[R-390] Received my "new" R-390A... WoW !

[Michael Melland]

I received the R-390A yesterday that many of you had answered preliminary
questions about.  Thanks to the many suggestions on various topics as well
as the links to information sites like Chuck Ripple's ... and special thanks
to Chuck for his thoughts and outstanding web page !

Here is what I received.... Motorola R-390A serial number 714... an early
one.  It has no modifications, has original meters, knobs, all the covers in
and out, and is in really excellent condition in and out.... much better
then I expected.  It's amazingly clean in fact inside and the outside but
for a few small dings and a very little lettering wear is excellent.  It has
a Collins PTO, appears to have teflon wiring and all the original tube
shields etc.  Was made on the 1956 contract and the internal parts are dated
1955/56 and many have a little Motorola logo on them. I'm lucky in that I
actually know who owned it throughout it's life and it's been lovingly cared
for...

I have built the diode load cable and have manufactured input coax for the
ballanced feed ala Chuck's page.  I carefully checked all the trouble spots
you guys warned me about and have it running off a filtered dedicated 115
volt line.  Ran it into a new Hammond 600 to 8 ohm transformer into a wooden
speaker cabinet and 10 inch speaker I made... not into the stereo via the
diode load yet....

I must say.... Wow !!! I'm amazed..... it's calibration and alignment seem
right on, no problems everything works apparently as it should as I go
through the manual... the if seems aligned fine and the bfo etc work as
expected.  No humm.... amazingly sensitive and the audio on AM has to be
heard to be believed by one who never heard one of these classic tube rigs
!!!

This is going to be a keeper !!!  And I'm one happy camper !!!
--
Michael Melland, W9WIS
Winneconne, Wisconsin USA EN54pc
qrp-l #1656 - qrparci # 9875 - iparc #252
ars #1075  -  http://www.qsl.net/w9wis