[sdiy] Tube amplifier question

[Scott Stites]

Heh - I just got an Estey Model 801 (circa 1961) AND the bench for $5.00 at
a garage sale last weekend.  It is in beautiful physical shape.  It,
however, no longer produces sounds that could be considered musical (even
for my brand of music).  It contains thirteen tubes, none of which can be
bought for less than I paid for the organ.

It's got two 37 note full size keyboard manuals, thirteen bass pedals (all
of which are just solid as a rock), and a volume pedal that uses a resistive
material/metal plate configuration I've never seen before.  The tubes and
parts are coming out, and it's going to be the basis of a pretty nice
controller.

Sorry if this is heresy...

Cheers,
Scott



----- Original Message -----
From: <WeAreAs1 at aol.com>
To: <synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl>
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2004 8:26 PM
Subject: Re: [sdiy] Tube amplifier question


>
> In a message dated 8/11/04 8:05:52 PM, rtellason at blazenet.net writes:
>
> << Yet in doing organ work I've seen tubes that were 30 years old or more,
> and
>
> were either only slightly weak or just fine,  which always amazed me. >>
>
> Yes, the older tubes do seem to be a bit more solid and reliable, but part
of
> the reason for the thing you just mentioned is because people tend to buy
> their big, fancy organ and play it for a year or two, then they lose
interest and
> it just sits in the corner until their kids finally sell it in the
posthumous
> estate sale or garage sale!
>
> Michael Bacich
----- Original Message -----
From: <WeAreAs1 at aol.com>
To: <synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl>
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2004 8:26 PM
Subject: Re: [sdiy] Tube amplifier question


>
> In a message dated 8/11/04 8:05:52 PM, rtellason at blazenet.net writes:
>
> << Yet in doing organ work I've seen tubes that were 30 years old or more,
> and
>
> were either only slightly weak or just fine,  which always amazed me. >>
>
> Yes, the older tubes do seem to be a bit more solid and reliable, but part
of
> the reason for the thing you just mentioned is because people tend to buy
> their big, fancy organ and play it for a year or two, then they lose
interest and
> it just sits in the corner until their kids finally sell it in the
posthumous
> estate sale or garage sale!
>
> Michael Bacich