What would you do with this 1448?

A friend heard that I was building a danelectro-telecaster hybrid and offered me this amp as a gift. I couldn't refuse, of course, but, I haven't a clue as to what to do with it. I know it needs an isolation transformer, but, as is, I plugged it in and it seemed awfully quiet. I had a 1457 amp-in-case a number of years ago and could've sworn it was a heck of a lot louder than this little guy. Maybe she needs some new tubes. Not sure what I'm asking. I guess it comes down to...

A- Build it up with the isolation transformer in a funky little cab with a new speaker and try to get some more volume out of her

or

B- Scrap it/use the parts

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x168/ladymagma/P1020110.jpg

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x168/ladymagma/P1020109.jpg

Not making any moves any time soon, just positing this to hear some opinions!

Thanks :grin:

Find a guitar case that will fit it.

Definitely A! If not now just store it away for later. That would be a fun little project.

The one you have is basicly a radio tube amp. Not much clean headroom with the ability to shock you. Your 1457 was louder as it was a proper amp using an input transformer with audio tubes 12ax7, 6V6GT and 6X4 as I recall. Much closer to a Fender Champ amp.

Option A, clear covers over the tube observation holes, and LED's out of sight but lighting the tubes.

Don't hang the transformer on that press board panel. running the tube heaters from DC helps the hum on those amps a lot. Here is an easy to understand article on adding an iso trans, the different ways of doing it and and the pros and cons of each.

You could also add an input transformer to add your isolation and not bother with power isolation, but a good input transformer is more expensive then $12 for a 50va isolation trans

Yeah, guess I'll build it into a case for the Telelectro Silvercaster project. Maybe a different speaker will give more headroom? Also, doesn't it look like it's been worked on? Some of those caps look really "new". Diggin the idea for led's and plexi! Also, I'll silkscreen a new mounting board for it (keeping the old one of course). Thanks so much for the help.