Heathkit by Daystrom AA-151 stereo tube amplifier and AJ-12

[sunnydaze]

I just got this on Ebay. Had planned to pilage the parts for guitar amp use, but after reading about it a little, am wondering if I should restore it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Heathkit-by-Day ... 7675.l2557

The output Transformers on the power amp appear to be Stancor. Would appreciate comments from anyone remotely familiar with these.

Mike

[Structo]

Does it work?

Man I miss those old Heathkits.

I built a VTVM kit when I was about 12.

[Phil_S]

Everyone has an opinion, so I'm not saying mine is what you should do.

If I paid that price for that amp, I'd restore it to 100% working condition. Cosmetically, it looks good and all the iron is there. I'm going to guess, based on seller's description, that output tubes are weak on one channel. I'd pull the EL84 Mullards and use them in a guitar amp if I found a decent pair among them. I think you'll get a very nice tube stereo out of it with modern EL84's. Even cheap Sovteks will work, though I'd probably go for something "better." You might also find good European preamp tubes (Mullard, Amperex, etc.) and I'd keep those, too.

If the amp was a beater, I'd part it out, but it's not. If you restore it, you can probably sell it for at least twice what you paid. It is hard to know, but I'm guessing well under $100 worth of parts will do the job. Then you can invest proceeds of the sale in the parts meant for the guitar amp of your choice. Doing that also returns a desirable piece to the hi-fi world, where it will be appreciated for what it is.

Those Stancor transformers are highly desirable, no question about it. They are, IMO, worth more intact on that chassis than pulled. That said, you can buy brand new great guitar amp iron that is meant for what you want to do. It's one thing when you buy old stand alone Stancor iron and quite another to raid that particular chassis.

[sunnydaze]

Structo>According to the description it works, but is weak on one side and has scratchy controls. I won't really know until I get the family to my mother's house for Christmas. We live in Taipei. Fortunately, my mother has a lot of storage space in her house. Over the year's I've built up a decent inventory of amps and guitars and a lot of them are stored at mom's. It's always great to get to break everything out on my once or twice a year visits.

Phil>Thanks for the advice. I may not have time to work on this Christmas vacation, but eventually I will.

Thanks
mike

[Phil_S]

I didn't realize you are in Taiwan. From what I see, in the Asian market, people will pay silly money for a nice piece like this properly restored.