NAD: 196x Airline 62-9013A

Make it loud here.
Post Reply
User avatar
HorseyBoy
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 1007
Joined: Fri Nov 30, 2012 12:39 am
Location: Harlan County

NAD: 196x Airline 62-9013A

Post by HorseyBoy » Sat Mar 25, 2017 2:04 am

I took a chance on eBay (buying from a dude who mainly sells farm machinery and other odds and ends) and grabbed this Airline 62-9013A. I'd seen a couple of OSGers post about them before so I knew it was essentially the same amp as a Silvertone 1482, made by Danelectro for Montgomery Ward (whereas the Silvertones were made for Sears). Amp is all original, right down to the two-prong power cord. Original Fisher speaker, too, which a lot of people find too dark but I really like, especially with my hybrid aluminium Harvester (this one: viewtopic.php?f=8&t=81612), which is generally a bright guitar. Even has a full set of original RCA tubes: two 12AX7s in the preamp, 6V6s for the output. Rectifier is a 6X4. Tremolo is done with a 6AU6 and is really, really lovely. After a bit of a clean (there was some hay in the grill cloth and the glass of the tubes had a nice layer of dirt of them, so I think it was literally sitting in a barn somewhere) it looks like this:

Image

Image

When I plugged it in I was stunned (in a good way - not in a "two-prong-cord-of-death" way). It's just a really nice amp, nice dynamics, lovely bottom end, good sag. And the tremolo is KILLER. I was having so much fun I started recording stuff straight into an iPad.
Two quick demos of the clean sound on Soundcloud. The first shows off the tremolo. Pretty much just strumming away and fiddling with the trem controls (intensity and speed) before settling into a pattern. That's my wife coming in at the end and spoiling a perfectly fine demo by telling me she has an urgent need for parmesan cheese. But you can hear how rich the trem sounds and get a good idea of the range as well.

https://soundcloud.com/boy_called_horse/airline-62-9013a-amp-tremolo-demo

Second demo is just the guitar and the amp (without the trem). Starts with both pickups then switches to the bridge pickup (just before the riff starts), then switches to the neck pickup (around 1.30 in). You'll hear the changes. The bridge has some decent garage rock jangle and the neck has a little more warmth.

https://soundcloud.com/boy_called_horse/airline-62-9013a-amp-demo

I didn't get a chance to push the amp or jump the channels, so I'll try to do that and add any clips I make. Haven't run any pedals through it either. That's definitely going to happen. In the meantime, if you see one cheap, buy it!

User avatar
BoringPostcards
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 7090
Joined: Tue Jun 02, 2009 8:50 am
Location: Newfoundland

Re: NAD: 196x Airline 62-9013A

Post by BoringPostcards » Mon Mar 27, 2017 12:49 am

Good find!
Det er mig der holder traeerne sammen.

User avatar
Racing
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 734
Joined: Sat Dec 07, 2013 2:29 pm

Re: NAD: 196x Airline 62-9013A

Post by Racing » Mon Mar 27, 2017 3:56 am

Nice score.
As it´s a 1482 just add a three prong mains already and be done with it. Death cap of course...out.

Furthermore. Amps that hasn´t been used for a long time,and yeeeep...you´ve heard it before. Be wary of its e-capacitors. These DO dry up and when they do the can F up in a myriad of ways-including going boom.
Best way IMO is twofold. Check for capacitance and ESR with either an ESR or an LCR meter. Then weigh them and check for reference on that online.
If in ANY form of doubt ALWAYS replace. Electrolytics are cheap enough after all.

While at it,with the circuit live,check for leaking coupling caps too. THEN enjoy.. ;)

User avatar
HorseyBoy
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 1007
Joined: Fri Nov 30, 2012 12:39 am
Location: Harlan County

Re: NAD: 196x Airline 62-9013A

Post by HorseyBoy » Mon Mar 27, 2017 11:37 am

^ Good advice, Racing. I've found a schematic/parts list for the Airline as well as a couple for the 1482 and 1472, so I'll get my head around those when I can. I wouldn't mind getting my hands on a tremolo footswitch either, so I'll look into that. Just need something with a quarter-inch jack.
I've had a little more time to play with the amp and so far it sounds great no matter what I throw at it. Jumping the channels gives a nice, thick sound too.

User avatar
Ursa Minor
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 5894
Joined: Sun Mar 14, 2010 8:26 am
Location: Chicago

Re: NAD: 196x Airline 62-9013A

Post by Ursa Minor » Mon Mar 27, 2017 11:43 am

Sweet find! :w00t:
The artist formerly known as kosmonautmayhem.

User avatar
Telliot
Mods
Mods
Posts: 12207
Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2011 6:38 pm
Location: CA

Re: NAD: 196x Airline 62-9013A

Post by Telliot » Mon Mar 27, 2017 12:26 pm

Man, that sounds lovely. Great find, congrats! I'd definitely be careful and make sure you get all the dangerous stuff removed ASAP.
The cool thing about fretless is you can hit a note...and then renegotiate.

User avatar
HorseyBoy
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 1007
Joined: Fri Nov 30, 2012 12:39 am
Location: Harlan County

Re: NAD: 196x Airline 62-9013A

Post by HorseyBoy » Mon Mar 27, 2017 1:17 pm

Telliot wrote:Man, that sounds lovely. Great find, congrats! I'd definitely be careful and make sure you get all the dangerous stuff removed ASAP.
I know, I know - but it sounds so lovely I just want to play it. Seriously, there's no snap, crackle or pop. It's ridiculously quiet (ie, no unwanted noise) and there's no sign of trouble. Yet. :fp:

Post Reply