We still offer repair services on anything we have ever sold!
Legacy Repair Gallery/Blog
- Thread starter Paul Birkeland
- Start date
This was a pair of Paraglows I received for repair that got the special treatment by the shipping company. The most sensible course of action turned out to be having new top plates cut out of thicker material in a physically larger size. These were powder coated in textured black powder and the extra space allowed me to spread out the build components a little bit.
All capacitors and most of the resistors were replaced during the rebuild. I will do my best to maintain an inventory of these new chassis plates as undoubtedly there are other Paraglows out there that have suffered a bit while traveling.
All capacitors and most of the resistors were replaced during the rebuild. I will do my best to maintain an inventory of these new chassis plates as undoubtedly there are other Paraglows out there that have suffered a bit while traveling.
Attachments
Since this project is technically built from Paramount parts, I suppose it belongs here.
I was approached and asked if it would be possible to build a parallel feed 2A3 monoblock where the output transformer could be changed out easily. This morphed into monoblocks with polypropylene power supply/cathode bypass caps, then naturally shunt regulated 2A3 amps. Leftover Paramount parts were used, and the TFA-2004JR transformers can be unplugged and unscrewed from the top side of the chassis (with the amp off of course) to facilitate iron rolling.
The chassis height was increased to accommodate some enormous Clarity Cap parallel feed capacitors, and they were even given their own wood stretchers to attach to!
I was approached and asked if it would be possible to build a parallel feed 2A3 monoblock where the output transformer could be changed out easily. This morphed into monoblocks with polypropylene power supply/cathode bypass caps, then naturally shunt regulated 2A3 amps. Leftover Paramount parts were used, and the TFA-2004JR transformers can be unplugged and unscrewed from the top side of the chassis (with the amp off of course) to facilitate iron rolling.
The chassis height was increased to accommodate some enormous Clarity Cap parallel feed capacitors, and they were even given their own wood stretchers to attach to!
Attachments
This is one of a pair of Paramour I amplifiers that came to me with blown Hammond power transformers. Although our replacement PT-2 power transformer is no longer in production, our PT-10 power transformer has the perfect high voltage winding and a low voltage winding that is happy heating a 2A3 provided a DC supply is used. Along with new power transformers, I replaced all the power supply capacitors.
Attachments
I took this pair of Paraglows in for repair/rebuild recently. I like seeing our older amps in this condition, as it means the owner has been using them nearly daily for the better part of 20 years. This pair had tons of bulging capacitors and cooked resistors, so a complete rebuild was in order.
Attachments
tsingle999
New member
It is fun to see your wok Paul! Some great rebuilds! I am familiar with your rebuilds as you have done a couple for me! The SR2A3's are amazing!!! Thanks
raymondp1138
Member
Enjoy seeing the befores and afters.
4
4krow
Guest
Paul,
I have a small project that will likely not be completed soon enough, so I am asking you assistance. It is a basic Quickie kit, a PJCCS, and a FIX all combined within one chassis. I have gotten as far as making the Q work, yet, the PJCCS needs your help, as well as the Fix in the final product. Here is a shot in case you are interested.
My attention has been side lined for a SS amp project, so this needs attention in the meantime.
I have a small project that will likely not be completed soon enough, so I am asking you assistance. It is a basic Quickie kit, a PJCCS, and a FIX all combined within one chassis. I have gotten as far as making the Q work, yet, the PJCCS needs your help, as well as the Fix in the final product. Here is a shot in case you are interested.
My attention has been side lined for a SS amp project, so this needs attention in the meantime.
Attachments
I often find that one of the tougher things to do is to work on partially completed custom pieces. How much space is there inside your preamp?
4
4krow
Guest
Paul,
I completely agree. Let me get some photos together for you. What helps is that the chassis can be disassembled to the point where it is pretty accessible. The Fix portion is a bit tight being in there though, so it might end up unused.
Greg
I completely agree. Let me get some photos together for you. What helps is that the chassis can be disassembled to the point where it is pretty accessible. The Fix portion is a bit tight being in there though, so it might end up unused.
Greg
4
4krow
Guest
Now that I have had a chance to photo, and disassemble the unit, here is what you are looking at. Basically a Quickie and PJCCS that need attention. I must add that the 3 position Glassware A3 volume control is a stepped attenuator arrangement for 1) master volume (center dial), 2) left and right separate volume (flanking dials). This isn't the issue..... Believe it or not, I am unable to get the PJCCS working when wired to the Q. The Q works on it's own. Each time I make one of these simple kits, this same thing happens when the PJCCS is wired in, i.e. no signal at output. I realize that this is something that I am getting wrong, but I have simply lost patience.
Attachments
That's probably a little beyond my skill set.
Since I had the amps in hand, I talked the owner into letting me install the Iron Upgrade package that we offer for older SEX amps. It fit, but just barely! I had to trim off some of the mounting tab on each output transformer so it would clear the wood base.
Attachments
This project I am building up for my own personal uses. Way back 20+ years ago, I won a set of 300B-glow amps on eBay back when eBay was pretty new. I was working at a hifi shop at the time and had them shipped there, and I got to audition the amps against power amps that (at the time) were $25,000+. Needless to say I don't work at a hifi shop anymore! Anyway, this pair of really old and crusty original "SEX" amps showed up on the local Craigslist for a fair price. They really have very little left from the original SEX monoblocks, except maybe two of the octal sockets. The presence of the PGP-8.1 and TFA-204 made it obvious that I should rewind the clock and make some new B-glow amps. Stay tuned for more photos!
