Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: Guitarzan on September 13, 2014, 12:32:02 pm

Title: Stromberg Carlson AU-29
Post by: Guitarzan on September 13, 2014, 12:32:02 pm
Ya hey der!
I'm eyeballing a SC AU-29 and was wondering if anyone has any thoughts on this amp.
It's got a couple of 6SJ7s a 5Y3 and a 6L6 & is supposedly about 10w
Looks like it might make an interesting guitar/harp amp.
It has a mic and a phono input but I'm not having any luck finding a schematic online.
Maybe one input for guitar and one for harp?
Opinions?
Title: Re: Stromberg Carlson AU-29
Post by: TIMBO on September 13, 2014, 03:06:46 pm
Hey Guitarzan, These guys have got some good harp amps, you could mod it to this http://www.lonewolfblues.com/proj6l6se.html (http://www.lonewolfblues.com/proj6l6se.html)
Title: Re: Stromberg Carlson AU-29
Post by: Guitarzan on September 13, 2014, 05:21:27 pm
Hey Guitarzan, These guys have got some good harp amps, you could mod it to this http://www.lonewolfblues.com/proj6l6se.html (http://www.lonewolfblues.com/proj6l6se.html)


Hey Timbo


Thanks for the heads up on Lone Wolf.
Interesting reading on their site. I don't really play much anymore due to health issues. Jane and the monkey still blow from time to time but I mostly get my tree swinging done in the form of playing around with amp projects. In the past I did a bunch of kits, and found them to be fun, but lately I've been fiddling with old amps that I can (with much help from this bb) either resurrect or re-purpose for guitar. Old and cheap (like me) are the keywords here which was why I was looking at that old SC AU-29.

Title: Re: Stromberg Carlson AU-29
Post by: HotBluePlates on September 13, 2014, 09:09:32 pm
I'm eyeballing a SC AU-29 ... I'm not having any luck finding a schematic online.

Internet Search (http://audiophool.com/MadeInRoch.html) turns up the schematic. Scroll to the bottom of the page.

The Sams Photofact is in djvu format (like a pdf, but less space on your disk). Do a search, and download a djvu reader (which is freeware).
Title: Re: Stromberg Carlson AU-29
Post by: DummyLoad on September 13, 2014, 11:02:54 pm
http://djvuviewer.com/ (http://djvuviewer.com/)
Title: Re: Stromberg Carlson AU-29
Post by: Guitarzan on September 14, 2014, 05:00:50 am
Thanks guys!
The "made in Rochester" link is a really good one if you're a SC guy!
Thanks for the reader link too. For PDFs I use foxit reader. It's tiny compared to adobe and isn't trying to download more and more bloat like adobe.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/foxit_reader.html (http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/foxit_reader.html)
Title: Re: Stromberg Carlson AU-29
Post by: HotBluePlates on September 14, 2014, 03:57:34 pm
It's tiny compared to adobe and isn't trying to download more and more bloat like adobe.

Adobe's downloads are to patch vulnerabilities found in the code by which a hacker can gain control of your computer. So the updates aren't bad, though the original download does try to give you extra software that you really don't want or need.
Title: Re: Stromberg Carlson AU-29
Post by: Guitarzan on September 14, 2014, 05:40:45 pm
Sorry but I still say Adobe is a bloated pig of an application.
Foxit has the footprint of an ant compared to Adobe's elephant.
It's not running processes and using resources all the time like Adobe.
It's really not a bad little PDF reader. When I used to be in networking, I had a visiting software developer turn me on to it and I've been really happy with it for 6 or 7 years now.
I was never really happy with Adobe.
To each his own tho, I guess.
Looks like I won't be getting the AU-29. The guy thinks it's made of solid silver or something. Oh well, something similar will come along sooner or later
Title: Re: Stromberg Carlson AU-29
Post by: PRR on September 15, 2014, 12:54:52 am
> Adobe's downloads are to patch vulnerabilities

IMHO, Adobe is *worse* than MicroSoft about coding without considering the consequences.

I run Acrobat Reader, but I really detest it.
Title: Re: Stromberg Carlson AU-29
Post by: Guitarzan on September 15, 2014, 06:10:52 am
> Adobe's downloads are to patch vulnerabilities

IMHO, Adobe is *worse* than MicroSoft about coding without considering the consequences.

I run Acrobat Reader, but I really detest it.

 
Then try foxit. I haven't had Adobe on one of my machines in years.
Title: Re: Stromberg Carlson AU-29
Post by: Guitarzan on September 15, 2014, 07:56:55 am
Also, let's not forget about tha "phone home" feature in adobe. How do you suppose it "knows" when updates are available?
It's nothing short of spyware, IMHO. Java is just as bad.
Title: Re: Stromberg Carlson AU-29
Post by: thelonious on September 15, 2014, 09:56:49 am
If you don't want to change the octal preamp sockets to noval, check out some of the Octal Fatness variants that are out there. For instance, the Octal Special http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main.php/v/DougH/amp/OF/OFSpecial2012_sch.GIF.html (http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main.php/v/DougH/amp/OF/OFSpecial2012_sch.GIF.html) - you could also replace the 12AX7 in that schematic with a 6SL7 if you want to keep all octal!
Title: Re: Stromberg Carlson AU-29
Post by: Guitarzan on September 15, 2014, 12:23:27 pm
If you don't want to change the octal preamp sockets to noval, check out some of the Octal Fatness variants that are out there. For instance, the Octal Special http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main.php/v/DougH/amp/OF/OFSpecial2012_sch.GIF.html (http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main.php/v/DougH/amp/OF/OFSpecial2012_sch.GIF.html) - you could also replace the 12AX7 in that schematic with a 6SL7 if you want to keep all octal!

Thanks for the input.
While the AU-29 is for all intents and purposes a no-go at this point, I am still thinking in terms of a SE 10-ish watt build using a single 6L6 and octal preamp.
I have (probably) everything I need to do it except a chassis, assuming that the OT and PT from a typical 5F1-type kit would do the trick.
I really don't wanna hafta start with a blank chassis tho. I haven't had a lot of luck with nibbling a hole for the PT and having it come out decent looking. So I've been keeping an eye peeled for the AU-29 at the right price or a Bogen HE-10 or anything similar that I could either modify or simply recap and go. I picked up an old tweed suitcase, in a smallish size like a cosmetics case only just about big enough to hold a 10" speaker (maybe, 8" for sure, or the other 6X9 I have) and a smaller (like the AU-29) chassis.
I wanted to do an Ampex type of build with that case where the lid comes off and the works are mounted to a face board for lack of a better term. This would require a minimum of surgery to the case. I think some mounting cleats to hold the rest is all I'd really have to do to the case. The chassis, speaker and everythoing could then be mounted, and be removable from the thing with just some screws. I suppose some vents are gonna be required too but I'll worry about that if and when the right project presents itself. A small Hammond chassis is cheap enough, but I really don't wanna hafta do all of that drilling and nibbling.
Title: Re: Stromberg Carlson AU-29
Post by: Guitarzan on September 15, 2014, 04:48:32 pm
Here's (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Alpha-Tone-Conversion-AO44-Hammond-Tube-Amplifier-Suitcase-Amp-Guitar-/361045675228?&_trksid=p2056016.l4276) a stunning example of how NOT to modify an old suitcase for a guitar amp.
 :l2: :BangHead: :laugh:

Title: Re: Stromberg Carlson AU-29
Post by: Willabe on September 15, 2014, 06:33:48 pm
Have amp, will travel.    :laugh:

At $499.99 it's a steal!


                  Brad     :icon_biggrin:
Title: Re: Stromberg Carlson AU-29
Post by: EL34 on September 15, 2014, 06:45:56 pm
Wow, it's amazing what passes for workmanship.

I think a chimp could do a better job
Title: Re: Stromberg Carlson AU-29
Post by: Guitarzan on September 15, 2014, 07:49:39 pm
Have amp, will travel.    :laugh:

At $499.99 it's a steal!


                  Brad     :icon_biggrin:

That guy's got a couple of those for sale and they've been re-listed multiple times. I'm pretty sure it's been close to a year since I first noticed 'em.
I once bought a can of Shine-ola at an antique store for a quarter and sold it on the bay for $29.00 so I have no doubt he'll sell 'em...someday.
Title: Re: Stromberg Carlson AU-29
Post by: Guitarzan on September 15, 2014, 07:53:55 pm
Wow, it's amazing what passes for workmanship.

I think a chimp could do a better job

Hey!  :think1: That's a fantastic idea! I could get the monkey to mass produce 'em for bananas.
Title: Re: Stromberg Carlson AU-29
Post by: DummyLoad on September 15, 2014, 07:54:40 pm
waste of a good speaker.


--pete
Title: Re: Stromberg Carlson AU-29
Post by: Willabe on September 15, 2014, 07:55:37 pm
Hey!  :think1: That's a fantastic idea! I could get the monkey to mass produce 'em for bananas.

Now your thinkin.     :l2:   
Title: Re: Stromberg Carlson AU-29
Post by: DummyLoad on September 15, 2014, 07:55:59 pm
no, monkey needs to make shinola. we in the wrong bizziness... 


--pete
Title: Re: Stromberg Carlson AU-29
Post by: Guitarzan on September 15, 2014, 08:02:02 pm
no, monkey needs to make shinola. we in the wrong bizziness... 


--pete

I know! Right?
I went into every antique shop within a 100 mile radius looking for old shinola cans for the next year!
No such luck.
Title: Re: Stromberg Carlson AU-29
Post by: Willabe on September 15, 2014, 08:10:23 pm
 :laugh:
Title: Re: Stromberg Carlson AU-29
Post by: Guitarzan on September 15, 2014, 08:23:37 pm
Anyway...makin' shinola is the monkey's specialty.
And I ain't talkin' shoe polish. :rolleyes: