Philco Stereo Radio - Transformation to SE Guitar Amp - FINISHED

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Re: Philco Stereo Radio - Transformation to SE Guitar Amp

Post by Bg »

I have loads of small bits of grill cloth if needed, I hoard all my leftovers, just in case, then never use it. Mostly all fender types, nothing exotic.
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Re: Philco Stereo Radio - Transformation to SE Guitar Amp

Post by Jay »

StrummersOfThunder wrote: Tue Oct 29, 2024 9:33 pm I smell biscuits …
Sorry no biscuits, just plain screw and glue. Good enough for a bedroom amp.

But I do bake some lovely ginger biscuits most weeks :D

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Re: Philco Stereo Radio - Transformation to SE Guitar Amp

Post by Jay »

Two cabinets to finish with tolex.

Retaining the radio chassis doesn't make for easy cab design...

And freehand writing the labels sucks. Might have to CAD it and get a proper frontpanel done.

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Re: Philco Stereo Radio - Transformation to SE Guitar Amp

Post by Jay »

Cabinet cladded with burgundy tolex. Handle, tiny speaker and feet yet to be screwed in place.

Face plate is now in CAD and will be vinyl printed tomorrow :D. Yay


Cover for back not made yet


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Re: Philco Stereo Radio - Transformation to SE Guitar Amp

Post by Slowy »

Looking forward to hearing it!
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Re: Philco Stereo Radio - Transformation to SE Guitar Amp

Post by jeremyb »

Slowy wrote: Thu Nov 07, 2024 6:05 pm Looking forward to hearing it!
Ditto, such a great transformation!
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Re: Philco Stereo Radio - Transformation to SE Guitar Amp

Post by StrummersOfThunder »

That’s bloody cool Jean
Tho I was expecting ripped denim not burgundy …
Let’s hear it !

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Re: Philco Stereo Radio - Transformation to SE Guitar Amp

Post by Bg »

StrummersOfThunder wrote: Thu Nov 07, 2024 6:45 pm Tho I was expecting ripped denim not burgundy …
Its not enough that we succeed, we still need others to fail

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Re: Philco Stereo Radio - Transformation to SE Guitar Amp

Post by crowbgood1 »

Beautiful! Well done.
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Re: Philco Stereo Radio - Transformation to SE Guitar Amp

Post by Jay »

StrummersOfThunder wrote: Thu Nov 07, 2024 6:45 pm That’s bloody cool Jean
Tho I was expecting ripped denim not burgundy …
Let’s hear it !
Slowie is the gear inspector. You will have his verdict after the weekend. :wink:

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Re: Philco Stereo Radio - Transformation to SE Guitar Amp

Post by StrummersOfThunder »

Pretty tight radius on the round over bit ;)

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Re: Philco Stereo Radio - Transformation to SE Guitar Amp - FINISHED

Post by Jay »

Celebration time! Very happy with the conversion from radio to guitar amp while retaining some retro cabinet style.

Vinyl faceplate not perfect but a 100% better than my handwritten attempt.

Just a couple of aluminium bits to do for each side to complement the bottom strip and it needs a back panel.

No roundover bits were damaged while making this cabinet, just some sand paper :wink:

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Re: Philco Stereo Radio - Transformation to SE Guitar Amp - FINISHED

Post by Slowy »

This is a great little amp! Plenty of volume and plenty of gain available. I preferred it with the boost off for better definition. We played it through 2x12s and it was suitably large and room filling but I liked it with a single Jensen which added a nice dose of attitude. Never got round to trying the 1x12.

When a couple of blokes get together for an afternoon and never get close to trying all their gear options, they've obviously got too much gear. :roll:
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Re: Philco Stereo Radio - Transformation to SE Guitar Amp - FINISHED

Post by StrummersOfThunder »

Jay wrote: Sun Nov 10, 2024 4:12 pm Celebration time! Very happy with the conversion from radio to guitar amp while retaining some retro cabinet style.

Vinyl faceplate not perfect but a 100% better than my handwritten attempt.

Just a couple of aluminium bits to do for each side to complement the bottom strip and it needs a back panel.

No roundover bits were damaged while making this cabinet, just some sand paper :wink:


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That look fantastic Jean, and if you need a straight edge you can use the cabinet! You should have recessed a little spirit level in it.
Nice generous pours on the scotch too!

Face plate looks great. In fact youve the wine tolex, beige grill, black face plate and silver knobs wouldnt 'work' in my head but the combo looks really cool. Cant quite put my finger on it. Maybe mid century automotive? It'll come to me.
Id love to record a demo on it some time when it suits.

Great job :thumbup:

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Re: Philco Stereo Radio - Transformation to SE Guitar Amp - FINISHED

Post by StrummersOfThunder »

Too late to call the amp 'The Yugo'?

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