This blog has been super quiet as of late due mostly to Covid and my current space that is not as conducive for expansive audio experience and restoring. That being said I am still finding gear, although much harder to find and it is in storage until a later date.
This nice RCA RS-177J tube amp made my way to me through an Ebay win, the amp was in pretty rough looking condition and needed a serious overhaul including new capacitors, resistors and a general cleaning and a paint job.
This amp seems to have a good reconditioning following on the audio forums, but I mostly followed Mark Walker at Blue Glow Electronics walk through including the front end hot rod modification in changing out the 6FQ7 input tubes to 12AX7 input tubes.
He has a few videos also on the restoration of the RS-177A version of this amp.
I followed Mark's instructions and managed to get this tube amp sounding great. I got all new JJ tubes from the Tube depot.
This amp is from the top of the line console stereos that RCA made in the early 1960's and runs around 12 watts per channel in a push/pull configuration.
These RCA's are worth sourcing out as they are easy to restore and there is lots of info on these. This one is a gift for my son for his 21st birthday, something he can enjoy for another 50 years.
That's a beautiful job you did on the restoration. Were you successful in finding a RS177J schematic or did you work from and A or H variant? I am comfortable working from an accurate schematic, but if there is translation or interpretation required I get into trouble. Thx.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the comments. Google 1964 Radio diagrams PDF and you should find a 192 page pdf of many makers schematics. Page 139 will have the "J" schematic that you are looking for.
DeleteHello, I was wondering if you have any pictures of the underneath after the conversion? I'm having difficulty with sorting out the Molex connection.
ReplyDeleteI do not and left them in place
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