$19 TRASHED Reel to Reel - Guitar Amp or Restoration?

[@mrbigstuff6149]

I stopped watching after 4 minutes as you kept the reel to reel manufacturer a secret and it seemed like a real strip show the way you kept us waiting with a broken mic . A wind up.

[@TheGuitologist]

Paul Death A reel strip tease. Pinned!

[@johnkramer7161]

Brad didn't keep us waiting. You can clearly see "telectro" on the front at 1:13.

[@stevehogan8829]

haha

[@fullwaverecked]

The Guitologist How can anyone be against a strip show? I think he might have a reel bad attitude. :)

[@mygreatbigfoot1679]

@@HondaWanderer Well my grandma hasn’t complained yet.

[@rbbrown2106]

My brother was in Vietnam in 1965. While there he took advantage of low prices while he was on R&R. He shipped home many, many things. The UPS man came to our house almost every day during the summer of 1965. Some big boxes arrived one day. I did my brother a favor by opening them and making certain everything was in good shape after being shipped thousands of miles. I found an AKAI reel to reel tape recorder and two large speakers that had 12" woofers and small tweeters. I had a Fender bass cabinet with a 15" Jensen speaker in it. My amp had blown so I decided to see if I could use the AKAI tape recorder as an amp for practice. I have no idea what the wattage output was on that AKAI, but my Fender Jazz bass sounded great going through the tube amp on the AKAI tape recorder into my Fender bass cabinet. By the time my brother got home from Vietnam, I made certain that AKAI was working well, although I never did play any tapes on it. My brother took it off to his apartment and spent a fortune on reel to reel music tapes to play on it, when lo and behold, 8 tracks came out.

[@TheGuitologist]

Ironic that 8-tracks would supplant RTR tape, the latter being such a superior technology for home listening.

[@movinginstereo40]

New house, fresh hair cut and shave. Wasn't quite sure I had the correct channel. Great little find just for the tubes. Like the idea of making it into a guitar amp. Thanks for the entertaining vid.

[@TheGuitologist]

I sometimes go months without a cut or shave. I do it to confuse facial recognition software.

[@movinginstereo40]

I do the same only because I don’t give a efn hell

[@sirkristoferTV]

I loved the Bongo and the squelching!

[@TheGuitologist]

Thanks. It's my newest piece of performance art entitled "Smell the Eel".

[@sirkristoferTV]

Ah, I thought it was part of "The ever Shrinking Beard" record. ;p

[@TheGuitologist]

Great title.

[@patprop74]

I tell you what Brad, your level of understanding in the fine arts of vacuum tubes circuitry is where I want to be at eventually! it sure does make for an interesting video learning containt. Thank you so much for posting and showing us the possibilities of bringing otherwise old junk back to life.

[@RealGengarTV]

I say make a combined guitar amp with integrated tape delay function 😃

[@RealGengarTV]

I see that a T-rex replicator tape delay pedal alone goes for NoK 8158 😮 with a little work you could make a HEFTY profit my dude

[@micha-elcleveland1265]

My thought exactly. Amp with a built in bonifide tape delay = THE BOMB!

[@aarh007]

such cool idea!

[@TheGuitologist]

Flaming is right, without some serious re-engineering to this thing and the addition of another head and preamp circuit to support the additional head, can't happen. I'm like an electron, seeking the path of least resistance. I think I found it in this case.

[@RealGengarTV]

Well, that's a bummer

[@sickb2200]

My first guitar and amp was my dad's 1966 Teisco Del Rey EP10T plugged into a 1966 TEAC A4010S as a preamp which was ran through a 1967 Sansui 1000A stereo receiver containing this tube compliment: 2 x 6CW4, 3 x 6BA6, 1 x 6BE6, 2 x 6AU6, 3 x 6AQ8, 2 x 12AX7, 1 x 12AU7, 1 x 6BL8, 2 x 6AN8, 4 x 7591. The TEAC could be used to overdrive the signal into really thick fuzz. It was also LOUD. One day I pushed it too hard and toasted the majority of the tubes in the Sansui. Dad had the tubes (and something else) replaced and I was back in business.

[@leonthompson8988]

Everything sounds so open and just sustains forever like a old Marshall combo I used to have. I got hurt on the job and to sell all my good gear. I haven't found that sustain yet in anything I have been able to afford nowadays. You know when the amp is good when you can hear your guitar vibrating through it. That's the best way to describe it for me. Great job Brad

[@TheColonelKlink]

Wow! That amp with that Victor cab is magical. You are a true electronic alchemist sir. The playing wasn't bad either.

[@joelaughlin5532]

Beautiful kid! I lost it when you brought out the drum!!! Very well done n informational. Rave on!

[@mikep6967]

Huge fan of these types of vids you do. Learning so much from you. You are appreciated greatly sir

[@StephenNaveed]

Haven't watched the whole vid and my answer is Restore. Reel to Reel is amazing, please keep it alive.

[@StephenNaveed]

It's mono. Never mind. Guitar Amp!!

[@TheGuitologist]

Yeah, mono was the death sentence for me too. They are cool as a novelty to maybe own one, but I own 10! :D

[@StephenNaveed]

Exactly! You’ll probably get more use out of it as an amp too. Love your videos man. I def learn a lot from them.

[@muttamps]

I always enjoy watching your stuff! Fun to watch a fellow tube-gear scavenger at work.

[@TheGuitologist]

Thanks, man. I appreciate you watching.

[@clivebarrell6448]

What style...fantastic look and sound. Watching your demo I just wanted to grab the guitar and have a go!!!! Thanks for these videos. Like many here, I love them even though I don't necessarily understand them.

[@ncautoman57]

Brilliant! Sounds great. I think you did the right thing saved a bit of history and made something useful. Thanks for sharing.

[@donaldheitger6731]

I loved this, especially your little girl in the back ground.

[@tomaskey6844]

Turning this tape deck into a guitar amp was an excellent choice in my opinion. Still loving the way you can modify a circuit. It was cool at the beginning when you said, "I don't really need a schematic.."

[@blkjckgtr3075]

Awesome little amp Brad and great noodling as well that vintage speaker is the bomb!!Cheers

[@TheGuitologist]

Thanks, man.

[@MichaelBeeny]

The coil you found was part of the record and bias oscillator. It used the audio output valve (tube!) to form an oscillator when in record mode. Nominally about 30khz, higher in better quality units. This provided bias to the record head and also fed the erase head. In up market units a push pull circuit was used at around 100Khz often around an ECC82. The higher bias frequency gave lower noise and produced less distortion and harmonics.

[@TheGuitologist]

Michael Beeny thanks for the comment. I knew it had something to do with the bias for the head, but have no idea how it works. I need a schematic to study.

[@LEgoiste]

Great Video Brad, that was a good find. The mic looks interesting. Hope your back gets better soon, take it easy after the move.

[@TheGuitologist]

It was. Picked it up for $60. Hope it's serviceable. We'll see...

[@mischef18]

About 95% of what you do is way above my head but still enjoy each video anyway. ATB

[@davedynamite77]

So true I wish I could do what he does

[@warmothgmc]

This video reminded me of the good old days of just starting to play electric guitar. My mom had an old Sony reel to reel. I figured out how to use the VU meter levels and volume as a master volume setup for guitar. Have no idea what the model was; but it had speakers that mounted over the reel to reel chassis for storage. This was in the 70’s. I eventually got my hands on a pair of 4560 folded horn mid-low PA cabs that were loaded with EV Force 15’s. I actually plugged those cabs into the reel to reel with my ‘71 Gibson SG Custom. Sounded like shit; but, I was young and stupid. After that came a Marshall 100 watt 4-pronged half stack and the journey began. That setup was eventually stolen. I remember walking the SG home that night. Later that night, the Marshall half stock along with a mixing board I had was stolen. Man, those were some old days. 40 years later, got some fun toys now (Marshall JTM45, an 18 watt TMB Head, and an original vertical input JCM 800. Been through all kinds of different amps in between. Can’t even recall what happened to some of that older transitional stuff. Fender, VoxAC 30, Legend, Park, full circle and back to a trio of Marshall’s again.

[@TheGuitologist]

Funny how equipment can mark our life history in a way.

[@chrislangdell117]

Sweet. A touch Bright and glassy. Will have to figure a way to bleed off just a touch of those highs but pretty cool. This video is 3 years old. A used Amperex Bugle Boy 12AX7 is about $80 right now sometimes listed higher.

[@MaxStax1]

That ended up sounding reel😎 good.🤘

[@ACA332]

That little amp is a great teaching tool. I'm tempted to look for something similar just to play around with and learn how to build/tune a tube amp. I've managed to rebuild a couple just replacing components piece by piece, but I don't yet understand the theory behind it all.

[@bucyruserie1211]

Cool little project Brad, like you said the Bugle Boy 12AX7 was worth the price of admission. I found a rough 1958 Voice of Music reel to reel last week, nice transformers and original RCA blackplate tubes 3-12ax7's, 1-6v6, 1-5y3 and a 6x9 Jensen speaker. Should make a nice class A amp. Back pain is the worst, hope ya feel better. Take care, Tom

[@TheGuitologist]

Nice find on that VOM! That'll be a nice one. Back is better but now I need to go to dentist. Never ends. Body falling apart.

[@hifijohn]

I bought a tanberg R2R for a few bucks , it didnt work mechanically but the electronics was fine so I used for a guitar amplifier.Pluging a guitar into the mic input causes a very nice overload sound.

[@FoolishFlock]

i just love your channel! & vid's! i thought i was only one who loved old junk! but YOU!! know a shit ton more than i do!!... that's! for! sure!! 😉✌

[@eldredjoyner2556]

I like where you are going with this! This is interesting stuff!

[@RODALCO2007]

Good resurrect for that tube amplifier, good sound. Those shaded pole motors with the extra take of winding to feed the amplifier is not always a true isolation transformer. Often it is a tap of winding at a specific voltage for the amplifier. That voltage could have been perhaps 60 Volts AC. When applying 110 Volts to the amp it caused the series resistors to burn up and tubes glowing like a light bulb. Old tube turntables had similar arrangements as well.

[@jjnicola]

Hey ! Nice. I was in the same situation. Therefore, I bought 4. I converted 2 into guitar amps, a grundig tk14, and a tk40. I left a tk125 original, because it was still working properly. I should change the power cord for one with ground cable. An the last grundig tk28 is a mess. A very old design, like a puzzle. I love the vintage sound through the 6x4" built-in speaker.

[@audiotechlabs4650]

Many good ideas! What form would bring the most money? If restored, can you sell it? If turned into a low watt guitar amp, would you build a head or combo? Do you have an existing cabinet? Is there more of a market for a guitar amp than an old mono tape recorder? What ever you do, your loyal fans will be thrilled! By the way glad to see another video! Love ya Brad! Thankz

[@TheGuitologist]

Yep, lots to consider. Sometimes I let emotions and sentiment take over and restore things that really should be parted out or scrapped or converted, but in this case, the decision was made for me.

[@jb45U]

Back in the day, Telectro was considered to be an entry-level, bottom-of-the-barrel quality tape recorder. In the didja know department, you can send Shure microphones back to the manufacturer in Evanston,IL, for rebuild/reconditioning. The mike you have is a Shure model 55S. An updated version of the 55S is still being made today for those who want a classic microphone look.

[@markanthony653]

Look before you leap my brother, definitely guitar amp!! Oh ya. Oh, by the way thanks a lot for all the good information I have learned a lot from you I watch your videos I've got 6 or 7 amps myself I need to do work on and I have learned an immense amount of information from you thanks again.

[@scottriddle5468]

Thank you sir , keep making cool videos I really enjoy what you are doing

[@TheGuitologist]

Thank you, Scott.

[@randycollins5981]

How about a video playing through the finished amp and singing with that mic, that would be cool., love your channel and take care.

[@scottriddle5468]

I think it would make a cool guitar amp. Im sure you will make it play and look 100 times better.

[@colbym3295]

Your videos always impress me is there any tips you could give me for doing some fun little projects like this on my own ? I have a basic understanding of how to work on this stuff (thanks to you and uncle Doug!)

[@mosneedly3751]

Nice work, I hope your back in fighting shape soon.

[@TheGuitologist]

The back's good now, but I have a capped tooth that needs to see a dentist all of a sudden. I can't win.

[@helifynoe9930]

Speakers do make a big difference. I am still hanging on the my home made speakers that I threw together back in 1978. Wow, it has been a long time. Anyhow, they each have of 15 inch woofer, two mid-range, and four tweeters.

[@TheRealLetharos]

IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE VELVET PANCAKES! Also, I've played for years, always wondered how amps work. Your videos are I formative and entertaining as well. While I still don't understand the electric magic that's happening, I enjoy the hell out of trying to figure it out.

[@blackfender100]

Very cool Brad.I like the amp a lot !

[@ronme68]

Just as I started to doubt my first tube amp build would have any power you post this. Had an old tube amp from a record player that was built into a case of a film strip projector. It's a series filament with a 12AX7 and 2 50C5 tubes. This amp was modified 2 or 3 times the rectifier tube was replaced with a Federal ITT. 1005A selenium rectifier at that time the 35C5 tubes where replaced with the 50C5 tubes, the cap can was replaced with 3 caps and then selenium rectifier was bypassed with a silicon diode. At the time I could not find a schematic for this amp so I'm building an amp using the schematic for push-pull with 1 gain stage of the 12AX7 and the other as a cathodyne phase inverter. The schematic I'm using is just called AC/DC Amplifier. For this build I'm looking for a clean amp for a acoustic instrument.

[@TheGuitologist]

ronme68 should be ok for cleans. PP with just one stage of preamp is almost a waste. You could add a little op amp up front for more oomph.

[@MrMisterock]

Make a Telectro guitar amplifier, custom made and sign it with your name and date and sell it. Any guitar player will be happy to have it.A reel to reel will be a waste of time, I don't think anybody would use it any more.Nice video, thanks.

[@dalekenjarvis]

Damn that sounds GOOD! In 1972 I was in my first band and All I had was a old Reel to reel for an amp. Sounded about like yours. We did House of the rising sun ala Frigid Pink...sounded cool

[@TheGuitologist]

Recently discovered that band. Far out stuff.

[@matthewf1979]

Maybe because it’s something that sounds so familiar but the old 1.5k/820 and 25uf bypass caps always sound good. Usually start there and don’t go far away from it. Getting more and more into pentode preamps have been fun because it’s not so well documented in guitar amps on what works best.

[@Erzahler]

Hey Brad! Just watched this video. I would like to have seen this restored, but after seeing the trouble in trying to replace the belt, I can understand your decision. The manufacturer apparently didn't make this unit easy to service! I looked up the manufacturer of the Ceracap capacitor, American Radionic Company. The company WAS located in Danbury, CT. In 1987, the company relocated to Palm Coast, FL. It is now known as AmRad Corp. Except for the motor/transformer and the four-tube complement, this tape player/recorder looks very similar to an AA-5 design.

[@Bunjamin27]

Thanks man! Another great video, can't wait for the next one :)

[@TheGuitologist]

thanks, Throbbinhood. Love the username.

[@Bunjamin27]

JamesBondage was taken ;)

[@glenwhatley4125]

Wish i had been in this one when it was first posted. I had a Telectro R-R i found in the trash back in the early 70's. It was a cheaper version of what you have of you can believe that. It was a one speed I used it to record songs we were going to do in our little HS band. I had one R-R for each guy in the band. It was a wise decision to not repair the tapepart of that unit as they were pretty crappy when new. I think i see a permanent magnet for the erase head. That's your first clue it was really just made for the average consumer to novelty play around with at home. I'm sure the wow & flutter even when new was horrendous. Anyway, good thing you got your$20 back out of it cause even as a working reel to reel it is worth less than $20. To make it a tape delay would have been an interesting idea with built in flutter😂. Very fun to watch the whole process. Very much enjoy all your efforts and education.

[@SmiTTyy-sh8nc]

You should try the belt material that can be cut to size and then heat fused together. I think that was really the only stopping point at the restoration, the cabinet was rough but very worth restoration. You definitely got a great amp going tho... Sounds great 👍👍 really enjoy your videos !!

[@TheGuitologist]

Didn't know it existed. My want to restore the RTR was more sentiment than anything. I have about 10 RTRs in storage already.

[@SmiTTyy-sh8nc]

It comes on a roll of all different diameters. There's a fixture that clamps and holds it also a glorified soldering iron with a flat blade to melt the two ends together. If you do replace belts often it would be a great tool for your shop. Should be available thru Grainger. I'll see if I can find it anywhere else. I'm just north of Louisville. 👍

[@kencohagen4967]

I've got a sure 55 mic that was my father in law's. He restored it before I inherited it. It sounds nice and warm when mixing a guitar cab. He also left behind several tube amps. I've got a 200 watt stereo instrument amp, probably out of an organ. He serviced them for years at a local music store. I want to see what can be done with it. Are you game?

[@TheGuitologist]

What kind of amp is it? Got a model number or links to pics?

[@peterbustin8604]

Love your little tune at 28:30 !

[@tubical71]

As much as i like R2R machines, it´s always a paine in the arse to change capstan belts on home taping/semiPro machines. It usually needs a close to complete teardown of the machine/drivetrain.... only the top pro machines are some sort of easy an xchange when it comes to beltchanges. Usually you lift the "playdesk" up and the electronics are completely seperated underneath. Instant access to the all the moving parts and all belts without any disassembling...:) change the belt(s) close the desk and here we go again.

[@triplesevensix291]

I would love to know all about the electronic side of this as it makes a great hobby but Im stone age when it comes to this stuff. The best I can do is wiring little amps up to decent bigger hi fi speakers to make em sound great. Good job Brad.

[@TheGuitologist]

Thanks for watching. I appreciate all your comments. I try to read them all even if I don't have time to always respond.

[@triplesevensix291]

Its all good Brad lad. Its a boss channel for gearheads like us. Keep on it. ;)

[@witeshade]

A cool guitar amplifier could give someone a ton of fun and experience for years to come. A restored reel-to-reel will basically just sit there unless you happen to have a ton of reel to reel tapes. In terms of benefit to the world, i think a sweet amp would make more sense.

[@semilivesixstringstrumist5595]

Ever sometimes wish you could go back to when you were like 17 and keep your guitar chops. Remember that guy that was like that? Man.

[@TheGuitologist]

I'm 20x the player now, even though that's still not saying much. Could you imagine going back with all the knowledge about the opposite sex you've accumulated? Oh wait, never mind.

[@raindogred]

My guitar chops were shit at 17 as I'd only been playing a couple years..i'm 52 now and play much much better..and improving daily..you should practice more if your not improving

[@northof-62]

14:29 "sex with a zombie only 19.95" lol

[@sarcophagist4097]

Didn't those grommets just get gooey due to chemical deterioration over time, or just because of water damage?

[@TheGuitologist]

It's possible, I suppose, but they didn't look very old and grommets like this usually get hard and crusty. I think they added some sticky stuff in an attempt to keep them on.

[@TheGuitologist]

hahaha, yeah, David. Seeing something like that would not shock me.

[@a7xmabe]

I like the fuzz tone you got out of it.

[@TheGuitologist]

It is a bit muffy, ain't it.

[@ETILHK54]

I haven't watched the whole thing yet, but answering the question, if i had as much amps as you do, i would probably go with the restoration of a tape machine, because as far as i understand amps aren't going anywhere, but this thing looks like it might be interesting. I'm myself fighting with a tremolo pedal right now for about a week, specifically a buffer gate section which doesn't want to switch transistor properly without polarised caps, and i don't want to have a polarised caps in there, yet with polarised caps (non pun intended) it works perfectly, so maybe i should just proceed with that. What do you think? Obvously you don't know exactly what is going on there, but even some general wisdon might be useful.

[@TheGuitologist]

Go with what works most reliably and with the least fancy stuff.

[@dava4444]

Rockin' I vote mini-head :) .. can't waste the raw distortion of that tiny amp on a tape reel!

[@RJ-bn5uw]

Lol , kewl as always . Might I suggest a quick squirt of 3-in-one to that chair . :)

[@trillrifaxegrindor4411]

excellent clarity and wicked note definition at the end there,i have one of these projects but have absolutely no gain and it was also a former reel to reel,it still has a potentiometer that does the volume and tone in one unit,idk if this attributes to the problem of having no gain.

[@TheGuitologist]

I doubt that's why you have little gain. It's probably just a matter of the circuit being maximized for low distortion and high fidelity rather than guitar use. It could be you also need one extra preamp gain stage to really take it over the top.

[@maynardjohnson3313]

Those rubber retainer grommets may not be stupid. Rubber sometimes de-polymerizes. It hardens and the juices come out of it.

[@fullwaverecked]

I like the way you think. It would be cool if you could fully load/record the reel tape with your favorite drum loops. Then you would have a vintage Amp with a built in drum machine. ;)

[@wingracer1614]

I feel for you man. Last time I threw my back out they gave me lortab but it did nothing for the pain. The Valium they also gave me did help me get to sleep though.

[@TheGuitologist]

The Lortab actually did help this time, but they make me nauseous.

[@butre.]

I wouldn't bother restoring the reel to reel machine, but I would make it functional again. maybe make it dual purpose so you can put samples on the tape mechanism or use it as a tape delay. I'd definitely restore the model 55 though

[@deanjohnson1330]

Very interesting little amp!

[@gerryroberts662]

Cool idea. seems sweet. like the idea, but i would rather have restored the recorder, but to each his own..Nice Job.

[@harrygaul4475]

My Dad had one similar to that reel to reel in which church music was recorded and played back over the PA system..those were the days!! You should have made both the amp and the reel to reel; that would have been awesome.

[@TheGuitologist]

I have about nine more of these, so I'm sure we'll get another swing at one.

[@harrygaul4475]

The Guitologist . You should try to make one with the guitar cord output connected to the recording head via switching on the side of the reel to reel case. A three way switch (record, playback and guitar amp) would be cool. If I ever find one of these reel to reel gems, I certainly will try this. Thanks!

[@georgekrabs6948]

That's a great mic, you can also use it as a rattler

[@DigBipper188]

I think this would be kinda cool if you could make it a reel to reel tape machine with a DI input that you can use for guitars. Best compromise ever,

[@TheGuitologist]

The way this one worked when in record mode, the output tube was driving the record bias and signal, so there was no output when a signal was injected. Would have required a redesign from the ground up.

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

What about building a PWM amp to replace the amp that tape deck and possibly use the tape mechanism as a tape loop reverb, a NE556 half used as the clock the other half used as the Pulse Width Modulator clocked from the first half driving MJ3055 TO3 case transistors driven via a BD131 driver Transistor whose collector connects to the base of the bottom MJ3055 as well as a 10 K resistor to VCC and a 47R resistor from the emitter of the BD131 to GND and the output from the MJ3055 goes through a lopass filter back to emitter resister via a 47K resister, the base of the BD131 gets driven via the second half of the NE556. I guess you are wondering about the two MJ3055 transistors well a 1K resistor connects between the VCC and the base of the top transistor then to the collector of the bottom transistor via a IN4007 diode and a matching IN4007 connects between the emitter of the top transistor to the collector of the bottom transistor, the emitter of the bottom transistor connects to GND or negative the output to the speaker via a 10,000uf electrolytic connects to the emitter of the top MJ3055 and also connects to the lopass filter that feeds back to emitter of the BD131, I would have attached a diagram but KZbin doesn't allow you to add attachments into the comments.

[@TheGuitologist]

The tape mechanism could be repurposed into something like this, but I'd need another head, for one, and I'd still have to figure out how to get that belt on.

[@YeeThirty]

Nice haul off that with the bugle boy, i found a 6dj8(12AT7) a while back and i just scored a hunch of Mullard 12au7 and 12at7 in an old TV dot and bar tester today for $20 :)

[@ka7hqp182]

When I saw that Victor speaker, I thought that you should be looking for the Kalart/Victor 16 mm projector model 70-15 (15 watt tube amp), or a 70-25 (25 watt tube amp), that was what normally drove those speakers. That would really sound good.

[@paulj0557tonehead]

41:03 sounds great, but at the end very mediocre. Did you switch speakers?

[@cmj20002]

I would fix it. Some of these reel to reel decks are worth a mint. Probably not this one, but still.

[@Yupppi]

If I got to choose, I'd keep the top of the volume control oscillation and add a pot for bias to get the double action - dime the volume and start playing synthesizer!

[@coyotefurtrumpet]

I had one of those teac units back in the 80’s

[@chokkan7]

Just MHO, but I think I've heard you say it yourself in the past...'the world has enough guitar amps'...if you can bring this back, I think that would be a laudable endeavor, and hopefully profitable at some point...

[@lancemosstv]

id do the turn in to amp thing

[@jamescorvett]

their sure are lots of those strip mall flea markets in kentucky! last time i was down their in 2005 i spent 3 days in lexington going to several of these shops. i couldnt believe all the stuff i was finding and teh prices were reasonable or at least negotiable. lol i had to leave before i spent a years wages buying stuff i really didnt need. good finds, man!

[@TheGuitologist]

james corvett shhhhhh! ;)

[@raymondheath7668]

I just bought a recordio reel to reel amp for a rebuild, good info

[@jameslewis2635]

It sounds nice enough to become a head even if it does have a very old style sound. It really needs a tone control section though.

[@daviddwyer6824]

Build an amplifier

[@matieupizil424]

No doubt, make an echoplex-ish thang. With the price of effects being as high as they are, you could swap out to some general/generic tubes and make some player or yourself totally psyched. Or... make it an amp or go back to orig. Lol, was that helpful? I feel your pain with this decision. Good luck with your back duder, walking is great back healing therapy

[@trillrifaxegrindor4411]

needs another head and complete circuit in order to work as a delay

[@stevehogan8829]

I'm thinking small amp. Hey Brad they were mentioning you on a Tone Talk vid the other day featuring Mr Egnator with Marc and Dave. All you need now is a small box and some old beat tweed. Love your vids.

[@TheGuitologist]

I saw that. None of them knew who the hell I was...even though Bruce Egnater is in one of the amp groups I frequent. It was good for a laugh. What's his name, Phil Knight, was asked about one of my videos too not too long ago. I only know this because one of my viewers pointed it out. He called me "the guitar-ologist". :D

[@donovanhowardmusic]

Hmm. Keep it as an amp. Install it in a vintage makeup case. Then list it for sale. Id live to have it. Plus I'm in Kentucky so I could pick this sucker up. Love you videos by the way. Rock on.

[@arensel84]

It would be awesome to see you convert an old cassette machine into a tape delay with variable speed. Many people have done this with the Marantz portable cassette I believe.

[@TheGuitologist]

Every now and then I'll run across a cool tape deck I'll pick up. Maybe I'll venture out into something like this and do a video.

[@patreidcocolditzcastle632]

this is the illusive search of all amp lovers to turn some ww2 piece into heaven..my grand pa was a great tech he turned a old chrysler tube radio into a amp for my first amp.it used to spit pure vomit .wish i still had it.had mullards and ge tubes from memory..good onya brad you make all us gear heads feel justified ha ha and womanless ha ha .one must not forget the fantasy in your love life and gear will kill that

[@DavidMFChapman]

Up here in Halifax, Nova Scotia, I recently went to a Fix-It Fair where I met Dr. Dan, a fellow who builds new vintage-style tube amps and repairs tube amps like you. I told him about your channel and how the one thing I learned from you is “replace bad caps.” When I said that, his eyes lit up and he began to vent about his customers who wouldn’t let him do it because they wanted all-original parts.

[@TheGuitologist]

haha, sounds familiar. Does he have a YT channel?

[@lroy730]

Your dam good at working with out a schematic. I'm so OCD I would have to draw a schematic before experimenting.

[@TheGuitologist]

In some cases I do that, at least on parts of circuits, to help visualize what's happening, but in something like this, it's more a matter of deleting what I know for sure doesn't belong and putting in there the stuff I know should go, then tweaking around the issues.

[@paulj0557tonehead]

What a difference Bugle boy tubes make!

[@arnaudnoar3345]

I've got good hears and for sure this sdounds killer!!

[@payday1963]

Guitar amp for sure!!

[@MikeGervasi]

Nice. Pretty sweet tone as well. Go easy on the Lortab ;)

[@zasmrcaveman5725]

Sounds great!

[@1inDnile]

I say make it into a Recorder\Guitar amp and delay echo unit and maybe add another one or two play heads like a Watkins copy cat with a feedback control, I love this I grew up on these recorders I have a collection of similar tape recorders.You know you can do it.

[@Beelzybud]

Hi Brad, Could you have taken the spinnie part out of the motor and still used that as an isolation transformer?

[@TheGuitologist]

Probably could have done. That is a good motor though. I'll definitely use it in something one day, and it's nice that it doubles as a 1:1 transformer.

[@Avalanche1368]

The missing 18 minutes of Nixon white house tapes?

[@TheGuitologist]

Avalanche1368 there was some guy on there talking about JFK and Howard Hunt. He never played any music so I threw it away.

[@utubehound69]

Wonder who was the speaker ? Talking about JFK & Howard Hunt that may have been interesting. They were suppose to release the JFK files this year but only a lil bit & most was redacted as far as I can see. Maybe there was some gold on them tapes haha

[@SDsailor7]

Did you ever restore the microphone? I just subscribed not long ago so if you did I have not seen it yet. Have a lot of your vids to still discover.Cheers

[@zachrowe1511]

You need a two camera set up so we can see the tubes glow. Also please make this an amp head with a built-in tape delay. I would pay for that

[@TheGuitologist]

Wasn't possible on this without a lot of re-engineering. Not enough heads or triode stages.