$10 Dead Thrift Store Radio 📻 THANKS Me...Becomes Self-Aware!

[@TheGuitologist]

For those asking, the music is me. I remade the entire Nevermind album with different music. You can hear it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmW3qIJ9idJ5e7M

[@SlightlyTechnical]

hey brad do you ever come across the one knob harmony tube amps from the 60s, I had one with a Jenson greenback 8 inch, one of the best amps I ever owned, you could put a ts 9 in the front and the overdrive was beautiful

[@peehandshihtzu]

I'll tell you what! 😜

[@christophermorrow5995]

That was freaking awesome!! I really enjoyed that!

[@MrGavinspoppop]

This vid was very nostalgic ...my pops was a tv/radio repair man , when people fixed things instead of trashing them ...he actually told me that his work was romantic ??? I didn't get it ... now I see you and I think I know what he meant. I will look for an old radio ( that works ) and have some AM fun with it ...TYVM ... love to your family ,,,,

[@Shredderofdoom]

Absolutely beautiful cover of on a plane not to say polly wasn't good on a plane hit me

[@BillyRiecke]

"Thank you... thank you... I feel alive...." I think those are some pretty cool first words coming from a radio that has been dead for God knows how long.

[@TheGuitologist]

You inspired me to change the title. Thanks! ;)

[@gsdgreen]

44 second in and I'm unimpressed you haven't 'dug' it up out the mud in the woods 😂

[@Tech_481]

😂

[@jonsy3410]

And he didn't even use the steel brush........!?!

[@Tech_481]

@@jonsy3410 he didn't use the water hose either smh😂

[@trubadorphotography2541]

Raman! 🍜 And glue.

[@johnnyteres]

Nailed it :)

[@ferdberfle5069]

Nice to see someone that can still do "old school" electronics repair work! I'm a retired Navy Electronics Tech who was trained on and worked on vacuum tube circuits as well as transistor and IC circuits. I was doing this kind of stuff as a hobby before I joined the Navy in 1973. I was the kid who built a HeathKit crystal radio for a 4H project and built my own guitar amp out of an old record machine! Love what you do!

[@garyhardman8369]

The final few seconds. made me laugh and cry at the same time. I've not been able to see my grandchildren since March.

[@donaldheitger6731]

Hope you can see them real soon

[@moonsuga]

I love how at 22:31 the radio thanks you for fixing it. How polite!

[@kg2nc]

I notice when was changing the station it said I'm alive that was perfect since you brought back the life of the radio. Great job man.

[@Davefender100]

It always amazes me the difference in size of the new caps to the old ones

[@gioscervelo]

The radio thanked you . He didn't feel good. Now has a big smile on his face.

[@jgrimsley2000]

An American-five chassis! I worked on quite a few of these when I was in high school. My dad owned a repair shop. I worked there after school and weekends...also did service calls with him. Always used an isolation transformer on the bench. Anywhoz....great vid, Brad. You're always in your element when tubes are involved.

[@chrismiller7754]

I LOVE that your baby girl got to have a 1950s AM radio experience!

[@BIZARBIES]

That laugh of your daughter is priceless Brad... you are a rich man!

[@TheGuitologist]

I thank God every day for the blessings my children have brought to my life. There's nothing like it.

[@gcarson19]

Wait until she’s 20 and “just can’t deal with you today!” That’s when I cry, thinking back to when I was her world and she needed me every day. I really need to nut up!

[@sski]

Those re-worked Nirvana songs never cease to amaze me. Nice job on the old radio. Looks like it'll make it to 100 years and beyond.

[@bigblocklawyer]

My dad was in the radio corp in the Korean War and brought home some radios he bought in Tokyo. He fixed radios just like this effortlessly all through my childhood in the '70s and '80s. He was lineman for nearly 25 years, but he loved messing with tube radios. Thanks for a great memory.

[@1961jscofield]

Dammit Brad, you forgot to drag it out in the front yard first, hose it down and scrub it with a metal grill brush like that asian kid!

[@nevillegoddard4966]

Nice job on a nice little radio! Nothing better than the laugh of pure delight & discovery of a young child! She will remember this day forever.

[@dommadonia9207]

Watching you daughter really brightened up my morning. Wonder how long it's been since a child tuned that radio.

[@MrCaptpike]

Once again, WOW! I love your music first of all. My son is graduating high school this year. Hold on to that relationship with your daughter. It's gold! I wish I could start over. What a trip it's been so far.

[@TheGuitologist]

I'm trying to. I can't believe my first baby is almost 10.

[@guitarstitch]

Well damn, that radio is going to go on to star in a "Brave Little Toaster" remake with all of that charisma!

[@cwilliamsphoto]

This might be my favorite video yet!

[@jamescorvett]

i love finding old stuff like this thats not been messed with by amateurs. thanks for sharing!

[@mikegro5337]

Good damn brother, those nirvana covers sound awesome. Really cool fixer upper, quite the little radio. The last bit with your daughter hit some heart strings for me. Love your channel, hope that you and your family remain safe and happy.

[@dazuk1969]

That was great....loved it. Seeing the joy of that child's face as she was finding those stations was wonderful......God bless ya Mr G.

[@stevewarren4813]

Thank you for sharing these repair projects. I learn something every time.

[@hestheMaster]

Here we have a RCA X551 AM AA5 radio. Fixed good by replacing tubes that tested bad and chucking out all old capacitors. Good for another 70 years. Use the phono plug to plug in your RCA Victor 45 rpm record player. Party on! Great video.

[@vdriveit]

What a cutie ! Nice radio too haha creating moments is what it's about bud !!!

[@SteverRob]

I love bringing back these old radios too. Excellent job Brad! I use a piece of wound guitar string to clean up the tube sockets.

[@robertclarkguitar]

That music felt very relaxing and took me back. That is amazing man. I love it.

[@TheGuitologist]

Thanks Robert. Glad you liked it.

[@mayousimon1]

Brad I enjoy watching you video especially when you restored old items that are presumably dead or not working anymore and you revived them. Thanks for your wonderful videos.

[@georgekrabs6948]

Great episode Brad loved your own tracks in there too they added a certain feel and atmosphere I don't know what it is but it all worked for me And the ending was awesome what a little angel God bless her that laughter made me so happy and sad at the same time not having seen my son for months now

[@MVMullins]

Very cool, I love old radios. I have a mid 50's Zenith Trans-oceanic Y600, much like the one like my Grandfather had. We used to listen to it when I was about the age of your Daughter. Good times!

[@bobbyvarnell9350]

Those All-American five radios are great, nothing like listening to a baseball game on an old radio, it’s great that you got the share the experience with your daughter. Keep up the good work!!!

[@herokillerinc]

Dude, you've got to give your little girl that radio! Whole worlds of imagination or opened up to me because of the radio because you had to sit still and use your imagination to visualize them to pay attention. Just a suggestion. And dude, you are a master! It's awesome as somebody who only had semester of electronics to watch what you do! You may have re-inspired me to go back and study! Thank you.

[@bayougtr]

What a find! I’ve been clearing through my late parents house an came across several 80’s-early 90’s analog stereo recovers. All made in Japan, Korea and Singapore. The weight alone of these is substantial compared with today. No surface mount. I like the ending Brad!

[@johnhodgson5313]

Nice seeing the insides of that old radio again. Now align those IF transformers and you might be surprised how well that old job will pull in stations. I spend many a night learning to broadcast DX with one just like that about 50 years ago.

[@jeffkamen2307]

I recap an antique radio about 4 nights a week. It's a hobby I enjoy a lot. I enjoy your work Brad.. I've definitely picked up a thing or two from your vids.

[@gingataff]

Loved this video. Classic Guitologist-brings-tube-equipment-back-from-the-dead, mixed with some cool home-brewed tunes and acid-flashback humour.

[@DEW409]

That radio is a 10. So much cleaner than most. With the back and cabinet in perfect shape. Rare.

[@valuedhumanoid6574]

Your daughter at the end was so good. What a cutie. Lucky man you are.

[@johnb5519]

Turned out great. I hooked my computer up to my stereo and all the music you had playing sounded great too.

[@jaredcooper8158]

Really enjoying this one. Thanks for uploading!

[@Tatersalade]

Nice on Brad, I do like when you revive those old radios.

[@philipdecatanzaro1822]

Well this has to be a first. Brad taking on the AA5 radio. I've seen a lot of these videos. This is fun work and I'm grad that Brad is showing this to people that could get interested in the radio restoration hobby.

[@palusguitar]

Smiles and tears. Damn bro, great video! Absolutely love your music! Nice work on that ol’ gal! Peace and Love

[@57Banjoman]

Really enjoyed this, thanks! Loved your helper! I miss picking these off the curb, and bringing them back to life-kudos!

[@justmike2944]

took me a couple of minutes to figure out the music.....i like ...bravo...also restoring a peace of history too

[@jonlennon3348]

What a great find. My grampa was a antiquer and had dozens of them and he sold me 4 of them all matching and to this day I think my parents threw them out when I went to a dynaco pre amp and Power amp with the receiver. It pissed me off. I wish I still had them.

[@TheGuitologist]

WTF?! Did you kick their asses?

[@RedEyedPatriot]

The Golden throat...must be kin to Linda Lovelace 😂😂😂 or the Debbie that did Dallas😂😂😂

[@robertclarkguitar]

I watched Debbie Does dishes...I can say she never saw the kitchen.

[@TheGuitologist]

I knew a girl once...but that was long before I got married. :P

[@robertclarkguitar]

@@TheGuitologist 😂

[@RedEyedPatriot]

@@TheGuitologist hahahah I sent you an email about a amp..lmk thanks man

[@RedEyedPatriot]

@@robertclarkguitar evidently she don't fix sammiches neither 😂

[@tobortine]

Great video. I was pleading with you to clean the chassis and stop inhaling 70 years of dust and filth. I was pleased when you did :-) Stay safe.

[@bigpapi2658]

OMG!!! That was my dad in that radio from 1952!!!

[@colourofthunder]

Great work Brad. Watching you kid dial that sucker gave me a wide grin in these wild times. Be well my friend

[@butchlauer]

No reverse content or trickery here. Definitely the first guy to crack that old radio open.

[@TheGuitologist]

Yeah, I don't think a screw had ever even been turned on it before me, except the factory.

[@RuneTheFirst]

I have one of those testers you used on the old caps too but be warned: they don't detect leakage. I have had near totally shorted caps "seem" OK on them. It takes a real analyzer to check them - something you might want to get. I have a Sencore (digital) unit that read everything and can even reform decent but old caps. 50/30 filters were universal in post-war RCA 5 and 6-tube radios. Stock one or two and a shop was set for most of the RCA sets coming in the door.

[@floatncoffee]

“Here come the opiates.. ok?” -some dude

[@sailormike1089]

was waitin to Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy with laughing in the background. OOOH Its 1955 all over, lol.

[@doctoribanez]

Cool. Sounded like you got a broadcast from the 50's lol. Song was awesome also

[@midnighthour4299]

Thats a piece of history. Nice Vid Brad, keep up the good work, its great escapism from the current nonsense.

[@johnsimms3957]

You could probably get a pretty penny for that on eBay. Good job Bradley! I like how you cleaned it up. Some people don't do that.

[@JohnnyNowhere]

Dude, that one's in great shape. I have a bunch of old tube radios, and pick one up for about the same price at garage sales. Recap and retube and they're usually good to go.

[@timothystevenhoward]

you and my dad would get along great. he is a ham radio operator, repaired radios in the navy, and worked in telephone and early analog cell phones.

[@phillippitts6294]

Here come the opioids! LOL. ☠️☠️☠️🤟🏼

[@triktrak_1451]

This was a lot of fun. Thanks.

[@lordkc3007]

Loving those repair videos!

[@cheesenbiscuits]

Bravo sir,i was overjoyed when it came to life.

[@RuneTheFirst]

The RC# is your chassis model. The U# is a production run number. The model numbers on this vintage are on the bottom of the cabinet with a tube diagram.

[@smujiodome]

Where are you Brad. Is everything OK?

[@benjimenez7702]

Hey guitologist brad tonight i dumpster-dived the guitar center in our area of ohio - i copped a ludwig drum seat - beat up but still good - and this "numark" road case? I'm not even sure what it's for although it comes with a "numark" dvd player. I am really bad with technology so I can't send a photo, - hey you did a good job talking to the guitar center manager in Louisville - to me he didn't like you calling him or the employees "stupid" - not the fact that you dived their dumpsters. I don't recall you calling him stupid to tell you the truth. anyway, thanks for the inspiration.

[@WillyMcCoy50]

I was a certified TV tuner once. Great video Brad!

[@daviddequasie6816]

Wonderful , got it all fixed and now we get to hear a bunch of crusty old men. Too bad there's no music on AM these days. Great job anyway.

[@mstecker]

Pretty funny, Brad - it looks like my kitchen table. I started with a radio very close to this, but ended up deciding to use the chassis to build a Champ head. Ended up keeping only the chassis!

[@simplygreg17ify]

That's really cool brother...& your lil ladys reaction is priceless

[@bassdale17]

I enjoyed the music and it made me happy. Thank you!

[@mybluesable]

You have skills my friend!

[@SciPunk215]

So excellent !! This is good for another 70 years. Did you consider plugging something in to the phono jack? I might have considered doing that first, just for troubleshooting info.

[@Charles75N]

Brad,: Really enjoyed this! Super cool radio. I always wanted one of those.

[@Rook_Layne_Reno]

You forgot the steel brush, noodles, and glue also love the really soothing nirvana covers (edited structure of statement and added nirvana comment)

[@MrRadar]

That is a beautiful radio. Great work restoring it.

[@to21_48]

Your videos are the best. Keep up the good work.

[@waymanrosshurley3141]

Love the music around 15:30!

[@waymanrosshurley3141]

2nd song, sounds like something Ween would do, love Ween. About 15 years ago I got to meet and chat with those guys in Fayetteville , Ar. They needed a ride from the hotel to the show, we did sound for them. I have a nice custom conversion van. Yet again, thanks for saving history. Cheers Brad!

[@freddyjholst60]

My GOD so happy to be aboard. I have been enlightened at 70 years old of so much. I'm interested in you guitars I could rebuild. What do I do about that Brad.

[@TroyPosey]

"Damnit Bobby! I tell you HWAT....Quit playin' them damn vidya games!"

[@jasonrackawack9369]

Good haul, the bakelite looks nice, I bought a 1947 rca victor that has am fm with an art deco wood case that needs refinishing i paid about 20 and mine needs more work than yours does. Jelous and motivated to get working on mine thanks for the video

[@DavidWatts83]

Nice to see you back on the bench!

[@dr.johnpaladinshow9747]

Great ending!! You're a lucky man, Be safe and well.

[@phillippitts6294]

Hope you and the family are safe from the riots

[@stevelacombe5291]

That was amazing! I have a very similar radio, an RCA 8-X-541, but it has not been restored. I had planned to turn it into a Bluetooth speaker, but now reconsidering. What would be a reasonable price to restore it?

[@5skov]

I love your Nirvarna interpretations

[@TheGuitologist]

thanks, Kasper.

[@5skov]

@@TheGuitologist And I still love the idea of you and uncle Doug designing the new range of Gibson branded amplifieres

[@Phantommxr]

At 10:50 your audio was awesome and so so stereo in my headphones!!!

[@stevenkimsey7039]

Thanks my friend, this stuff is right over the home plate 👍

[@timmooney7528]

Using the vacuum while dusting the filth off was something I was thinking of.

[@dave1135]

Looks like a classic American 5 radio. Shango66 has done a ton of these. They are super simple. Biggest things are to recap, add a polarised cord, and if it uses daisy chained filaments, to have the hot side thru the switch and the neutral to the case. Plus remove the death cap if it has one.

[@fumedrummer]

"Don't worry. My dad is a TV repairman and he has a killer set of tools. We can fix this." - Fast Times at Ridgemont High after a hideous car crash in a borrowed car.

[@wamgoc3637]

AA5 radios were invented before WWII and were made commercially in great quantities until the late sixties and a few up until 1970 or thereabouts. They were referred to as "Midget" radios in their earlier days. There are several pretty good books on them but none are completely perfect. Ed Romney's "Fixing Up Nice Old Radios" is a pretty good source. They were not glamorous or much studied in the enthusiast literature, but they were dirt common. People who knew how to fix them using what were sometimes derisively called jackleg methods could fix them extremely fast. They had a reputation for safety issues but if you understood "electrical common sense" you didn't have a problem with them. Basically the chassis had to be assumed hot and all metal parts of the radio had to be in a wood or plastic case with nothing conductive being touchable from the exterior contacting any of it. The advantages of the design were cheapness to build, that they would work on AC or DC power (and if the filter caps were big enough on 25 Hz power, a thing in Canada and a few parts of the US like Buffalo) and they had pretty good RF performance. As a kid in the seventies I had a half dozen of them and they would typically get Nashville or Denver clear channel at night every night even under the nose of local KMOX. Bad points were that tube life was poor unless you did some tricky things like provided the right series resistance to the AC. By the sixties could buy the whole radio for $12.95 or even $9.95 as a loss leader in discount stores and they wanted close to that at Radio Shack or the local hardware store tube checker for the tube set so the sets did not get repaired or retubed much they got tossed. I had a hobby magazine article as a kid on how to convert them to a transformer power supply rig with a junked or garage sale Sears Schumacher battery charger that eliminated the 35Z5 or similar rectifier, changed the 50L6 to a twelve volt power tube then common and gave the radio a grounded chassis. Or delete the speaker and output tube and use it as a tuner. Long since went to the dumpster but it was fascinating, I never did it. These old radios if the speaker works will still work as intended playing AM bcb stations. If there is a nuclear war or a Carrington event they still will work if you can rig a 110 vac or vdc supply.The speakers will not take musical instrument service, full stop. The ultimate AC/DC powered unit worthy of study is a piece of test equipment that tests the rule of series string heater AC/DC electronic safety. It has a metal box, and has terminals you connect to the outside world, yet has no power transformer and a two pin AC cord. It was safe enough that Ma Bell specifically allowed it to be connected to live telco pairs. How did it work? Well, inside its metal box there was an isolated subchassis, and a further isolated common rail. The audio output went through an isolating coupling transformer. An extremely fascinating piece of gear and still useful, but not so much as a HP lunchbox 200CD or similar.

[@rivulus]

Making a soundtrack for a radio repair, there is symmetry there 😊. It fits.

[@TheTrashologist]

6am and already that boy ain’t right.

[@BillyJoefromMtVernonMo]

I have a 1953 Capehart radio that plays wonderfully

[@blkjckgtr3075]

Kool Brad you saved another piece of History have a good one,Cheers

[@barbmelle3136]

From Leo: A cool old radio. I did a pink 5 tube late 50's Motorola clock/radio. Same kind of deal, dirty tube sockets and bad capacitors. It is a little disappointing as there is no music being transmitted on AM any more. I did catch a Sunday service from some little church, but mostly just talk and news.

[@TB-ri3jr]

Seriously good covers and great work as usual. Who is the manufacturer of the LCD meter on top of your variac?

[@peteytwofinger]

i always say "its such a GREAT time to be alive and "into technology" or making music ... then i see something like this thing - the sticker on the back , those domino caps , i think about the CRAP that is being manufactured in CHINA which is the WORST place in history with people who thrive on "play joke" ... "pee pee in coke" ... man oh man what the F.. happened to us ? ? ? thanks brad , stuff like this video is why you are the best on the platform .