Non Solid State Jukes

[USSEnterprise]

I'm considering getting an older jukebox from coinopwarehouse. When it comes to the ones that are not solid state, as in they use tubes, how hard are they to repair?

[BobA]

Old tube amps have some special requirements when troubleshooting.  Some tubes are no longer available or only available from those who save old tubes.  The voltages can be much higher then a solid state amp.  Some are wired point to point and there is no circuit board with test points only a mess of wires and componets.

BobA

[Ken Layton]

Mechanically there's no difference between jukes with solid state parts or relays in terms of repairs.

Tube amplifiers in jukes are now over 30 years old and will need to have new capacitors installed. Once rebuilt they are very reliable. Tube amplifiers do indeed have a high voltage section (typically running between 200 volts to 500 volts DC). There are some tubes that are no longer manufactured, so if you ever come across a cache of old tubes, don't throw them away as someone will need them. The largest source of new and new-old-stock (NOS) parts for tube equipment is Antique Electronic Supply (www.tubesandmore.com). They have an extensive inventory of tubes so there shouldn't be any problem getting replacement tubes for your amplifier.

Most tube amplifiers are wired "point-to-point" style. Some have a group of components wired on a terminal board. Tube amplifiers have a "warm" tone to them and much more mellow that solid state amplifiers.

I grew up with tube amplifiers so I find them quite easy to repair.

[USSEnterprise]

I would think that they are easier to repair than solid state amps. Its just that the availability of tubes is limited.

[Ken Layton]

Availability of tubes limited? Maybe on the 6973 or 45 tubes, but not on most others. Many popular numbers are still being manufactured like 5U4, 6L6, 12AX7, etc. In fact, the best tubes being made new today come from Russia!

[USSEnterprise]

Around what year would you sat they switched to transistors?

[Ken Layton]

Most juke manufacturers started the switch to solid state around 1962. Rowe still offered tube amplifiers up to 1971 in the MM6 model.

[Pipercub]

Something else to remember is that the "equalizer" curve and line level of an amplifier designed to work with a record player is different than one made to work with modern gear (CD MP3 etc.) but this is easily dealt with as there are many adapters out there. I bought one from an audiophile website when I installed an MP3 player and later a ROKU soundbridge in my juke with a 45rpm record setup. Both remain fully functional.

[tyggemannen]

I love the sound of tubes, get tubes. : )