great restoration. when I changed the 12ax7 tubes out in my leak stereo 20. I used 12au7 tubes and used different resistors. really improved it.

Working with tubes for more than 60 years I can only smile with your nice work .....😀

You’re right about the canister capacitors but like me Im on disability, and can’t afford the canister some of them are 60-80 dollars,I cut it at the bottom put new capacitors in side the canister and use aluminum tape and put the cardboard cover on them

One problem with the design of the AA-100 is distortion in the preamp do to the nonlinear audio response by the biasing of the 12AX7. To easily fix this I replaced the pre amp tubes with 12AT7’s. This cleaned it up with a linear response right up to the supply rail. The preamp gain is a little lower.

Great choice of music at the end! Bravos!

I bet that Heathkit integrated amplifier is a joy to listen to. Very nice repair! The owner should enjoy it for a very long time.

Note that the original fuse holder was also wired incorrectly. The source or line side should always be wired to the BACK of the fuse holder. The load to the SIDE terminal. This is so the somewhat exposed ring when the fuse id removed is not hot should the power cord still be plugged in. Today that would be an immediate failure in a UL, CSA, or CE product certification. Great job on the rebuild. You don't see much of that craftsmanship anymore today.

Great video and info! I have watched all your vids. I have 2 AA-100’s that I totally rebuilt. One was with your power pc board and every component was replaced as U described in this vid. Sounds very good! AA-100 #2 had all resistors and electrolytic caps changed. Both PC boards are original and have the original type good-all and gen instrument caps. All cap cans changed both amps. I am in the process of working out any bugs to then compare both units. Your bias adjustments are a great improvement! Love your pc board with the exception of the dark masking making it impossible to trace a circuit when troubleshooting. You obviously do this for the love of the amp because I know from experience that it takes over 125 hours to do a total rebuild which could never be charged out to a customer. I also have an AA-151 a AJ-30 and an AJ-32 all rebuilt and working. Your vids are so enjoyable 😊😊 and I know the work that goes into them. You really need to consult a semi professional video photographer who could help you come up with some type of inexpensive lighting alternatives. Could you do a vid on how to safely wire the 115vac power cord using safety caps and removing the death cap on an Aa-100. John Ocala Fl

A very time consuming repair/upgrade, but it sounds as though you have achieved your goal(s). Good Job!

God, I remember these things in the Heathkit catalog when I was a child! I wanted to make one but they were expensive.

I have an old Heathkit tube stereo amplifier that someone gave me back in the early 90's. It was missing the four EL84 tubes, which I replaced with 6BQ5 tubes from Radio Shack. I pulled it out a couple of years ago and it still works, but it's getting a hum in it now. I'm sure the caps are all dried up by now. Mine isn't the AA-100, but I can't remember the model, but the RCA jacks are on the rear right, facing the rear of the amp, above where you set the speaker impedance with a jumper. Mine doesn't have the four lights on the front panel, either. Someday when I get the money, I'll have to have this gem restored.

Warm white incandescent or warm LED lights are nice. My Technics 5570 with warm white incandescent lights looks beautiful.

I've had a Heathkit AA 32 rebuilt and I'm going to take it in 2 weeks time. What I find interesting is that this AA 32 has both magnetic and ceramic cartridge phono inputs. I'll use it with a Heathkit AJ-12 Stereo receiver in exceptionally good condition. It'll happen in a week or two. Thanks for this great video.

What a beautiful and useful video you did man!! Thanks to share your knowledge! Subscribed!

Wow does that have a beautiful tube tone. The second song sounded like Chuck Mangione. Fantastic and thank you for sharing.

That, that, that huge RRR-Z Drill bit looked awkward to use, if-n It were me, I would invest in a 10mm to 40mm 8 step drill bit, I know~I know the suckers cost as much as three drill bits, but once you got it, I swear you will find the step drill bit a very useful drill bit.

Hey great video and good job. I hope your wife didn’t mind you working on the dinner table.

Interesting. I had one of these for years and in a purge to make more space I sold it about eight years ago. I've kind of regretted that. However, I am currently using a Heathkit AA-30 stereo amp I rescued from a dumpster at a fleamarket back in 1985. I would be interested in hearing what you think about that amp as well as the SP-2 preamp it would have been paired with. I am glad I found your program and thanks for the video!

I find the video recording rather rickety. it doesn't come across well this way. It's not a professional repair shop, but... It's all... on grandmother's kitchen table. Mind you, I don't mean ugly! Friendly greetings from The Netherlands! Rob

I might be missing something, but it did appear that when you were checking the power supply voltages that the negative side was coming from the same connection - so, again, perhaps I missed something but is it not generally considered a no no to use two hands to check voltages in such high ranges, that is, would it not have been safer to use a clip on the negative side/connection so only one hand was needed as you moved through the various checks at the positive high voltage connection points?

Where did you order your can capacitors from? I replaced the ones in my Heathkit W-5M amplifiers with CC Manufacturing branded ones 10 years ago and they are bad again, ESR measures 6 to 8 ohms and they are arcing inside when the b+ peaks before the output tubes start to conduct. Was trying to get a bid from Hayseed Hamfest on building some custom cans, but they have not responded. I ordered a can kit for a Fisher 500C from them for $128 that I am working on currently. It uses the JJ 7591S output tubes.

The dc bias or operating point is separate from the ac bias or transconductance match. One has little to do with the other.

So what are the spec's for this amp. I built one for my dad for Christmas in 1960-1961 but I can't remember if it was this one or the next one up.

I have not been able to find replacement cans for the W5M, I have tried all the major suppliers of vintage equipment parts, if you know where I can get them please let me know?

As a general rule I replace output tubes when they are 50% of rated GM. What is your criteria for determining if the tube is not up to spec? (tired)

Where are buying your can capacitor from?

I have one in pristine condition. Along with a pristine AJ-30 tuner. Has been sitting for about 20 years for looks only. Looking to part ways with it. It powers up, all lights work (glows nicely), it has the original gray 2 prong power cord. Any idea what the value is? Great video by the way, it’s nice to see there are still people out there that can work on these!

I can’t understand why to change resistors and non-electrolytic capacitors if their parameters are normal. Tell from it. What test station do you use to test vacuum tubes?

I sadly have the solid state version of this amp. But I only paid $10.

Where can I buy the AA100 power tube pcb, please?

So may I ask what was the total cost to the customer for this repair/upgrade? You did a great job on it by the way. Well done.

That Power Cord would drive me nuts. A big lateral move upgrade it to proper SOTA CORDS. Also. Thank goodness you didn't go JJ tubes. The feet are a big deal also. Tone cones 3 of them now listen Go the distance Mr. Fix it NO half Steps.

hello, i build stereo hifi tube amps. ill probably horrify you, but i buy mainly zenith rca maggie etc, console amps off ebay and i harvest the iron and tubes maybe, and chuck the rest. i build my own chassis and use the most simple circuit i can find. oh i usually build se amps. i have built quite a few pp amps too but prefer the se amps. anyhow i had that same aa100 and it was so totally f-ed up it wasnt repairable in my opinion.the boards were shot. ive found that increasing the uf of the filter cap powering the ots makes a def fidelity jump. and i regulate the screens on the output tubes, Dennis Had style. the use of big film caps also make a big difference in the power supply. i get theres no room in your heath. just saying hi i guess subscribed. great job.

Hello I need you help please I have a SP-2 Preamp that is all original unmolested I would like to have it professionally restored with new caps and resistors Is this a project you would consider? If so please let me know how we can connect for shipping details Thank you Bob from Sarasota, FL

Great video! I have one of those beasts. It sort of works but it could use an overhaul. How do I get in touch with you? I live in Canada, however. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Lol.😀

Good work, but, boy do you need better lighting!

Please when checking the high voltage use a klamp for the ground so you can put one hand in youre pocket. with one hand near a perfect ground and the other at high voltage your so close to a perfect death! scary to see

You seem pretty knowledgeable and your delivery is good, but what a terrible 'shop' set-up and def. need to work on camera/production skills. Check out Uncle Doug(s) channel. He's not overly ornate but does an excellent job. Not critisizing,trying to help. You can do it ! Nice job fixing.👍 🙂✌️❤

hi you know you put alot of time in this i picked up a uk reel to reel mini 8 it's called one inch deck i put alot of hrs in to fixing it up big time i was in need of a 7 1/2 ips 1 inch deck i have alot of zonal tape alot so spending money was very good i put about 20 hrs plus in 100% checking all the parts i pull all them out on all 8 channel cards big job in the end time add's up i would say the bill from a pro tec would be over 2000 uk to up my brenel mini 8 looks like new now new side panels as well smaller power unit up dated power wiring all ways to do a better job once you have started on a job i started at place and worked on all the bad places first yes you lot say the power unit is big you are 100% not right i re made it soundcraft power units are very bad i do it as a hobbie in my spare time beware i have seen 60.00 pound fee's a hr i put a new power unit in a mate's deck 50.00 the bill was he was very up set he said i over fee him in the uk same job 100 uk

J J tubes are not very good.

Cant see shit !