaco-st70.com

irishsammy

Re: Dynaco SCA 35 is it worth rebuilding?????
« Reply #12 on: 10 Aug 2010, 05:26 pm »
I have rebuilt 6 of them in the last 9 months if you need assistance restoring your amp.

Sal
http://www.dynaco-st70.com

I can vouch for this because 2 of those 6 were mine.   8)  Hi Sal. 

Sal is a fantastic person to work with and he does beautiful work on the SCA-35's.  I've since moved on but both of my SCA-35's sounded fantastic with my SongTowers and they're a fabulous solution for a entry level tube setup.  I highly recommend restoring your SCA-35 and I can't recommend Sal highly enough.   :thumb:

salb203

  • Jr. Member
  • Posts: 20
Re: Dynaco SCA 35 is it worth rebuilding?????
« Reply #13 on: 10 Aug 2010, 09:39 pm »
Hi Adam,
Thanks for the kudo's, I appreciate it!

Regards,
Sal

Dawkus

Re: Dynaco SCA 35 is it worth rebuilding?????
« Reply #14 on: 10 Aug 2010, 11:43 pm »
Hi Mel, I have a SCA-35 I'm slowly working on.My main amp is the Dyna ST-35,and I love it!On rebuilding Dyna's,I have in the past bought brand new boards on E-bay.I'm trying to find the guy who sells them.I bought a board that replaces all the old can caps with a nice fit in unit,better than (Unobtainium's).Hey,I found his name.....Chart C. Chong(tubes4pro@yahoo.com)......Also,do a Google search for a guy nammed Sheldon Stokes who sells boards for tube classics,he does the Dyna-SCA-35,I've seen it in his page.When the SCA-35 first came out it had an old brass faceplate,like the PAS-2 preamp,etched,very rare!Take care Mel....Mark Korda

sueata1

  • Jr. Member
  • Posts: 103
Re: Dynaco SCA 35 is it worth rebuilding?????
« Reply #15 on: 11 Aug 2010, 02:46 pm »
Thanks to all you Guy's and all the info. WoW!!  OK Frank it's your turn,,are they worth it or is there a better way to go..

Happy Listening,,,
Mel

Jumpin

  • Jr. Member
  • Posts: 218
Re: Dynaco SCA 35 is it worth rebuilding?????
« Reply #16 on: 11 Aug 2010, 03:08 pm »
I am suprised no one brought up Bill Thomas.  Some time ago, he posted a long thread in AC about his rebuild of the SCA-35.  Found it so fascinating, I purchased it.  It sings in my office almost everyday.

MJ

gjs_cds

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 327
Re: Dynaco SCA 35 is it worth rebuilding?????
« Reply #17 on: 11 Aug 2010, 07:54 pm »
I used to be in to vintage audio gear, until I realized that Frank's new stuff just plain sounded better...   So while I've still got vintage gear, it sits boxed and unused...

boycephoto

Re: Dynaco SCA 35 is it worth rebuilding?????
« Reply #18 on: 11 Aug 2010, 08:27 pm »
I agree with you gjs.  I am amazed at the resolving ability of the Ultimate 70 - Insight+ combination.  The original Dyna circuits have been outdated and antiquated for a long time, even if rebuilt with modern components.  AVA designs are by far superior.