1961 Lowrey Model PS (Starlet)

[Tubedriven]

I saved a Lowrey Starlet from the dumpster because I just couldn't stand to see it get crushed. Being a guitar player primarily, I have a weakness for anything tube powered. It had been sitting, unused, for twenty years in Gramma's condo and now her daughter wanted it gone. So into the back of the truck it went. When I plugged it in it fired up and made sounds as I started testing all of the stops and keys. It didn't sound out of tune but I didn't get time to check everything before the on/off switch started smoking. Quickly I turned it off and unplugged it. Hopefully it is just a shorted switch (I didn't smell the tell tale "ozone" burnt component smell coming from anywhere other than the switch). I will replace the switch and see what happens from there.
Now I realize that this is not a B3 (or even a L100) but I'm thinking it might be fun in my music room for jam nights (when it is cool to have them again). My hope is that I can wire in an effects loop so I can run my guitar pedals into it and crank some rock and roll sounds out of it. I even have a stand alone cheese wheel Leslie that can give it a little swirl.

Dwayne

[andyg]

At 60 years old, I think you should be considering about rebuilding the power supply, or at least changing all the electrolytic capacitors in it before you do much else.

The Starlet was the baby of the Lowrey range back then and didn't have the same sound as the larger models like the Holiday or the much sought after Heritage. But it will have a sound all of its own and if you can get it running safely and well, you should be able to have some fun with it.

Please place your request for the schematics in the dedicated section of the forum. I'll leave this thread open for any comments from other members.

[gtc]

Smoke/fire is not unexpected when powering up electronic equipment of that age without first checking it over for the usual suspects and attending to those.

Simply replacing the switch and trying again is definitely not advised.

[Drawbar Dave]

The fact it is 1961 vintage means that it probably has the dodgy Candohm divider resistors in the power supply. I would be testing the power supply capacitors before applying any power to the organ.

[Tubedriven]

Thanks for the advice regarding the power supply. One of the great members of this forum is emailing me the schematic (thanks tucsondave). I will replace the capacitors in the power supply, the on/off switch, and two prong power cord before I plug it in again.

[David Anderson]

Is that by any chance a Mullard/Made In Great Britain GZ34/5AR4 rectifier tube at the top right?

[Tubedriven]

Is that by any chance a Mullard/Made In Great Britain GZ34/5AR4 rectifier tube at the top right?

Sorry David, I wish it was. The tube in the top right is actually a Japanese Westinghouse 6V6GT. The rectifier is a Lowrey branded 5U4GB. I believe these Lowreys are relabeled Sylvania tubes but I could be wrong. There are also some Japan Westinghouse 12AX7A's as well as a couple of Lowrey branded 7025's. Tone generation is handled by a bunch of 6AF7's and 6FH8's

[David Anderson]

The Japanese 12AX7s are usually Mullard copies since there was a British/Japanese connection in the tube industry back then. Nice 12AX7s.