Radios turned Guitar Amps

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Radios turned Guitar Amps

This is the group for Lo-Watt Rock & Blues.

Here is the place to post photos and information on how to convert vintage electronics into awesome sounding and really cool guitar amps.

Members: 291
Latest Activity: Jul 3, 2023

Discussion Forum

Sony not working

Started by Carlo Apr 16, 2021. 0 Replies

Zenith C845

Started by James Pobog. Last reply by James Pobog Nov 22, 2019. 1 Reply

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You need to be a member of Radios turned Guitar Amps to add comments!

Comment by BrianQ. on December 26, 2020 at 9:48am

From the back of the Potentiometer, it’s the outside right lug?

Comment by BrianQ. on December 26, 2020 at 6:21am

Negative connections should always go to the Ground. Just use the ground connection of the Potentiometer if you’re not sure where the Ground plane of the circuit is? Good luck :) 

Comment by Steve Kuju on December 26, 2020 at 3:11am

ok, I'm a newbie so this maybe the wrong place to ask this but here goes:

So I saw a few places on how to convert a battery powered radio into a cbg amp, so being a total newbie and very excited to try new things out, I found an old rca victor am/fm radio in my dads old stuff. 

so my question is this, I see how to figure out where to put the positve but where would i solder the negative to?

or, the obvious, just get a cheap battery one to play with?

Comment by 3 String Blues on September 7, 2020 at 4:08pm

that was really great to read!...i just want help in any way i can to help keep this hobby of cigar box guitars alive

...it is great to see it has brought you here to post this great photo and story!

Comment by Myron Joe Hickel on September 14, 2019 at 6:01pm

Hi,

My name is Joe and I just joined a couple of days ago. I'm retired so I have a bit of time to make stuff. In the last 2 months I've made 10 cbg's you can see them on my blog. I do not know how to play them so I purchased Johns dvd "Understanding 3string cigar box guitar" He also sent me a link to turn a radio into a amp. A couple of days later I bought a $5 transistor radio at a garage sale.early to mid 70's GE. Tonight I opened it up and in 3 hours had me a guitar amp. It runs and works on AC and 9VDC. 

Comment by Anne M. Fridley-Owen on August 12, 2019 at 7:55pm

Ive bought a few radios off of shopgoodwill and was only able to convert one. The other two have bad battery holders on em, does anyone know how to either put a new battery compartment on or could I put a 9v battery terminal instead? Was curious. I think they are 4x c or d cell batteries I'll try to post some pics at a later time. The radio I was able to hack was am only rca and I was able to wire up the input jack to the volume lug potentiometer. I gave that one away when I got sick to my friend Clayton who is down and out but plays guitar. He liked it  LOT.

Comment by 3 String Blues on May 10, 2018 at 4:47am

It's got headlights!...this would be a great little amplifier for cigar box guitar! It's a 1950's Admiral

Comment by 3 String Blues on April 14, 2018 at 9:27am

Check this out!

A Silvertone 600 for sale on eBay for 7 bucks.

I don't think this pertectiular radio works, but upon looking inside you can see there is easy access to tap a guitar into and turn it into a guitar amp.

Its old school transistor, this will both play and sound great I am about 90 percent positive this will be a great amp, its got a great size to.

I would not buy this exact one, as it looks like the battery compartment is missing and or leaked out. But if you search out this exact model ( Silvertone 600) I am pretty sure you will have a great little amp for cigar box guitar, and they are not expensive.

Its even got a groovy little handle and cool little looks!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/273157711300?ul_noapp=true

Comment by 3 String Blues on March 29, 2018 at 7:09am

Burnt transistors!

check out this cool Silvertone body thats for sale on ebay

Comment by sindre sortland on March 25, 2018 at 5:38am

Hi. I've built an amp into this old Norwegian Tandberg speaker. The speaker was found in a dumpster.

 

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Discussion Forum

Sony not working

Started by Carlo Apr 16, 2021. 0 Replies

Zenith C845

Started by James Pobog. Last reply by James Pobog Nov 22, 2019. 1 Reply

Just got a radio/cassette player--My next move--HELP!!

Started by Andy Busch. Last reply by Tim Pannabecker Aug 25, 2019. 3 Replies

Sweet Norwegian Transistor Radio - any tips?

Started by Elliott Fisher. Last reply by GARY KNIGHT Mar 25, 2018. 4 Replies

Battery valve radios

Started by Bird. Last reply by Bird Nov 22, 2016. 6 Replies

3 tube 8 watter Valco style amp with swamp sound

Started by Doug Christensen. Last reply by Doug Christensen Oct 17, 2016. 66 Replies

hey guys just alittle info please

Started by gregory lazorchak. Last reply by Denis U Jul 23, 2016. 3 Replies

Hitachi Transistor Radio with Tape.

Started by David Wilson. Last reply by GARY KNIGHT Jul 4, 2016. 9 Replies

Mini Amp - Where Do I make Connections? What is missing?

Started by Brian Revels. Last reply by daniel clarke May 13, 2016. 1 Reply

Car radio Amp

Started by Orcabait. Last reply by GARY KNIGHT May 10, 2016. 1 Reply

1962 Silvertone Medalist 3217

Started by Monterey. Last reply by Scott aka Farmer Ted Apr 3, 2015. 11 Replies

New jack in an old radio

Started by White Raven. Last reply by Scott aka Farmer Ted Mar 30, 2015. 3 Replies

Suitcase Amp

Started by Gary Ross. Last reply by Gary Ross Jan 26, 2015. 4 Replies

Arvin 8 Transistor AM radio...

Started by Corbin. Last reply by Corbin Jan 15, 2015. 11 Replies

Low volume with your Hacked Radio --- Amp

Started by Corbin. Last reply by Corbin Jan 12, 2015. 4 Replies

DIY amp question

Started by Greg Thompson. Last reply by Greg Thompson Jan 10, 2015. 2 Replies

1964 Philips AM/FM Radio to guitar amp project

Started by Scott aka Farmer Ted. Last reply by Scott aka Farmer Ted Jan 8, 2015. 4 Replies

Thank you beetle juice!

Started by Greg Thompson. Last reply by Jim Quinlan Nov 6, 2014. 5 Replies

Preamps

Started by John Newman. Last reply by 3 String Blues Aug 21, 2014. 3 Replies

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