Hallicrafters S-38, The AA5 On Steroids

Paying homage to maybe the most popular radio of all time.

[@shaunmapes7441]

Thanks. I do love my S-38. Just wish my cabinet was not rusted. Maybe I will find a good cabinet one day.

[@kkadan]

This was my first ham radio. My uncle Pete brought it back after WWII along with Marine headphones. He gave me the S-38 and the headset when I was thirteen. Impossible to measure how many wonderful hours I spent listening to the world on that Hallicrafters. Thank you for the trip down memory lane. Your restoration is superb. 73. Ken K1KRK

[@ArthurJS123]

kkadan It’s a great little set, and a ton of fun! Thanks for the nice words.

[@zoltankaparthy9095]

Loved them years ago, have one now. Need to get it upgraded. I'll find a ham around here who does that. The S-38 was a champ.

[@morrised2006]

Excellent restoration! you can't really appreciate what a handsome radio the S-38 is until you see it all cleaned up like this.

[@mrgoodtab]

I have my father's s-38 We listened to it together regularly when I was a kid. I'm 72 now. It's such a fond memory. The radio is in poor shape now. I thought that it was gone but discovered it after my dad died. I'd love to find someone who can restore it and replace the paper capacitors, the tubes and make the live chassis safe.

[@ArthurJS123]

There are folks who can do it. For sure. It’s worth having it done, for the history of the set alone.

[@brianveitenheimer4492]

Excelent presentation. I’ve only had mr S-38b for a month and it’s by far the most charming of all my Hallicrafters collection. It’s so small and fun to use. It’s CW and side band receive is antiquated in a fun way with surprising results. It lives on the side table next to my favorite chair.

[@ArthurJS123]

Thanks! Check out my SX-42 and S-40 in other videos. They truly are beasts by comparison.

[@fordmustanggtish]

Man, very nice set. Mine is a bit newer i guess because it has no cw pitch. Lovely job on the paint!

[@ArthurJS123]

Yea, the A’s, B’s, C’s use a “gimmick capacitor”. The original S38, which this one is, uses a 6th tube for BFO and noise limiter. I had this one done for me. He did a great job.

[@MichaelP2341]

My Dad had one. Did not understand about the "hot chassis" at the time we had it. Got shocked on the cabinet and thought it was broken. Had I known all we had to do was reverse the A/C plug. We replaced with a Kenwood R2000 which I still have today.

[@ArthurJS123]

MichaelP2341 I have an R2000 in my collection- check out the earlier videos I did on it. Thanks for the comments- this is a fun radio, and a great hobby!

[@TREEHUGGAH1]

that beauty looks minty. much respect

[@ArthurJS123]

Thanks, love this little set!

[@Rebel9668]

Beautiful little radio. I have an S-40A that I need to do something with myself some day.

[@ArthurJS123]

Thanks for watching. Check out my S40 and SX42 videos as well!

[@jamescrofutt8767]

put a variable resistor pot in line with the antenna lead and you can turn the gain down and SSB will tune much much better, easy fix, the radio has no rf gain control so the resistor does the trick, CW is usually pretty good, also the band spread has limits so you need to make sure your primary main tuning is set to the right spot before you tune around with the band spread, and especially on the lower bands you will need to adjust it from time to time just a tiny bit, , they are fun radios , and Novice ham radio operators in the old days actually worked the world using them in the 50s with a separate transmitter, challenging but a hoot when you made a contact, The isolation transformer is great but there are other fixes that will do the same thing and most restorers now incorporate that . 73 J

[@ArthurJS123]

A variable resistor of what approximate value?

[@jamescrofutt8767]

​@@ArthurJS123 50K to 100K , I use 100K, works well, the S-38 also has no AGC so having the ability to regulate the signal input can also help on strong AM signals, 73 J

[@rciancia]

Hey Arthur.. I did one of those.. that is a hot chassis radio... be careful. There are insulating spacers in there for the controls.... I converted it to a 3 prong corded unit. Yours is in wonderful condition !!!

[@ArthurJS123]

Not this one- has an isolation transformer, 3 prong cord, and new isolation grommets. The radio I was supposed to pick up this past weekend is still waiting- my neuropathy pain kept me from making the trip. This one, like my S40, and SX42, was my dad’s. The cosmetics received a complete overhaul as well, as it was in a box in my basement for over a decade. That’s all new powder coating. This radio deserved the full treatment it received!

[@itukuppoo4280]

Ssb never has any talkers when you are on video so it helps to cut the video and insert a clip from later when they are talking somehow weaving it into the main story.

[@LarryDeSilva64]

That is really in great Shape Arthur. I have an S20R , and an SX99 Hallicrafters always made Great radios but the Best one I have and use is a Hallicrafters SX28A the best Amateur radio receiver they ever made.

[@ArthurJS123]

Check out videos here showing my other Hallicrafters, the S40, and Big Kahuna SX42 in action. All my father’s, all lovingly restored. He gave me the SX-42 when I turned 15, he bought it brand new when he was 15!

[@raulmontesdeoca7843]

Just purchased one on eBay for 29.00 bucks. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[@ArthurJS123]

Add an isolation transformer, rewire the power coming into the switch, replace the rubber grommets isolating the chassis, add a polarized plug. This before a complete recap and replacement of out of tolerance resistors. Replace the dial cord. Align. Enjoy your radio! A

[@k2tjh-hotglasspickershamau864]

Wow, is that N1BCG at the beginning of the video? Sounds like him

[@ArthurJS123]

Who is he?

[@k2tjh-hotglasspickershamau864]

@@ArthurJS123 he is an active ham who lives in CT and is very active on the am phone segment, mostly on 75/80m. Very knowledgeable and has a great sense of humor.

[@ArthurJS123]

There are hundreds of thousands of amateur radio operators. Hard to assume everyone knows them all.

[@k2tjh-hotglasspickershamau864]

@@ArthurJS123 When you know the voice, you know the voice. Just like everybody on 75/80m in the northeast knows Timtron (WA1HLR) and WBCQ lol

[@tubeDude48]

I've been trying to find a schematic and alignment .PDF page that's large enough to see. All I find are small, (hard to read) pages. Can you help?

[@ArthurJS123]

I wish I could. The hard copy one I have is blueprint size, and I’m not going to scan it. I’m sure there are resources out there.

[@ArthurJS123]

Ted Mieske Oh wait, now I realize you were looking for the S38 schematic-I was referencing the SX-42. I definitely don’t have an S38- but I’m sure they are out there- good luck!

[@RandomRetr0]

It’s decent for what it is, but it still doesn’t match even an SX-24 or 25

[@ArthurJS123]

It never pretended to. If you want to see higher performance, check out my SX-42, or S40.

[@RandomRetr0]

@@ArthurJS123 will do. I know little to nothing about the postwar Hallicrafters so looking forward to finding out more :) Beautiful restoration though!