Author |
Message |
Foxhunter
Member Username: Foxhunter
Post Number: 87 Registered: 4-2008
| Posted on Wednesday, August 06, 2008 - 8:40 pm: |
|
Just wondering a guy near me's brother died and wants to sell me 2 DaveMade amps. They are supposed to be the "Original DaveMade's" out of New Jersey----not in North or South Carolina as they are from now. One is a 2-pill and one is an 8-pill. I won't see them until tomorrow but they are both "the gold-face" models he said. I will have no way of knowing if they are intact (as far as the transistors go) they will have to be bought as is. He wants $200 each. Anyone familiar with these amps or who've had them please let me know what you think. What does he mean by "the gold-face" models? If they are not originals, but the newer ones made in the Carolina's----are they still worth it? If the pills are not good what are they worth then, if either "new" DaveMade or "old" DaveMade? Anything you can add I could really use. Thanks-----Foxhunter "Deal or no deal"?? PS---He just sold his brother's "Henry Radio 5K" for $500 !!!! That's real sad he said he wait for me to see him tomorrow now it's gone |
Tech808
Moderator Username: Tech808
Post Number: 15952 Registered: 8-2002
| Posted on Thursday, August 07, 2008 - 8:08 pm: |
|
Any used radio equipment is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. With that said $200.00 is a very, very LOW price and would make me run the other way without even looking back. Just my personal thought's, Lon~Tech808 CEF#0808/HAM#001/CVC#0002 Tech808@copperelectronics.com
|
Drzuo
Junior Member Username: Drzuo
Post Number: 33 Registered: 1-2006
| Posted on Thursday, August 07, 2008 - 8:26 pm: |
|
See I'd haggle a bit, 200 for each? Id say $100 for the 2 pill and $200 for the 8 pill. Even if they had blown pills and a few other parts you could re pill both for about $250, and then maybe $15 for resistors or caps or other little parts. But thats just me. I guess as long as I could peak inside to make sure the boards weren't completely trashed or missing. Even if the boards were missing id give him $100-$150 for both and rebuild. |
Foxhunter
Member Username: Foxhunter
Post Number: 93 Registered: 4-2008
| Posted on Friday, August 08, 2008 - 12:00 am: |
|
No I found out today that they resembled more "HomeMade" than "DaveMade". I met the seller and he'd changed his prices overnight after talking with the family & friends of his dead brother. He'd just sold a large "Henry Radio Linear Amplifier" for $400 (his brother had been running high-power on 11M AM). I almost cried when I heard I just missed this. $250 for the 2-pill 2SC2879 driver amp, and $850 for the 8-pill 2SC2879 high-drive amp, plus $100 for the attached single Bird Meter Assembly. He ended up taking from me the still not-cheap price of $750 for all three. I am in New Jersey. The copper board & Toshiba Transistor boxes were built by someone named "Bear". At some point the real "DaveMade Dave" went over the boxes and made some changes. All 9 of the family swore, whether I bought them or not, that they are very good friends with Dave and the work was done by him. I can't ever believe everything I'm told but they sincerely believed what they were telling me it appeared. This kid who died had ALOT of stuff. I grabbed another "NoName" tube amp (base-AC) that really looked sharp. It has 6x 12DQ6B tubes being driven by 2x smaller tubes that I can't read hte numbers on. I don't think it's high-wattage but it has a very big transformer. Also got a Kenwood TS-820 and a Yaesu FT-101ZD I wish I knew the background of these amps, they swear that they told me right and also I have 2 weeks to bring them back if I'd like to. |
Drzuo
Junior Member Username: Drzuo
Post Number: 34 Registered: 1-2006
| Posted on Friday, August 08, 2008 - 11:56 am: |
|
if it works and the boxes are built well, I think you did ok- you got a bird outta the deal. I havent used a no name amp but I hear they arent bad. fire it up and play. Really you got a "Mini-Maul in a box" setup. have fun, lemme know how it goes. I briefly looked at the tubes (I'm not a big tube guy..yet) and yaesu used them in the ft-75 (1 tube rated for 20 watts) later they re-released it rated at 30 watts pep- other configurations Ive seen has the tube as high as about 50 watts pep, so in guessing, I'd say 6 of them will do 180-250 watts reliably. Some of the tube amp guru's will probably shed some light on it. Its always nice to be thrifty, but some of the fun of the hobby is just laying down the green and playing with some new toys, whether it was a super deal, or a few bucks more than you should've. As long as you found a neat little jewel and have some fun I'd say ya did ok. |
Foxhunter
Member Username: Foxhunter
Post Number: 96 Registered: 4-2008
| Posted on Friday, August 08, 2008 - 5:47 pm: |
|
Thanks I appreciate it. The two alleged Bear-Dave boxes I won't be able to test as I'm told I need a 180+ Amp power supply which I don't have available to me only a 46-52 Amp supply. A guy who's a keydown contest winner (last year's 2 thru 8-pill trophies at the "Philly Break") there yesterday told me the boxes will do 1300W-1500W the way they are set up as "competition-style boxes". Who knows, I hope. I see 2SC2879 ratings at 120W each. But.... I read from a post I saved from Tech181 (and have read also elsewhere) that the 2SC2879 can really do 125% of its rated value, so that's 150W per pill. I have 10x--2SC2879's so that should equal about 1500W. Correct? So he was correct? That's providing I "drive' the first 2-pill box appropriately. Any suggestions anyone on proper input into the first amp in a set-up such as this? Oops sorry---about the tube amp---I used a poor choice of words. I didn't mean the amp-maker "NoName", just that it is of nameless manufacture. I asked about the other tube-amp a little more on a new thread posted "mystery tube amplifier". The guy said he thought his brother had said it did 300W but couldn't be exactly sure. The (six) Westinghouse 12DQ6B's are being driven it looks by (two) RCA OA2's. (?) I have one more amp I've read should do 1000W but I have yet to test it. It's a Heathkit SB 200. It "appears" like it's in excellent condition. I was told by the seller I should get "a variac" to adjust/lower the voltage into all my older tube-type equipment. This because I could harm them unless I adjust-up the voltage slowly if they've been sitting awhile. So I've been afraid to turn it on. |
Foxhunter
Intermediate Member Username: Foxhunter
Post Number: 100 Registered: 4-2008
| Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 12:55 pm: |
|
Well, in the end I got a total of four DC DaveMade amplifiers. Two goldface boxes that each have two 2290's driving six 2879's. Then I have a 2-box setup that has a box with two 2879'a driving a box with eight 2879's. They look nice inside but I have yet to test them. |