Old Guild accordion amp with new 'guts' - warnings/suggestions?

[Wilfred]

Saw this on eBay and just couldn't resist. Decently priced, very nice looking and apparently completely rebuilt on the inside. I really love the Guild logo'd speaker cloth. Seems a perfect buy for me, because I'm partial to the sound and visual appeal of a small vintage tube amp, but don't like the potential fuss and dangers involved with old components and dodgy wiring. My old SF-IV is craving for a fitting partner, and this should be it!

First of all: could anyone tell me what exactly have I got here? Model, period? Looking at the pictures with electronics content, anything particular I need to know or take care of when it gets here? I know I have to find me a good 110-230V converter.

The seller states that it has a 10' speaker, and 2x ECC83S preamp tubes, 2x6V6 output tubes and 1x 35Z5 GT (?)

I did a forum search and found one thread about another accordion amp that concentrated on safety issues.. I have already asked about an isolation transformer and the three prong grounded cord, waiting for answer but also knowing we've got some very knowledgeable people as LTG-members who can spot something peculiar from miles away!

Here's the pics the seller provided:

 

[dapmdave]

Well, that IS a cool old amp. I don't think I've ever seen one with the logo grill, either. But I don't know a lot about them.
It does look like the old cord has been replaced with a 3-prong type, and some of the dangerous internal components
(death-caps) have been updated. Lots of spliced wires in there.

Don't know for sure, but that speaker looks newer.

 

[Default]

It should not have 6v6's in there, it should have 50l6's. the 35z5 rectifier is a dead givaway. Looks very familiar. More when I get home.

 

[Wilfred]

Thanks a lot guys, really appreciated!

 

[Default]

The caps that have been replaced look like electrolytic caps. The death cap should have been removed when the grounded cord was added. Can't tell much more on the phone. If it does have 6v6s in there and nothing else has been changed, don't turn it on. The heater circuit on those is wired in series and should add up to somewhere close to 110 volts, maybe with the 50L6s wired in parallel.

 

[Default]

Incidentally, that speaker looks like a Quam. It my be original to the amp.

 

[Wilfred]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/330974803070?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

A bit worried about the 'don't turn it on' part, but I don't intend to do so unless I know absolutely sure that it's safe. And there's the small matter of it's location still being on the other side of the big pond. Hope I didn't bite off more than I can chew with this one. The seller seems knowledgeable and experienced in selling vintage guitar amps, and he mentions it's in good playable condition and even describes the sound. Also a lot has been changed and rebuilt. Most important for me is that it's a safe, working amp, no problem if it's different from what it originally was and sounded like. I was already expecting that.

Thanks again, and anything you might be able to add is really appreciated!

 

[Default]

I would clarify the electronics changes with the seller. If you want to pm me his contact information, I'll talk to the guy and see what I can find out.

 

[Wilfred]

Wow, that'd be absolutely great, how very nice of you, very much appreciated! The eBay ad mentions a toll-free contact telephone number: 1-800-823-6302 for questions and details, so I assume that would be the way to go. The ad suggests a complete internal rebuild, and that made me (perhaps prematurely) conclude that it's all literally 'safe and sound'.

 

[alpep]

50l6 tubes were used in tube radios for output
I have a few boxes of them if you need any

 

[Default]

Wow, that'd be absolutely great, how very nice of you, very much appreciated! The eBay ad mentions a toll-free contact telephone number: 1-800-823-6302 for questions and details, so I assume that would be the way to go. The ad suggests a complete internal rebuild, and that made me (perhaps prematurely) conclude that it's all literally 'safe and sound'.

I'll give them a ring after work.
That might be a good thing for Wilfred to have, assuming that it hasn't been converted. Not sure if they used 50L6s over in Euro-land.

 

[Wilfred]

Thanks alpep, I will certainly keep that in mind! And Steve, thanks again, I owe you big time. Looking forward to hear what you can find out! My guess is that it's completely converted, as the ad states, but in that case it's still important to know what exactly has been done to it, if it works safe and sound, and how I can keep it working.

 

[Default]

Ok, just got off the phone with the tech from Bluesangel Music.
Wilfred, you are golden!

the 6v6 part in the ad was a misprint. It has the standard 50L6s in it, so they are common and cheap. They had to replace one but they did not replace the other, so I would pick up a couple from alpep. The profusion of transformers...
One is the output transformer(ok), one is the isolation transformer(yay!) and the other is a choke they added to the filtering circuit to help smooth out the hum from only having a halfwave rectifier tube(the 35z5gt).

and it's going out the door in about five minutes!

 

[Wilfred]

Steve, that's great news, very glad to hear that. Thank you very, very much for your help and support. So ultimately I did do well, with a nice little Guild amp coming my way for a nice price, but I've been more lucky than sensible if I'm being honest!

 

[zulu]

Nice assist, Steve, the cap'n would be proud. Congrats on the new amp Wilfred!

 

[Wilfred]

Thank you Zulu!

I was just looking around for a 230/110V converter, and I'm wondering about the wattage needed for this little amp. I assume a 200W version should be sufficient?

 

[dapmdave]

The cap'n would be proud.

The man was a legend, wasn't he?

 

[SFIV1967]

I don't think I've ever seen one with the logo grill, either.

Actually Hans' book on page 46 shows some Masteramp models who had that similar logo (golden letters) but with additional very small letters they show "Masteramp" under the big Guild logo on the grill.

Incidentally, that speaker looks like a Quam. It my be original to the amp.

Steve, you are right, 270 is indeed Quam-Nicols and 934 would make it 1959, 34th week. So it is an old speaker! Just the way how it is mounted suggests that the original mounting was different (and centered) and not so low mounted with the 3 screws through the front.

The one transformer in the last picture shows code 366313, that could be 366 = New York Transformer and 313 = 1953, week 13?
Ralf

 

[Wilfred]

Very nice, an oldie but goldie! It doesn't seem to have (remnants of) the small lettering. And I also noticed the three screw off centre mounted speaker, but it just doesn't look like a recent modification. Also in the picture posted above the speaker is mounted somewhat lower, not vertically centered.

All I can say (from the pictures) about the tolex covering itself is that it looks old and original. But the amp very clearly is more square and 'boxy' compared to the rounded edges and overall appearance of the amp in the picture above. Still wondering about the model though, could it be an early Masteramp? Very intriguing, I must say!

 

[Default]

The tech said that the speaker in there was pretty efficient and it was loud. When you have a chance, Wilfred, post the datecodes on the control pots too.