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Grommes 40PG Crosses the Finish Line

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Posted on January 1, 2017 at 15:27:30
Craig941
Audiophile

Posts: 28
Location: Florida
Joined: July 5, 2016



My 1959 Grommes 40PG restoration has finally been completed. It started it's new life with me as an auction buy last February. The owner was upfront that it was being sold for parts/restoration and suggested that some of the paper caps needed to be replaced as well. Although I didn't know it at the time, it needed a new power transformer as well.
I got a wild hair and decided to just replace every cap and resistor in it and purchase new tubes. I've always like the styling of the Grommes from this period. Sort of late 50's auto with the chrome and trapezoidal shape. It was also made the same year I was born, so there was that connection as well.
Thanks to Michael Samra for helping me to get this to completion. Some things can't be learned from books. It takes someone who has the experience and knowlege to impart. Mike, you are that someone - Thanks!
It was at the end when I discovered that the primary in the power transformer had a short. From now on, I will check that first! Heyboer Transformers were able to make me one to the original specs and I'm sure that it performs better than the original. Thanks also to Jim McShane, from whom I purchased the lion's share of the parts from. Premium metal film and carbon comp resistors, Nichicon, Panasonic and Russian PIO coupling caps. Jim put together a parts list for me that was the framework for the beginning of the restoration. I purchased the two multi-section electrolytics from Hayseed Hamfest, as I wanted to preserve the stock look. I can always add more capacitence or a choke under the hood later if I want. I couldn't be more pleased with how it all turned out.

 

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So where are the inside pictures, posted on January 1, 2017 at 17:51:06
airtime
Audiophile

Posts: 11287
Location: Arizona
Joined: February 4, 2003
 Wow that IS a story of persistence. Great job and I wish you well with it.

Now how does it sound?

 

Nice!!!, posted on January 1, 2017 at 17:46:51
dee eye why
Audiophile

Posts: 1148
Location: so. ohio
Joined: March 20, 2003
 Congratulations. That certainly is a beautiful piece.

.
Freak out...Far out...In out....

 

RE: Grommes 40PG Crosses the Finish Line, posted on January 1, 2017 at 15:30:28
Craig941
Audiophile

Posts: 28
Location: Florida
Joined: July 5, 2016



Some more pics...

 

RE: Grommes 40PG Crosses the Finish Line, posted on January 1, 2017 at 23:59:46
Michael Samra
Dealer

Posts: 36118
Location: saginaw michigan
Joined: January 30, 2005
 Just sand and paint the cover of that one output transformer and put a new heavier duty AC cord on it and you are good to go Craig.
"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong" H. L. Mencken

 

RE: Grommes 40PG Crosses the Finish Line, posted on January 2, 2017 at 05:00:09
rosendds@frontiernet.net
Audiophile

Posts: 599
Location: North East
Joined: November 13, 2010
 Super nice restoration.You were wise to ask Mike for advice on the rebuild.How does it sound?What are your source components & speakers?Enjoy!

 

RE: Grommes 40PG Crosses the Finish Line, posted on January 2, 2017 at 19:34:22
Craig941
Audiophile

Posts: 28
Location: Florida
Joined: July 5, 2016
 It's back on the bench for the new power cord. I have a pair of Genesis Physics 410's and a pair of Thiel 3.6's. I'll see how it sounds with both. The Thiels are 4 ohm. Now that the holidays are over there will be more time to just sit and listen.

 

RE: Grommes 40PG Crosses the Finish Line, posted on January 2, 2017 at 20:11:54
Eli Duttman
Audiophile

Posts: 10455
Location: Monroe Township, NJ
Joined: March 31, 2000
 Use the Genesis speakers! Thiels, even the small ones, have very nasty dips in their impedance curves. That's not the sort of thing to connect to a refurbed Grommes amp.

JMO, Thiels work best when fed by tubed preamplification and very high quality SS power amplification. The impedance characteristics of Thiel speakers make them bad choices for mating to mass market SS and most tube equipment.

I would mate little Thiels to a H/K Cit. 2 in good repair, on the 4 Ω taps. However, even the outstanding "Deuce" should not be mated to big Theils. Big Thiels dip down to 1 Ω, perhaps a tad lower. :>((




Eli D.

 

RE: Grommes 40PG Crosses the Finish Line, posted on January 1, 2017 at 15:32:00
Craig941
Audiophile

Posts: 28
Location: Florida
Joined: July 5, 2016



Another shot...

 

RE: Grommes 40PG Crosses the Finish Line, posted on January 1, 2017 at 19:16:59
Craig941
Audiophile

Posts: 28
Location: Florida
Joined: July 5, 2016



Thanks!
I plan to start seriously listening to it this week. But from what I heard on my bench through some minimus 7's, I'm not going to be disappointed.
Here's a before shot:

 

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