Sears 5XL
- Thread starter Wattage
- Start date
kmcguitars
GuitarArtologist
Re: Sears 5XL
Scott, Is that a Silvertone?
Scott, Is that a Silvertone?
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: Sears 5XL
Scott, what are the tubes in it?
Scott, what are the tubes in it?
F
firebirdVII
Guest
Re: Sears 5XL
You can find the tube compliment in a Harmony Central review. It uses some odd ones, but nothing too expensive which is a plus.
12au6, 50c5 and a 35w4 rectifier.
A quick search showed that you can do a complete retube with mostly NOS stuff (not the 12au6) for ~$20 plus shipping. I'm not in league with them or anything, it just sounds like a cool little project.
http://www.triodeelectronics.com/index.html
You can find the tube compliment in a Harmony Central review. It uses some odd ones, but nothing too expensive which is a plus.
12au6, 50c5 and a 35w4 rectifier.
A quick search showed that you can do a complete retube with mostly NOS stuff (not the 12au6) for ~$20 plus shipping. I'm not in league with them or anything, it just sounds like a cool little project.
http://www.triodeelectronics.com/index.html
kevlar3000
Bullet Proof Toneologist
Re: Sears 5XL
Later than my 65 1483, but looks similiar to a degree. Valco built them, until what year I am not sure. That looks late 60s early 70s to me. Replace the big red filtercap, get a decent speaker and it might be a cool little screamer.
Later than my 65 1483, but looks similiar to a degree. Valco built them, until what year I am not sure. That looks late 60s early 70s to me. Replace the big red filtercap, get a decent speaker and it might be a cool little screamer.
kevlar3000
Bullet Proof Toneologist
Re: Sears 5XL
A cap of the same value. The numbers are written on it. Before poking around, make sure to discharge the voltage or have a tech do it. It would be very cheap, not much to that amp.
A cap of the same value. The numbers are written on it. Before poking around, make sure to discharge the voltage or have a tech do it. It would be very cheap, not much to that amp.
Wattage
High Voltologist
Re: Sears 5XL
OK got to figure out how to discharge voltage first.
This thing sounds all right, very clean and warm. A little bit of noise I imagine is from the big red thing?
I have the Reverend Overdrive on the way from butnut so that ought to front it real well I would think.
OK got to figure out how to discharge voltage first.
This thing sounds all right, very clean and warm. A little bit of noise I imagine is from the big red thing?
I have the Reverend Overdrive on the way from butnut so that ought to front it real well I would think.
kmcguitars
GuitarArtologist
Re: Sears 5XL
See if you can get the voltage rating off the cap (Thats Important) If the uF ratings are all the same it's a no brainer. I had to do the same with my old premier reverb tank. Discharging them old multi-section caps is kinda tricky. I just followed the + wire to where it was soldered and put the alligator clip there? Just keep one hand in your pocket (a.k.a.) The one armed tech.
BTW, Saw a lot of Bikes at the beach last night... Did ya make it?
That cap is most likely long out of production.:yell: But you can make your own.Wattage said:
See if you can get the voltage rating off the cap (Thats Important) If the uF ratings are all the same it's a no brainer. I had to do the same with my old premier reverb tank. Discharging them old multi-section caps is kinda tricky. I just followed the + wire to where it was soldered and put the alligator clip there? Just keep one hand in your pocket (a.k.a.) The one armed tech. BTW, Saw a lot of Bikes at the beach last night... Did ya make it?
kmcguitars
GuitarArtologist
Re: Sears 5XL
Check out this website http://www.harpamps.com/silvertone/ampgallery.html
Looks like a Sears Silvertone 1420.:dance:
Check out this website http://www.harpamps.com/silvertone/ampgallery.html
Looks like a Sears Silvertone 1420.:dance:
ElUnoAstuto
New member
Re: Sears 5XL
I used to have a Silvertone 9075, it was a sweet amp, I wish I hadn't ebay'd it...
I used to have a Silvertone 9075, it was a sweet amp, I wish I hadn't ebay'd it...
Rich_S
HomeGrownToneBrewologist
Re: Sears 5XL
I was going to throw up a big warning flag here - normally amps with that tube set are refered to as "death trap" by amp techs. They generally lack a power transformer. No 6-volt filament winding needed: the tube set is matched so the heaters can be wired in series: 50+35+12=97 volts, close enough to 110V. The problem is that in addition to providing suitable voltages for the amplifier circuit, the PT also provides isolation from the 120 VAC mains. These power-transformerless designs often can apply a full 120 VAC to the guitar strings with the failure of a single small capacitor. Most knowledgeable folks won't play them without safety mods.
HOWEVER... looking at your pictures, I see two transformers - I'm pretty sure the one in the chassis is the PT. So overall this amp is safer than the usual 12au6, 50c5, 35w4 deathtrap.
The Alamo Capri 2360 looks like it might be similar - it has a PT with this tube set.
Link to Alamo Capri 2360
In contrast, here's a
Link to Kent "Death Trap"
It looks like some caps have been replaced - those shiny orange drops are not original. However, that big red filter cap probably needs replacing. It's OK that it's no longer in production - it sucked when it was new. Hopefully, it's ratings are still legible - go for a mfd (microfarad) rating that's equal or slightly higher. Voltage rating can be anything equal of higher, too. That's probably a dual cap - meaning two caps in on can. You can replace it with two separate caps (Sprague ATOMs are highly recommended) or a single modern multican cap.
The real kicker here is the fact that the output transformer is attached to the speaker, rather than in the chassis where "normal" amps have it. The red & gray wires between the chassis and speaker are carrying the full B+ voltage. Yikes! The good news (if you want to call it that) is that the B+ in this amp is only around 130 volts rather than the 300-400 volts or more in most other guitar amps.
However, the speaker-mounted OT is going to make swapping the speaker tricky. You'll have to carefully disconnect the two to reuse the transformer (mount it on the chassis and add a speaker jack) or you'll have to figure out its impedance ration and try to replace it with a new OT. Testing an OT's turns ratio is fairly simple if the original is still intact.
Anyway, that's probably more than you ever wanted to know but overall, cool amp. Be careful, do a little research, give it a little care, and you'll have a special little low-watt tone machine.
I was going to throw up a big warning flag here - normally amps with that tube set are refered to as "death trap" by amp techs. They generally lack a power transformer. No 6-volt filament winding needed: the tube set is matched so the heaters can be wired in series: 50+35+12=97 volts, close enough to 110V. The problem is that in addition to providing suitable voltages for the amplifier circuit, the PT also provides isolation from the 120 VAC mains. These power-transformerless designs often can apply a full 120 VAC to the guitar strings with the failure of a single small capacitor. Most knowledgeable folks won't play them without safety mods.
HOWEVER... looking at your pictures, I see two transformers - I'm pretty sure the one in the chassis is the PT. So overall this amp is safer than the usual 12au6, 50c5, 35w4 deathtrap.
The Alamo Capri 2360 looks like it might be similar - it has a PT with this tube set.
Link to Alamo Capri 2360
In contrast, here's a
Link to Kent "Death Trap"
It looks like some caps have been replaced - those shiny orange drops are not original. However, that big red filter cap probably needs replacing. It's OK that it's no longer in production - it sucked when it was new. Hopefully, it's ratings are still legible - go for a mfd (microfarad) rating that's equal or slightly higher. Voltage rating can be anything equal of higher, too. That's probably a dual cap - meaning two caps in on can. You can replace it with two separate caps (Sprague ATOMs are highly recommended) or a single modern multican cap.
The real kicker here is the fact that the output transformer is attached to the speaker, rather than in the chassis where "normal" amps have it. The red & gray wires between the chassis and speaker are carrying the full B+ voltage. Yikes! The good news (if you want to call it that) is that the B+ in this amp is only around 130 volts rather than the 300-400 volts or more in most other guitar amps.
However, the speaker-mounted OT is going to make swapping the speaker tricky. You'll have to carefully disconnect the two to reuse the transformer (mount it on the chassis and add a speaker jack) or you'll have to figure out its impedance ration and try to replace it with a new OT. Testing an OT's turns ratio is fairly simple if the original is still intact.
Anyway, that's probably more than you ever wanted to know but overall, cool amp. Be careful, do a little research, give it a little care, and you'll have a special little low-watt tone machine.
