Picked up a dirty W-5M and a WA-P2 (with the connector cord cut off) last night for free and I know this has been asked before and I know the smart answer is to NOT do this... but if I WERE to convert this W-5M into a guitar amp or raid the two pieces for parts for a new build... which direction should I head in?!? I was thinking that this might be a good starting point for an all octal bass amp idea.
This is the W-5M schematic:
http://www.vintage-radio.info/heathkit/ ... s/w-5m.gif
(It came with some RCA BP 6L6s instead of KT66 tubes)
This is the WA-P2 schematic:
http://www.vintage-radio.info/heathkit/ ... /wa-p2.gif
Thanks in advance,
-T
Donations
Heathkit W-5m and WA-P2...
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tarzanalog
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Alexo
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W-5M:
If you:
Create a tap on the power supply for a screen supply and disconnect the ultralinear taps from the power tubes, remove the negative feedback, and rewire V1 & 2 to match the Lite IIB, maybe with a lower tail resistor value (15k?) replace those 100K grid leaks on the power tubes with 270K or 470k's, and replace the 22K grid stoppers with 1.5k's, you could be the pioneer who makes the 6L6 version of our beloved namesake.
If you:
Create a tap on the power supply for a screen supply and disconnect the ultralinear taps from the power tubes, remove the negative feedback, and rewire V1 & 2 to match the Lite IIB, maybe with a lower tail resistor value (15k?) replace those 100K grid leaks on the power tubes with 270K or 470k's, and replace the 22K grid stoppers with 1.5k's, you could be the pioneer who makes the 6L6 version of our beloved namesake.
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tarzanalog
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Ooooh... liking the sound of THAT!Alexo wrote:...you could be the pioneer...
Was already thinking along those lines. Thanks Alexo!
Thought I might also take Mr. dB's advice and knock out the 9-pin sockets and replace with octals, substituting a 6SL7 for V1 and a 6SN7 for V2.
What should I do with V5, the rectifier?!? Leave as a 5R4 or change to something else... or go SS?
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Alexo
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That is quite a hefty dose of B+ voltage coming off that pt, so I would stick with the 5R4, looks like that will give you the biggest voltage drop out of the rectifiers that can handle those big filter caps ...ya lucky bastid.What should I do with V5, the rectifier?!? Leave as a 5R4 or change to something else... or go SS?
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ontariomaximus
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Buschman
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If you don't have a tube home stereo , you should. The w-5ms are supposed to sound superb. Just find you another one & a cool tube preamp. I have a st70 Dynaco & the sound is very warm & musical. The W-5m is supposed to blow it away. The preamp is pretty much junk.
Did it still have the Genelex kt66s?
Did it still have the Genelex kt66s?
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brownnote
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Just a few days ago I installed a couple of custom wound potted power transformers that I had made for a pair of W5M's.
They had the Peerless 16309 OT's but both power transformers were junk, which is very common for the W5m as the PT's are generally known to be under-rated for the application.
The W5m's replaced an ST70, and they do sound very good, but very different from the ST70.
I strongly suggest that you don't hack it if it's in decent shape and still has the Peerless OT.
If you're just looking for something to convert into a guitar amp, you might think about trading that W5m for somehting better suited to the conversion (I may be interested).
The Williamson circuits are pretty highly regarded in vintage hi-fi circles.
A good choice for a guitar amp conversion would be Rauland, Masco, Bogen, Newcomb, Davis, Trutone, Stronmberg Carlson, etc.
BTW...I've built the 18watt circuit using 6L6's and 4K iron, and it's a completey different beast....it's not going to sound or behave anything like an 18watt.
What yo have there is not all that rare, but it's worth thinking twice about gutting it.
They had the Peerless 16309 OT's but both power transformers were junk, which is very common for the W5m as the PT's are generally known to be under-rated for the application.
The W5m's replaced an ST70, and they do sound very good, but very different from the ST70.
I strongly suggest that you don't hack it if it's in decent shape and still has the Peerless OT.
If you're just looking for something to convert into a guitar amp, you might think about trading that W5m for somehting better suited to the conversion (I may be interested).
The Williamson circuits are pretty highly regarded in vintage hi-fi circles.
A good choice for a guitar amp conversion would be Rauland, Masco, Bogen, Newcomb, Davis, Trutone, Stronmberg Carlson, etc.
BTW...I've built the 18watt circuit using 6L6's and 4K iron, and it's a completey different beast....it's not going to sound or behave anything like an 18watt.
What yo have there is not all that rare, but it's worth thinking twice about gutting it.
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tarzanalog
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You guys!!! Why are you trying to talk sense into me?!?!?
Well, I might keep it as-is for awhile and see if I can stumble onto another soon, if not I'm really inclined to load it with 6550s and have some fun!!!
No Kt66s BTW... Canadian made RCA 6L6s instead. First thing I looked at ... me loves my Genalex glass!!!
All noval tubes in the W-5M and the preamp were Mullards, though!
FYI - The W-5M has the Peerless/Altec OT and the other two are Chicago iron.
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