What would you do with this?

[Zipslack]

I have an interesting dilemma...looking for opinions and ideas. I found an old Sony reel-to-reel at a junk shop and got it for $10.00 US. Inside was a pleasant surprise -- a stereo amp. Massive power transformer with a 6CA4 rectifier and a single 12DW7 (don't know what it's for - I haven't traced the circuit yet). Each amp section has a 12AD7, 6AU6, and 6AQ5 with separate output transformers.

Originally, I was thinking just a single-ended conversion, but the stereo thing has me thinking...

1. Rebuild and sell as a stereo chassis for audio enthusiasts. Don't really want to go that route...too many nit-picky options about caps and biasing and feedback...blah blah blah.

2. Rip out half and get a power transformer to make two separate SE amps - keep one and sell one. Would need a PT, another rectifier tube (or diodes) and filter caps. Good possibility, except for third option.

3. Keep it as a stereo setup, but with each one voiced differently (one low-gain, one high-gain), running into two separate speakers. Configure as switchable between the two (TRUE channel-switching ;-) and both together in parallel. Possibly house it in a Rogue twin amp I have from a non-pay repair job -- rip the guts, use the chassis and the speakers and cabinet. Replace with better speakers later. Or just make it a head with separate outputs, which would be smaller and lighter.

I'll post pictures tomorrow to show what I'm working with. I'm impressed by how clean and neat this unit is compared to my old VM722 reel amp. There's barely any dust to blow out, much less rust/corrosion. As far as I can tell the unit is not a highly-desirable unit and it's missing one of the covers/speakers, so I'm not worried about trying to re-furbish and sell to audiophiles.

I'm really leaning toward Option 3 and I think I would get maximum flexibility with minimum parts investment. So my question is, what would you guys do with a find like this? Is there another option that I should consider? Is option 3 as easy and feasible as I seem to think it is?

[Zipslack]

Pictures and update

First of all, my memory was faulty - it's a 12BH7 and not a 12DW7. Second, I don't know where the funky green paint job came from or if that was original. Anyway, here's the pics. The rectifier and 12BH7 are up top right next to the PT. The 2 12AD7 are in the middle on an anti-vibration plate, then the two 6AU6, output transformers, and 6AQ5 to the outside. The PT was set up for dual voltage (117/230) with a jumper selector, which can be seen in one of the pics.

[jmaf]

4) Morph it into a space age tape reverb unit?

But seriously, nice find, you're certainly right it's clean and very well built. As you noted, those two shielded tubes on top of a shock absorbing platform catch the attention. Why not just overhaul it and use it as a tape player?

[olddawg]

I would gut it and start over. Make a mono PP amp like a Marshall 18 watt variant. You will need to get another OT though. Frankly, I would just use the PT and the output tubes. New tube sockets, chassis, pots, jacks, and turret board. Otherwise you will be chasing your tail with noise and intermittancies.

[Zipslack]

Thanks for suggestions. I have no interest in using this as a tape-deck, although it probably would still work with little or no repair. I'm mainly just interested in using it as a "learning" project and hopefully end up with something I can use.

Due to the size of the PT and the layout of the existing chassis, I was already thinking I would need to go with a new chassis, but I'm going to try to clean and re-use the existing sockets and pots and see how that goes before I just throw them out for new ones. With the 6AQ5 tubes, I was almost thinking a P-P Princeton (I prefer more Fender than Marshall sound), but I'd rather stick with single-ended since this already has transformers - sort of a 5F2 variation. If I do the 2-in-1 thing, I was thinking a 5F2 style circuit and a higher-gain (maybe Supro) variation on other channel.