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Post subject: 1962 brown Vibrolux project
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 6:22 am
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Aspiring Musician
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Location: SW Ohio
So….. about two and months ago my neighbor, who has a small business running estate sales, sends this photo to me. God bless her little heart. :lol:

Image

She was meeting a potential client and was going through a house packed with to the gills with old radios and electronics. Long story short… she eventually signs the client to a contract and this thing ends up at my house.

The previous owner was an engineer and quite the electronics guy. Lots and lots of vintage tubes, radios, you name it…. it has filled my neighbor's 2 car garage. I suspect he may have rescued this amp himself. The 6L6 tubes are military surplus.

I've already gotten some direction from our resident amp whispers - Arjay and Beemer.
I thought I would share a few photos for anyone who might be interested.
The components date to 1961 - 52nd week. So per Arjay, we are dating this to January 1962.

I have started the "restoration" project. The chassis is out of the homemade box and at my Amp Techs. The good news is that the circuit is fairly untouched. The tin can covers an old Philco tranny with exposed wiring. There are a few breaks in the circuit that need to be reconnected and it needs a cap job. At the moment, we think that's all the work that will be required. Time will tell.

Yesterday I ordered a new replica cabinet.

So for your viewing pleasure…….

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Post subject: Re: 1962 brown Vibrolux project
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 6:59 am
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Who did you decide on to build the repro cab?

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 1962 brown Vibrolux project
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 7:26 am
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You are going to really love that amp, once restored back to original. From the photo, the 6L6GA types are Sylvania JAN-CHS and the rectifier is an RCA JAN-CRC 5U4G. Both are excellent tubes.

The 5U4G will put out about 50mA less than the 5U4GB. Around the same B+ voltage. This should be no problem, driving those 6L6GA. Max idle wattage = 19 watts. 13-14 watts per tube, is a good starting point.

One other thing... that soup can over the tranny maybe "hot." Prolly not, but be careful.

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Post subject: Re: 1962 brown Vibrolux project
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 7:54 am
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
The 5U4G will put out about 50mA less than the 5U4GB. Around the same B+ voltage. This should be no problem, driving those 6L6GA. Max idle wattage = 19 watts. 13-14 watts per tube, is a good starting point.


Regardless, the 5U4G/5U4GB is incorrect for a 6G11 Vibrolux......

Image

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 1962 brown Vibrolux project
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 8:22 am
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Aspiring Musician
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Retroverbial wrote:
Who did you decide on to build the repro cab?

Arjay


I did contact Rogers…. he's not doing repro cabs and recommended the other place I was looking at… Armadillo Amp Works. I thought that was a high recommendation knowing what you thought of Larry. Will is also going to install the Weber 12F150 driver in the cab. Same price as buying directly from Weber…. which is cool as it reduces some of my work in ordering the speaker. HaHa.

Regardless of the tubes that are in the amp now… all tubes will be tested and/or replaced with proper tubes. There is so much military surplus in the estate sale. Its staggering. I need to go over and cherry pick the vacuum tubes for my personal stock.

I'm almost tempted to keep the tin can for novelty sake :lol: … but I am having that Philco tranny replaced with a proper one. We're all guessing the tin can is from a WW2 surplus K-ration. :lol:


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Post subject: Re: 1962 brown Vibrolux project
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 4:04 pm
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You are a lucky man!!! WOW! I hope you are going to document the refurb for us here on the forum! What a beautiful amp and it sure is clean on the inside! Sounds like you already have a good plan outlined and that is half the work.

As for the WW2 K Ration you might be right, but most were painted OD Green!

Enjoy the project...and of course the amp once completed.

:mrgreen:

T2

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Post subject: Re: 1962 brown Vibrolux project
Posted: Tue May 31, 2016 11:16 am
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Aspiring Musician
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The replacement cabinet showed up today. My amp tech still has the chassis - work on it has been slow since he's had to have some knee surgery. That's all done.... the cabinet's all done.... I'm hoping in about 2 weeks its all back together for good.

The cabinet was built by Armadillo Amp Works. Its pretty damn nice. Will (the owner) even yellows the wood to help give it touch of age. I loaded it with a Weber 12F150. My ear seems to like the ceramic drivers.

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Post subject: Re: 1962 brown Vibrolux project
Posted: Tue May 31, 2016 12:22 pm
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A fine example of reproduction cabinetry!

Your Vibrolux chassis couldn't ask for a nicer home.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 1962 brown Vibrolux project
Posted: Tue May 31, 2016 4:51 pm
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Thanks Arjay - I appreciate your advice on this.

I took the cab over to the shop and "Dry Fit" it together.

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Post subject: Re: 1962 brown Vibrolux project
Posted: Tue May 31, 2016 5:46 pm
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Phansford...Wow, looking so good! Definitely need a period correct brown flat logo for that puppy!

T2

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Post subject: Re: 1962 brown Vibrolux project
Posted: Tue May 31, 2016 6:12 pm
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T2Stratman wrote:
Definitely need a period correct brown flat logo for that puppy!


Actually, these brownface Vibroluxes were "no-logo" models. A flat logo would not look out-of-character but it really doesn't belong on it.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 1962 brown Vibrolux project
Posted: Tue May 31, 2016 6:35 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
T2Stratman wrote:
Definitely need a period correct brown flat logo for that puppy!


Actually, these brownface Vibroluxes were "no-logo" models. A flat logo would not look out-of-character but it really doesn't belong on it.

Arjay


Yep you caught me... :oops: but I do think the 90s reissues looked better with the logo on...IMHO. But that is probably not the original look Phansford is going for...

T2

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Post subject: Re: 1962 brown Vibrolux project
Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2016 6:48 am
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Great job! You rescued a nice amp from what has to be one of the oddest modification I'd ever seen. Love your workshop, too!

:D


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Post subject: Re: 1962 brown Vibrolux project
Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2016 7:56 am
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Great find, congrats

How's the amp's tone?


:D


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Post subject: Re: 1962 brown Vibrolux project
Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2016 8:50 am
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
Love your workshop, too!


+1

I wish mine were that neat and orderly.

Arjay

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