Found this 50's era record player great condition, Would like to know if the tube section is a worthwhile conversion to guitar amp.
+1 on it most probably being a widowmaker.
Search and post schematic before doing anything.
You´ll most probably need a 120:120 VAC isolation transformer, plus properly grounding chassis.
Search and post schematic before doing anything.
You´ll most probably need a 120:120 VAC isolation transformer, plus properly grounding chassis.
"This Columbia 360 is a '56 model. It’s a little stripped down from the original in that it is line operated and uses push-pull 50L6 output tubes, a Ronette ceramic cartridge and electrostatic tweeters. It has a voltage doubler power supply so the B+ runs above 200 volts giving it higher power output. I replaced the original Ronette cartridge with an Electro-Voice 5010 tracking at just under 4 grams. The amplifier has 2 a.f. amp stages so there was more than enough gain to use a lower output cartridge."
"Bill and I are curious to see the 6V6 amp, because the Columbia 360's with a PP
amp came with either 2 x 35L6's, 2 x 50L6's, or 2 x 50C5's."
https://antiqueradios.com/forums/vi...sid=12be893a540131ba13ee36ca1fb10189&start=20
I have a P-P OT from a record player that used a pair of 35L6's. Guessing the one you have is a P-P amp also with a 12V tube and two 50L6's. Like the use of a doubler.
"Bill and I are curious to see the 6V6 amp, because the Columbia 360's with a PP
amp came with either 2 x 35L6's, 2 x 50L6's, or 2 x 50C5's."
https://antiqueradios.com/forums/vi...sid=12be893a540131ba13ee36ca1fb10189&start=20
I have a P-P OT from a record player that used a pair of 35L6's. Guessing the one you have is a P-P amp also with a 12V tube and two 50L6's. Like the use of a doubler.
I would build a Gainclone style amp using transistors or 1875, safer, more reliable, more energy efficient than old tubes.
Tubes are a wear part in any case.
Tubes are a wear part in any case.
The only person to get a good sound out of a transistor amp was the late, great Wilco Johnson.
(Cue a long list of great guitarists that use transistors 🙂 )
Gainclone circuits are designed to have short signal paths, and lots of headroom, so a close approximation to tube sound.
You want to play with a widow maker from 70 years back, with aged parts, high voltages and poor joints?
If that is your idea of fun, go right ahead.
And bear in mind that you may not have the tools and experience, and what happens when a high voltage part needs replacement?
Tubes are getting hard to get as well, and those need periodic replacement, a consumable part.
I think solid state is a better choice if you actually want to use an amp, particularly for amateur and traveling use.
You want to play with a widow maker from 70 years back, with aged parts, high voltages and poor joints?
If that is your idea of fun, go right ahead.
And bear in mind that you may not have the tools and experience, and what happens when a high voltage part needs replacement?
Tubes are getting hard to get as well, and those need periodic replacement, a consumable part.
I think solid state is a better choice if you actually want to use an amp, particularly for amateur and traveling use.
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It NEEDS an isolation transformer to be non-lethal.
The linked schematic is not a voltage doubler.
It wants one more stage to play electric guitar well. (The ceramic needle had higher output than g-pickup.)
The linked schematic is not a voltage doubler.
It wants one more stage to play electric guitar well. (The ceramic needle had higher output than g-pickup.)
This would be sound advice if it was for hifi - but guitar amps are a very different beast. We want distortion - mostly we use amps close to or into clipping, and valves sound very different from transistors when they clip. We don't need headroom or short signal paths.
I take your point about reliability though 🙂