Exceptional VoluTone set went cheap

[Ron Whitfield]

You just don't see such pristine rarity much any more, not that the amp is perfect and ebay never ceases to amaze, but this was a wow moment for me. I was twice off my game that week http://www.ebay.com/itm/1938-39-Volu-To ... 45fdb8349a
You get an amazing amp in sweet cond. for chump change, AND a perfect little 6er comes with it.

[Bill Creller]

Interesting to see one of those combos that had to juice-up the pickup in the guitar with a charge from the amp etc. Wonder what year they started building those (?) Not UL approved !!

[Dave Young]

Interesting to see one of those combos that had to juice-up the pickup in the guitar with a charge from the amp etc. Wonder what year they started building those (?) Not UL approved !! :D

Greetings guys from Australia--Ihave one of those volutone lap steels(but without the amp!thank goodness!!!) put new strings on it last week--but got no sound out of it after doing so!--ran a magnet over the strings and what do you know it worked-regards Dave

[Ron Whitfield]

Check this one out, Bill http://www.gbase.com/gear/volu-tone-mod ... tured-fabr
it's an early issue and in good cosmetic condition. Well worth the asking price if you want serious vintage in your sound. Mine is virtually identical, maybe even better looking, and I'd like to stack it up against your favorite National and Creller Customs in a little tone battle royale.

[Bill Creller]

If I understand what you mean, I don't consider my New Yorker to be as good sounding as my Rickenbachers, or even the remaining one that I built. Now if you compared yours to the Dual Pro Fender I have, you win !!
As far as amps go, my Valco clones have the mellow Hawaiian tone that most old tube amps have, and good Weber speakers to get the tone out there !

I'm down to six amps now, which is about 4 too many

[Ray Montee]

Well, I'm proud to say I have a Mdl 5 PP Volu-Tone amp as pictured in the Link provided by Whitfield.

It's a great little amp and I paid only $125.00 for it on eBay plus Dan Healy did a thorough recondition using only factory spec parts for an additional $500.00. The field coil had been damaged and had to be rewound.

The unit works great and I'm proud to have it in my stable. Sounds really nice with my Ric's.

My amp was credited for blacking out the entire city of Dallas, Texas, including the Texas Steel Guitar
Show several years back. It wasn't true, but it sure scared me to think it was possible.

[Julian Goldwhite]

I also have a real fascination for these early attempts to amplify stringed instruments. Not to hijack the thread, but I also happen to have a Volu-Tone set up on the for sale side of the board -

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... highlight=

All the best,

Julian

[Steve Ahola]

I have one of those volutone lap steels(but without the amp!thank goodness!!!) put new strings on it last week--but got no sound out of it after doing so!--ran a magnet over the strings and what do you know it worked-regards Dave

I wonder if the magnetized strings are the only magnet on the lap steel, with the pickup itself having a coil but no magnet. Tell us more- was the magnet touching the strings, or just held over them. (And if the latter then how high off the strings did you hold the magnet.)

Your trick will undoubtedly be very helpful for someone who has the lap steel but not the amplifier.

Steve Ahola

P.S. I think the fact that the seller did not test the set but was selling it as-is with no returns was the reason that it sold for such a low price. And I think that in this case he had a good reason not to plug it in! (There are some auction dealers who sell their musical instruments untested because "they are not experts". Geez, they could plug them in and let us know if they get any sounds at all...)

[Dave Young]

I have one of those volutone lap steels(but without the amp!thank goodness!!!) put new strings on it last week--but got no sound out of it after doing so!--ran a magnet over the strings and what do you know it worked-regards Dave

I wonder if the magnetized strings are the only magnet on the lap steel, with the pickup itself having a coil but no magnet. Tell us more- was the magnet touching the strings, or just held over them. (And if the latter then how high off the strings did you hold the magnet.)

Your trick will undoubtedly be very helpful for someone who has the lap steel but not the amplifier.

Steve Ahola

Hello Steve-i rubbed the magnet on the strings-actually it was a last resort- but it worked!regards Dave

[Peter Huggins]

It was me again, and like the last 'steal' I got on ebay, not only was it a great deal, but again I am completely mystified to have NOT been outbid! I just got home about 12 hours ago from a road trip that ended up being over a month; the Volu-Tone is here, nicely packed in two boxes. I have not opened them yet (but I promise pictures very soon!).

(My trip included the Arlington TX Guitar Show, where I didn't make a lot of money but met some very interesting people. My booth partner scored a Gibson BR-1 Ultratone 7-STRING !!! Photos and tales forthcoming once I recover a little more)

My one piece of Volu-Tone advertising proclaims that they do not have permanent magnets, hence a 'charge' will magnetise the strings and make the guitar work, supposedly one charge was sufficient until the strings are changed. One story I read (I think it was in Andy Volk's book) said that Bob Dunn used to run a magnet up and down the strings of his Martin whenever he thought the signal was getting weak.

I hope to end up with one working amplifier out of the three I now own. I'm about of money now, so one of you better be ready for the next bargain that shows up !! Grin.

[Ray Montee]

If you're truly concerned in keeping your amps VINTAGE.....let me know.

I was fortunate in finding a fabulous tech in Northern California.....that restored my Volu-Tone to original status. I think it might be one of few that are still operational.

[Bill Creller]

Seems like one or two of the small high-powered magnets, mounted under the pick up blade, would make that old pickup work normally, without have to juice it up. Rick Aeillo used some of those.
I seem to remember that there was some high voltage involved there when juicing up the pickup.. ?? maybe someone here knows...Ray ??

[Ron Whitfield]

I am completely mystified to have NOT been outbid!

Congrats, Peter.
Let's see your other VTs!