[sdiy] sort of OT: Ward Airline phono input test: success!

[Travis Shire]

> So I cleaned up that neat looking Ward Airline radio's chassis, changed
some
> caps and plugged my guitar through a hotrodded Peavey Hotfoot into the
phono
> input of the radio. It's weird, it actually sounds like the AGC is working
> even when you're running it through the phono input - I got LOTS of
> disortion but not extra volume from the Hotfoot. It does sort of make
sense
> though since the only preamp stage between the 6V6GT and the phono input
was
> a 6AV6 hi-mu triode/dual diode - all sharing a common cathode. I'm pretty
> sure the diodes are for the AGC since there's a 6AL5 that I'm pretty sure
is
> being used as the detector here (since this is an AM/FM radio). Hooking
the
> amp straight through sounded nice and clean, but not much break-up since
> there was only 1 triode gain stage.
>

The phono input will have RIAA EQ...you don't wanna use that. Strip it and
redo it with a more guitar friendly circuit. You'll only need a cathode
follower if you choose to use a Mar$hall type tone stack. If you just want a
high cut control, you can run that right off a plate (after coupling cap).