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Check out this over the top prototype/handmade tube mono preamp. Dates from 1953/54 from the codes on the caps. Loaded with selenium rectifiers, oil caps, melting vitamin Q type caps and oozing bumble bee cap. Regulated power supply with a choke and plenty of capacitance. Tubes are suspended on rubber shock mounts. Super tidy build and zero information who constructed it, he could have taught Saul Marantz a thing or two when Saul built his "Consolette" preamp. Not mine and in as found condition from a yard sale this morning. #tubeamplifier #tubepreamp (at Spokane, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/CO3baFws6Oc/?igshid=96ne6nlxrvvm

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Warning! Those sensitive to pictures of mold should move on. This sweet Pioneer PL-550 has lived somewhere moist, cool and dark for a decade or two and caught an infection. Luckily the air compressor cranked to 11 blew all the mold away. After a repair to the strobe circuit and heavy cleaning with bleach it will return to the owner. #pioneerturntable #vintagestereo #audiorepairs (at Spokane, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/CNVYy6Zsy5x/?igshid=16s4hi6vz8bqt

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Talking to a buddy recently inspired me to put together this sampling of my Radio Craftsmen amplifiers. From the left is the RC-2, RC-400, RC-450, RC-500, RC-500A and RC-550, ranging in dates from 1949 for the RC-2 to 1955 for the RC-550. This represents nearly all of the Chicago era Radio Craftsmen amplifiers, missing is a variation of the RC-500 that fits between the 500 and 500A. The company also made tuners, a preamp, chrome plated TV chassis and wall radios. After the mid 50s, a California company bought the name and slapped it on inspired amplifiers. I have been collecting these for over 20 years and have really enjoyed restoring them, notice the extremely rare RC-450 is 100% original. #radiocraftsmen #radiocraftsmenc400 #radiocraftsmen500a #tubeamplifier #tubeamp #kt66 #6v6 https://www.instagram.com/p/CK2NizgDui0/?igshid=18l65uaj7bshj

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Another Christmas idea for you late shoppers (ahum, like me). A beautiful Marantz 2245 all restored and ready for decades of love. Recapped including new filter caps, LED lamps and dozens of transistors replaced (for lower noise or eliminating future problems). Another local only deal with PM for pricing. If you need a bit more power, I can squeeze in a restoration on a 2270 before santa needs it. #marantz2245 #marantz #silverfacestereo #vintagehifi #vintageamplifier #vintagestereo #vintagereceiver #spokaneaudio (at Spokane, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJDDTiLsvRN/?igshid=1xx5aqt82igjx

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You know you're getting nothing special for Christmas, so buy yourself this amazing Fisher 500b tube stereo receiver! All restored, new caps and new output tubes. Individual bias mod done on the output tubes so each tube can be finely adjusted. Includes the original box as well! Not shipping this beast, so don't ask. PM for more information and pricing. #fishertubeamp #tubeaudio #tubeamplifier #tubereceiver #fisher500b #tubeamp #spokaneaudio #vintagehifi #vintageamplifier #vintagetube #vintagestereo (at Spokane, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/CI_R_Qgsl4p/?igshid=1blgldoyblruz

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The next couple of posts will be disasters and eye popping damage pictures. This is a infamous Rifa arc suppression cap that was just about to catch on fire before the customer brought it to me because the turntable wouldn't shut off. Very common in Dual turntables. #badcaps #turntable #audiorepairs (at Spokane, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/CH1Ru74DDpC/?igshid=zmzmrew5h4k3

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Found in the wild! Check out this homemade late 40s/early 50s tube amp. Not your usual amp, uses a UTC LS-55 output transformer and 6B4G output tubes. Also unusual is the Thordarson input transformer and the volume/tone pots have a universal joint and flex axle assembly I've never seen on a amp. Check out the gooey wax caps. Guessing 10 watts output. #tubeaudio #tubeamplifier #homemadeamp #6b4g #utctransformers (at Spokane, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/CFxqkUWjdvP/?igshid=1w5qtpjtw4kkr

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Rare event when I had both Denon DP-60L and DP-59L turntables in for service at the same time. #denonturntable #spokaneaudio #audiorepairs (at Spokane, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/CC9X4u4D3Ab/?igshid=18mzzz4zqnv7

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I purchased this Garrard 301 back in the mid 1990s at the Spokane Public Library auction when they were moving from a temporary location to a new building. They were getting rid of their records, SAMs photofacts and turntables along with a bunch of other old stuff that was "uncool" for a library. I used the 301 for a year or so until a move damaged the tonearm and I set it aside for a eventual restoration. Jump to this weekend and David @groove.merchants.spokane was cleaning out the back storage room and came across this Garrard 301 owners manual. He has a friend that works at the library and somehow this manual was handed to him sometime in the last 5 years. The Garrard manual was finally handed to me and it's the matching manual to my 301! It only took 25 years to get the pair reunited. #garrard301 #groovemerchantrecords #spokanepubliclibrary #spokaneaudio (at Spokane, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-5MAejp0cp/?igshid=1iqakp5qkcrqp

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I'm here for your run-from-pandemic music requirements! This is the best time to enjoy music and escape from the world no matter where you are. Take care of yourself! #spokaneaudio #pandemicpreparedness (at Spokane, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-IAetjpGYG/?igshid=6c4cddhwhs4j

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Check out the gatefold from the LP Damnation by the band Second Coming, date 1970. Excellent proto hard rock/acid rock. Interesting choice of semi hollow body Gibsons and Epiphone guitars. But what really got me was the double stack of a double Kustom bass stack. Four (!?) Sunn cabinets and a single amp and a big Fender stack. I bet they were LOUD! #kustomamplification #sunnamps #fenderamp #acidrock #recordcover (at Groove Merchants) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-C-Ur5ppgb/?igshid=1f3qbu5z0qcqe

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Smurf record player now available. New needle and still has a hang tag for the "super arm" TM. FTS #smurfs #recordplayer #cardboardaudio (at Groove Merchants) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9uiPNLpi8y/?igshid=1sazka95mcoey

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It over, call it quits! I have discovered the worst record cover of all time. #worstrecords #recordcoverart (at Spokane, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8umQzWpM65/?igshid=2qgegnaqw533

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Now available, restored Marantz model 18 receiver from 1967. A rare version made in Woodside NY. Sometime in it's long past, it had been modified with preamp out/power amp in, looks professionally done. All of the caps have been replaced as well as a few transistors, sounds really good! Scope even works! #marantz18 #marantz #silverfacestereo #vintagehifi #spokaneaudio #usamade (at Spokane, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/B74XSS8JWKl/?igshid=16wy9t1xe2vfh