GE Wellington coffee table stereo

[stbasil]

On Marketplace. Any thoughts on this item? Is it tubes or SS? No radio, which is fine with me. Couldn't find anything about the electronics except for the ad.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... browse_tab

[William]

It looks to be of the same era as another GE that I worked on for the antique guy and it was tube and had the same Garrard changer. Nice looking piece of furniture and with 6 speakers it should sound pretty good. A quick Google search and I found a similar looking model and it had a model number. General Electric Model RC 4851.

Bill

[stbasil]

Bill, I'd really like to get a schematic to see what the amp looks like, but I can't find anything on the web. Would you happen to have a service manual for this thing?

[electra225]

It might have the single-ended 7189 amp like the parts set I got going and posted about on the forum, or it might have the single-ended 6AQ5 amp like in the Trimline 300 stereo. Which amp did the one you worked on have, Bill?

[William]

If memory serves, and it has been awhile, it was the 7189. Unfortunately, I do not have a schematic.

Bill

[stbasil]

I've arranged to meet the seller Saturday to pick up the unit. He's been kind enough to meet me halfway to save me a long drive. If all goes well, I'll start another thread for the restoration project!

[electra225]

Nice score! We look forward to the restoration. GE stereos are fairly basic electronically, and sometimes don't have the most robust cabinetry, but they sound surprisingly good in many cases. The GE stereos I have were given to me by a friend who had to abandon his collection. Even the parts set I restored sounds good, my favorite stereo.

[stbasil]

I did find some schema for the amp this thing has, single ended 6AQ5's, same as some of the mid-60's GE portables. Not going to be as robust as my SK111, but I think the cabinet is going to look really nice!

[electra225]

I have a 1963 GE Trimline 300 that has the 6AQ5 amp in it. It has a transformer power supply and a 6CA4 rectifier. It sounds pretty good for a portable stereo. Mine has the 1200 series VM changer with a GE C-100 ceramic cartridge. Does yours have the Garrard changer or a VM?

[stbasil]

it's a Garrard, maybe a "slimline" from my research, but I haven't seen it in person yet. Hopefully the cartridge is OK, but we shall see!

[electra225]

It will be interesting to find what cartridge it has.

[William]

Greg, I think you and I have the same model GE, actual model RC-2060A. Same tubes, same changer, same cartridge.

Bill

[electra225]

That is the Trimline 300, isn't it? IF so, that is a dandy stereo for a portable stereo. Mine sounds almost as good as the RP-1590.

[William]

I think so, although mine does not say Trimline 300 on it anyplace, it just has the RP-2060A model number.

[electra225]

I wonder if it might be an earlier/later model than mine.

[William]

Not sure, I have the deluxe GE/VM changer and it does have the GE cartridge.

Bill

[stbasil]

Picked it up today, it has the GE C-100 cart, very dirty, but actually still has the stylus in place! I will start a new thread in the Other Consoles section in a day or two. Planning a full restoration, and will probably darken the finish a little in the process, the maple is a little mismatched for our other living room stuff.

[electra225]

The GE C 100 cartridge may arguably be considered one of the better ceramic cartridges. They track well in the 5 gram range. I put a diamond needle in the LP side and a sapphire LP needle in the 78 side. I use the sapphire needle to play 45 rpm records. Good luck!!

[William]

If it sounds anything like the GE wall hanger I did for the antique guy, you will be very pleased with the sound.

Bill