radio craftsmen c400 for parts?

Hi all,
I was gifted a 50's era Radio Craftsmen c400 High Fidelity Amplifier, that the original owner said still works.
I took some pics but its exactly the same as this one. (http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/radio10_c400cr_40_15_watt_audio_a.html) I'll upload the circuit pics when I get home.

Its got a 6j5 and 6sn7gt in the preamp and 5y3gt and 2 6v6s in the power amp side and massive looking transformers with the OT having taps for 4, 8 and 16 ohms. So of course my first thought was the gods have gifted me with most of a 5e3 (I have been asking for one).

Doing a little Googling it looks like this is a bit of an audiophile piece and I don't really want to muck up a bit of rare tube gear if that is what it is.

A couple of questions:
Is it worth keeping as is or rob it for parts?

What should I check/change before I power it up?

Am I better off passing it on to an audiophile and buying parts for a 5e3?

Thanks for any input!

-Dale

I took a quick look to see what you have, nice little package. I have the same problem with a Scott amplifier that would be a shame to part out but I doubt it would go for much around here and I can not be bothered to try selling it online. If you can get a decent buck for it that would come close to covering the cost of a kit I would go that way.

But it depends what you want. If you want a 5E3 or an amp that is a bit different. I am going to build an all octal (eight pin) amp into an old radio I picked up. Going to make it sound like a 40's amp as I probably will build a 5E3 anyway. Ask yourself what is it you want. You could do a octal 5E3 amp mind you.

Radio Craftsmen built good quality gear. I wouldn't recommend stripping it for parts if it's in good shape. The output transformers on old gear like that are generally very good quality, frankly, better quality than what you'd want or need for a guitar amp.

I'd either use it or sell it. You'd need a pair for stereo, but you might be surprised and pleased with just using it as a mono amp. (My bedroom system is all-tube mono and it sounds good).

You can probably make enough selling it to fund an amp project.

If you want to fire it up, you can either use a 'dim bulb' tester or a variac with an ammeter in line. Here's an excellent article about building a dim bulb tester (http://antiqueradio.org/dimbulb.htm).

-Kevin

I've confirmed that it works and that it sounds bad for guitar but fine for radio.

I'm going to take your advice and see if I can sell it for around the cost of a kit.
If not, I'd like to find an simple octal guitar amp. not stuck on a 5e3. Any suggestions?

That may mean trading some old 12ax7s for what, 6sn7s or 6sc7s?

Here's the circuit now if anyone is interested:
http://esinc.net/happyfamily/circuit.jpg

Hi all,
I was gifted a 50's era Radio Craftsmen c400 High Fidelity Amplifier, that the original owner said still works.
I took some pics but its exactly the same as this one. (http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/radio10_c400cr_40_15_watt_audio_a.html) I'll upload the circuit pics when I get home.

Its got a 6j5 and 6sn7gt in the preamp and 5y3gt and 2 6v6s in the power amp side and massive looking transformers with the OT having taps for 4, 8 and 16 ohms. So of course my first thought was the gods have gifted me with most of a 5e3 (I have been asking for one).

Doing a little Googling it looks like this is a bit of an audiophile piece and I don't really want to muck up a bit of rare tube gear if that is what it is.

A couple of questions:
Is it worth keeping as is or rob it for parts?

What should I check/change before I power it up?

Am I better off passing it on to an audiophile and buying parts for a 5e3?

Thanks for any input!

-Dale

I think I would like it. How Much, I buy?

With the right preamp in front of it, using it more for a power amp, it might actually sound pretty good. It was never meant to be a straight up guitar amp.

My friend has another one that I'm rebuilding. I am trying to make a pair for stereo. It's a cool 10 watt amp. But just a power amp, needs a preamp as you said, it's not a guitar amp.

I found an audiophile who wants it and I'm trading it and a matching but broken tuner/receiver for a couple of 6l6 organ amps (and some karma).

One of them is a Baldwin that seems to just be a power amp so I'm thinking about preamps to add to it.

I'll do another thread about the organ amps when I do something interesting with them.

-Dale

Sure looks in good shape.