1950's Mathes Tube Amp Console

[plexi50]

Well i think im proud to say that i recapped a pretty nice EL84 dual mono amp and i am actually putting it back in it's original home

I though what a cool stereo guitar amp this would be but then i said STOP!

The console is in mint condition so it would only be the right thing to do. Right?

Ha! Believe me im trying to go the guitar route but it would be a sin to not leave well enough alone for once in my life

It has a 330K voltage divider and the cathodes are already 1.5K Fender. It sounds great with guitar and is way loud

Im sure it will sound just as fine back in it's cab. I could also use the Tape/Aux Input & Outs for my Nikko 8085 reciever and use the power amp to power my stack of Fisher and Pioneer cabs

I picked this up this morning at Goodwill for $75.00. I almost didnt go today and i almost didnt notice it was when i first passed by it. I pulled all of the original tubes and boxed them. All Bugle Boy EL84 and GE12AX7's. Excellent tubes. All dated 38th week of 1958

(3) 12AX7 / (4) EL84 / (1) 5U4GB rectifier. The PS cap and node resistors are fine. I expected some hum but it is silent at idle

DING!!!   Idea. I could add an input jack wired to one of the poles of the 3 way rotary switch Aux grid for guitar use









 

[Platefire]

Cool! Does it work? I got a 1958 Magnavox with a duel 6V6 PP amps for stereo. Sounds great! I buy those old albums at flea markets most of the time for $1.00 each. Platefire

[drew]

Nice find.  How often do you have to have to go to Goodwill to find something you actually want?  I'm 0-for-life on that.

I remember seeing Curtis Mathes (or was it an actor portraying Curtis Mathes?) in commercials when I was a kid, trying to get people to buy expensive, made-in-America TVs.

[Tom_Hull]

very nice find .

if that is working ...
i would get that same needle as on that turntable and get a turntable from that score store ,,mount it on a newer turntable .

then hook that up to some organ speakers .

then enjoy something that will never be hear again ...

thats what i have but its a magnavox with 4 6v6 s .

nice,,,,,,,,,,,

my integrated amps and high fidelity stuff sounds ok but not as  good........

tom

[plexi50]

Put a grounded cord on it this morning and remounted the chassis. It sounds great! Too much though for the speakers in this console. You can really hear that full twilight dimension between the treble and bass notes. Cant wait to make and run some RCA cables from my reciever to the input of the power amp and on out to my speaker system. This is going to sound wild

[Tom_Hull]

nice ,,

there may be some adjustments to the caps and resistor going to the output transformers .

you mayl need a schematic ..

on mine the stereo selector switch,,,,, well the wires were connected funny and i by pasted that switch.

neat oh

[plexi50]

When i first got it yesterday i saw the tubes on one side redplate. I shut down and did a full coupling cap replacement. Those old Bumble Bee caps were way shot

Running now steady with a 365VDC plate @ 12.17VDC per grids. I have removed the amp again from the console and installed it in my rack for use with my Fisher MT 6224 turntable and DVD player

More practical for use with my speaker system. I may have a problem though. The speakers impedance in the console are 2 ohm

Im going to have to figure out the wiring of the speakers i have now and see if i can wire them in series to get to 2 ohm

My system speakers are 4 ohm. I dont think that should be a problem but i dont know a lot about Hi-Fi vs guitar output impedance either

The console is now a beautiful piece of furniture in the bedroom. If i were to ever sell the set all i would have to do is remount the amp chassis. I decided 12"x10" is a whole lot less space in my living room than 4'x16"

I made a harness to go from the tube amplifiers speaker outputs to a switch box that will allow me to switch between my Nikko 8085 for TV, FM and switch to the tube amplifier for the Fisher MT6224 turntable and DVD video concert stuff

All done with everything but finding or making a switch box. This thing should make wonderful sound. It did in the console but again those old cheap speakers cant cut it. The console wanted to go for a walk. This amp has some serious volume to it and needed a more modern Speaker Cab,Turntable and DVD arraingement

I hope to hear it tommorrow