USSEnterprise
Experienced Member
I recently dug out an old reel to reel portable player in my basement. Turns out its from the Late 50, and belonged to my grandfather. Made by Recordio. I plugged it in and set up an old tape (christmas music) and heard nothing. I hooked up a microphone and heard nothing. I knoticed an auxiliary input on it, so I take a line from my CD player and hook it up. I hear Aerosmith. I'm assuming the preamp is out. Now this is not solid state. Tubes. I open her up, and look up the various tubes. I think I find the pre-amp tube, a Mullard ECC83/12AX7. Cheapest I can find the thing is $150. Does the tube have to be the same brand, cause I can find other brands of the same model tube for $8. I don't want to put a lot of money in this, just enough to get it playing tapes again.