Electronic restoration of vintage West German made all band valve radio. This long video covers the details are restoring this vintage Grundig radio to working order.
That was a long sit but it brought back memory's to me from my tube radio disassemble day's when I was maybe 8 or 9 (that'' s around the 80). They where nice build the bigger sets and they did sound awesome. Now they have about 5 or 6 of them sitting there in a thrift shop for 35 euros. Even a 50's Philips for 35 but its a bit expansive shipping :P Still was fun to watch Shango, better then plenty of "quality" monies they make nowadays.
Danka dude, haven't been called a hero since I retired from the Police Force in '93 but I did manage to get all the way through the video. It is nice in the way it shows how one problem can lead to the next, and the progression of such a situation even when dealing with the top of the line products from back in the day. I have always had a soft spot in my heart for Grundig since 1972 when I was transfered from Fort Lewis Washington to Fort Bliss Texas, this but a couple of years after I returned from Vietnam. We were the Advanced Party for the 3rd Armored Cav who were moving to the Fort to engage in Desert Warfare training, because of the trouble in the Middle East, a situation that has changed very little except for the fact that the 3rd has been over to the trouble spots since the initial outbreak of the wars. At any rate, when we got down there, my self and my good wife, our first child in arms and the second comfortably resting in my good wife's womb, our furniture was somehow lost over the road somewhere, and we had a small apartment just off post with no furniture, just the bed rolls we carried along in the old '63 Ford Econoline van that I drove down in. A trip to the hock shop just off base, a common shop near all military bases, and I found an old Gurndig combo radio/reel to reel tape machine. I picked it up for a few bucks and it was our soul entertainment till our stuff arrived about a month later. Well I did find a cheap black and white TV for 20 bucks at the base thrift store. I have loved the Gurndig machines since then and still have one little pocket model AM/FM/SW radio, made in, of course, China as nearly everything is now days, however when I pulled the back off her to take a look, I found that the quality was still present, and the build was WAY better then most of the shit coming out of China now days. Apparently the Chinese can build good stuff if you put a German in charge of the shop.
I took the plunge and bought a Grundig 3028 this week. $25 from Goodwill, pretty nice condition, and it works, mostly. Both tuners work, AM and FM work, the antenna rotate doesn't work. Doesn't sound right, a bit crackly, so a bunch of small parts will get changed out. This video was great for me. Thanks.
Hi When I was a boy I started in electronics with this radios in Germany. This radios were everywhere on flee markets on the street, from friends. The magic eye tubes are expensive today even if you buy a used one you can just see during daylight. Grundig developed 3D sound, they figured out in a music hall in the concert you will get the treble and the bass from the front and only the treble is reflected from the walls right and left. The front speaker has treble and bass loudspeaker and the sides speakers are treble speakers. 3D sound. The bass is absorbed from the building or structure, this is also the reason why you hear the loud bass bumming in cars passing you with loud music. The last Grundig I repaired with the help of a friend had a broken rectifier and we put a silicon bridge rectifier with a serial resistor to drop the higher voltage. When the radio works it has a beautiful sound. It performs well in sound quality and was popular in the higher quality market e. g. to listen to classic music. Nobody would repair a tuner it was changed (spare part). On shortwave we listened to 49m Europaband. Most popular sw band in Europe. 73
Hey Shango, nice video. I enjoyed it thoroughly. About a year and a half ago I restored a Grundig Zauberklang 4090 and aside from the fact I recognized a lot of common parts in these types of radios, it also struck me you found exactly the same problems, or nearly so, I ran into when repairing the Zauberklang. In fact, it was so uncanny, that I started wondering if the two radios were produced in the same factory with the same parts. The only problem you didn't encounter, but I did, was a shorted output transformer. But all the other problems: the sparking and burning switches, the smoking resistors, the shorted output tube(s) (the Zauberklang has two since it's push-pull), the shorted power transformer. Yes, even the 'dumb' FM stage I encountered as well. Needless to say, I had to grin when you were summing up one by one the exact same problems I had encountered. The one thing you did, but I never dared to do myself, was to disassemble the switches. If you read about it on German forums, most people strongly advise AGAINST disassembling those, because they are devilishly difficult to reassemble. Not to mention the fact how fragile the coil assemblies are on top of the switches. Hat off for daring the feat AND managing to reassemble the switches :) There is one more weak point in these Grundigs, and that's the power switch. It tends to fail or simply break apart. Anyway, like you, I replaced power (and output) transformer and rectifier bridge as well as the filter capacitors, a number of tubes (or valves as they are called) and capacitors and resistors. Watching you struggle with the exact same problems, AND solving them like I did with the Zauberklang, restored my faith in my own capacities for restoring these machines. The Grundig had really tested my patience and confidence. Thanks a lot for sharing the video and tripple hurrah for this feat :)
Ha, that's so strange, I have here a Grundig 2025 "Hi-Fi Zauberklang" with many of the same issues although the transformer has already been replaced, badly, with a 250-0-250 and full wave rectifier. The big problem for me though, at the end when it died and was just humming faintly, then it was suddenly working again... Well, mine is currently at that stage and Shango kept the fix a secret! haha well, maybe i ought to throw it on it's side and hit it a few times & either magic sound or magic smoke will ensue.
I watched this in several parts over two days. Outstanding trouble shooting well beyond what most could handle. You're a master at this! A forensic electronic scientist would be a more apt description of your work! I watched a lot of your videos, it's like solving some crime drama mystery...with the crime being aged, worn parts and (in some cases) poor manufacturing practices. In this case, you restored a former masterpiece back to glory. Well done...
Thank you for this tutorial . I have change the 10k and repair the the selector switch like you have explained. Now my radio work good. Quebec city Mario best regard
I too have a valve radio which was assembled by my father . now when i took and repaired it and listened to the Radio .i thought to my self how much patience they had to change station to station to hear the selected program.I dont mind people calling me crazy .I was really happy to hear the old sound of the valve Radio. Thanks for posting such video.
Excellent video, well worth 1 hr., 45 min. Run time. Definitely learned some good trouble shooting procedures, and learned to steer clear of push button band switches. Rotary band switches are much better, but you solved all the problems. Thanks, and keep up the good work.
Very useful video,thank you for making this. I have a Grundig 2035W/3D/GB which is in need of repair and restoration. It took me 8 hours to sort out the tuning strings. You have sooooo much patience, fair play sir. All the best from sunny Wales 🌞
Lovely old radio with great sound and built with typical (West) German quality. Watched beginning to end and understood 50%, but worth it to see just how much patience you have!
I got through it all and I am thoroughly impressed. I fix radios for me but you fix some stuff I would never touch. That said I hear KNX here in Tennessee on ocassion. To get it though, I use a 366 foot antenna in my back yard. Old Grundig radios are very nice units.
You are the McGyver of radio, and a man of patience as well. I watched the whole thing, and it was great---lots of troubleshooting, which is what I find interesting.
I have to say, I'm impressed with Grundig's quality. Even the later (1979) RPC350 music centre I'm restoring is a cut above other music centres. Hell of all the caps I've tested all but 2 of the original Frako and Unicon items have tested better than some new ones!
And Herr Grundig must have had a "thing" for elaborate tuning/cord arrangements since on the RPC350 firstly it has 7 UKW presets (touch activated no less) and the dial cord itself is actually a pair of wires taking power to the lamp that moves with the dial cursor!
The finished product sounds AMAZING! I think the finished product was worth the effort. A really unique radio from a unique time period. Thanks for sharing with us.
I am primarily a master of clock and make a living repairing such; but love working on radios too just for the challenge. I am learning and have a leg up on AA5 sets and transitor sets pretty good so far. But when I watch your stuff I feel like I am being taught piano by Mozart himself. I'm soaking it in. The European sets are my favorites and I have several waiting until I have learned enough to actually 'do no harm' thank you for the stellar level of knowledge and McGivering that will make me a better tech.
Well done, what a challenge. Many European radio's can be complex but do tend to sound very good even for normal domestic use. I think I would have got the magic eye working even with a different type. Quite easy to modify. I just love that green monster eye looking back at you in a darkened room. As a kid many years ago I remember my bedroom lit in green late at night.
No..... Your my hero! Supper quality sleuthing and troubleshooting, worth all @104 minutes. And throw in the lady with the smoking problem, really bizzarre. Thanks!!!!
Excellent video Shango, thanks for sticking at it, a real insight. I had a slightly later version of this set and it was pcb mounted, I'd say for me it was the most complicated set I had come across. Seemed strange after hearing you talk about American tube numbers in so many videos, going over to the European numbers that I've been used to here in the U.K.
I've now made it to the end at least two times, on 2 different accounts & it's been great to review this again with a few more years of experience and knowledge behind me. Your patience is admirable & well rewarded by the end result. I seem to recall issues with the electrostatic tweet as well though, or maybe that was a different unit. 73 Dan in UK
Fantastic video! You sure have patience! I worked on a '58 Majestic years ago for a friend and although it's a nice radio, it's a pain. A much simpler fix, a new filter cap and rectifier.
I had a short break and couldn't resist to watch the full video today. Excellent idea with the voltage doubler. Pity that the old TX was fried on the 6.3 Volts winding. I love that radio parts store you have there in L.A. Put 2 x 3 Amps 1N5408 diodes in anti parrallel in series with the 6.3 Volts TX output.
I send you a medal as a tribute to persistence and perseverance to that poor thing. You make it shine again as since its saved from the landfill you are a Resource Recovery and Conservation Act hero.
A marathon of a repair. Great Video. Perhaps I shouldn't have started to watch it just before midnight. I had to watch it all... I think it's bed time now!
great video, I learned my lesson years ago with Grundig. congratulations getting it to work,when it works it works well but when it goes wrong they are pain in arse.
I admire your perseverance. I've got several good working Dutch and German radios from the 50's and 60's. They sound great and there are still lots of them around here in The Netherlands.
I inherited one recently and am looking forward to restoring it. It is very dusty on the inside, I look forward to coming back to this video once I'm ready to repair :)
I'm late to the party but this helped me a buck with one of the slide switches (the FM band one that also triggers the clutch mechanism). AM (BC) worked but no love on the FM unless I held it down which told me that it was not making contact due to a number or potential problems. I wouldn't be as far along without this video. Thank you big time.
Congrats on this video. Welcome to European radios. Compared to American radios, these are a headache. I have restored a resemblance, and it was an authentic epic, He's been a few times to fly out the window ... but compared to the philips .... When the power transformer is burnt, I usually rewind them myself because it is very difficult to find substitutes. This is also true for out transformer. I'd like to order the site where you ordered the valves. I saw it was in romania. Here in Portugal it is difficult to find and when they are expensive. Once again I congratulate you on the video and if you have doubts on these European radios, do not hesitate to ask me the questions. Your Subscriber Sincerely Eduardo Pereira
I like, how you don't gave up on that thing and came up with a creative solution for the transformer replacement. Sometimes you can get radios like this pretty cheap here in Germany, but I think it's the same with American tube radios in America. Thank you for the nice video und liebe Grüße aus Deutschland!
Extremely well done Sir !! I have a very similar Grundig console set using a similar chassis that developed carbon tracking on the FM switch bank sorting the HT to earth when FM was selected.. thankfully because of the way the switch bank works with the protruding sliders at the back of the switch bank.. with the help of a friend we managed to use a micro switch that is actuated when the FM switches are selected, my one which you can see in my videos has the added complication of push pull amp, 6 speakers and twin FM bands... although these sets especially the console versions sound incredible once up and running the down side is they are just so "fragile" in their construction... very well done bringing it back from the dead!!
they were also sold in Germany under the name "Billy" I had one, my Uncle told me it was a early 50's, was a fantastic unit, thanks,, interesting video
You spoke highly of that radio in a later vid. Seems you grew more and more fond of it as you progressed. I haven't watched it all yet. We have an electronics store JUST like that here in Zurich, Switzerland too! Cardboard boxes with obsolete parts all over. Power resistors stacked 8ft high. Software manual books from 1993. Great if you mess with old stuff and otherwise useless.
New to the channel from good old England, former radio tv engineer trained in the mid 80's did lots with hybread tv , really enjoyed the complete video , can't believe how quite the background is over in the states , hear so many people installing poor quality inverters to there solar unless you are really selective just get a bunch of background noise, my neighbour recently had installed a new system to complement his existing solar panels and boy the noise is unbelievable, I did think about complaining to the broadcast department hear but hoping to move soon so decided to not bother . Great content keep it up
A very experienced tube radio repairman I once knew was asked to repair an early, post war Siemens radio like that but smaller. It had no capacitors in it, only wires wrapped around wires, and many of those. He found that if you even bent one of those wrapped wires it changed things. It was the only radio he ever gave up on and he had worked on thousands of them. It is what he did for a living for most of his life.
Yes, I watched the whole thing. Though not in one sitting. It is you who must be congratulated. You have tenacity. I understood much of what you did but taking the time to perform the job much less making a video along with your excellent commentary is something really special. Thanks I enjoyed watching.
Thank You for sharing this knowledge. Great job shango! I always throw the electrolytics bypass at el84 and the one at the EABC 80 out. The sound and stability at FM is much better then. If I had seen the video earlier, I would have sent you a transformer for free from Germany. The most German transformers are prepared for 117 and 120 Volt line voltage.
I sincerely have to admire your tenacity in getting this to work! Given the overall state of the radio and I have to admit, it was SOOOO grimy on the inside !! My Siemens radio was pristine despite the various faults! Also I think the build quality was far superior to the Grundig, the tuner assembly was far superior and NOT switch carbon tracking et. 👀 Overall the sound quality (mine had two powered tweeters, 3 mid range and bass units. ) is awesome. You will find it hard to beat the warmth that a valve radio amp et gives, Solid TEAK cabinet makes it a real beast. 😶True to say the instructions / circuit was in German including wire colour coding and et but once you got used to deciphering that, it was fine. Voltage readings were taken on my Avo 20,000ohms per volt. Well done sir.. stay safe! 👍
Thanks to that high gain the beeping you were hearing was your cell phone pinging the towers. I had that happen to me on a older model Tivoli Model One. The tuner was so sensitive that whenever I had set my phone on top of it, I would always hear my phone pinging the cell tower. When it happened I was always like "what the hell?!" Then it would hit me and I would take my phone and set it on the other side of the room where it wouldn't annoy me haha
Wow! I saw a bunch of these types and many other of that grade and era when in Amman Jordan at a radio shop near my hotel. Many of these high grade sets were likely from well to do families, the various embassies and of course during the occupation, many were imported or brought with military families.
I picked up a newer Grundig radio a few years back, it is a G8 traveler radio. Says designed in the USA assembled in China. It is a great little AM/FM/SW hand held radio with digital readout, built in clock/alarm clock and displays local temperature as part of the display, she takes 3 AA batteries and works better then any other little transistor radios I have ever had.
Viewed the whole video, quite a project. I am working a similar model now. Thanks for the insight on what is going on with these.
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This video is just great. Watched it twice. Our "german" radios may not be the best servicable, but its worth it. They sound amazing. Thanks for the video shangoo, or whatever your real name is.
Amazing job ! I repaired a lot of Grundig radios and other German sets but none exhibited as many problems as this one. Anyway on one set problem was an IF base which was carbonating (fireworks !).
Well I made it all the way through! Can't believe I watched the whole thing! Cool radio though, I have always had a soft spot for Grundig, even the little pocket traveler that I have that, sadly was made in China under the Grudig name. AM/FM/SW shirt pocket radio/clock/alarm/world time/temp display. Nice set, I picked up off Ebay, a puppy had chewed up the data plate on the back and the battery cover. I found those parts brand new on Ebay so now she looks like new, runs like new. I had an old Grundig Reel to Reel back in the early 1970's that worked very well. I was unable to ship all my reel to reel tapes home when I was transfered from overseas back stateside, so I never did have much music to play on here. One night I was on CQ duty at the company and got to talking to my runner, he said he would give me a hundred bucks for the old machine! Well I had only paid 20 for her at a hock shop so I sold it.
I found one dumped on a pavement. Just coldn't leave it there. Asked householder if they wanted it. they did not. But now I've got it home I'm daunted at the task so not even started it. I have uploaded radio restoration videos but this beast - wow!
I watched the whole video and enjoyed it a lot. I admire your perseverance, you don't seem to just throw in the towel and give up like many would when faced with all the complex and time consuming issues like what this radio gave you. Thanks for explaining the bucking transformer too, I've run across the term before, but your explanation cleared up what it is. Yikes to the hole in the neck lady.....
I've always fancied one of these elaborate old Grundigs but after seeing this I think I'll preserve my sanity and swerve the idea! However, I can mention a set that makes this look like childs play, the SCHAUB LORENZ 5001 music centre. I'll mention it's party piece and leave the rest to the imagination and some internet research! It is a radio receiver with a built in multi track tape recording feature, that uses 4" wide recording tape! So recordings can be made from the radio or an external source and playback selected as required from multiple tracks via search and select system. They are very, VERY complex, with enough servicing issues to send anyone insane. When working correctly though, they sound really superb. Don't know if they were ever sold in the US, here in the UK they never took off, in Europe they were a high end item.
terabbs Yes, I agree. We're fortunate that many great channels post good videos to share their passion with the rest of us, getting paid doing what they love is the furthest from their mind.
If I had to, I would pay to still watch the Shango066 channel. I would probably have to sell my kids & my household items as I'm broke & poor but it would be worth it though. LOL
Shango has asked for money before, hell he did it in another comment under this video. And there's nothing with that at all. Lot of people with knowledge are trying to make a living doing this, and there are at least a dozen really awesome vintage electronics channels. And most of them ask for money at some point.
Many time viewer, first time commenting, as one of your younger viewers at 17, your videos are of the most comprehensive and entertaining electronics repair of the internet. My prized possessions are a ChromaColor II console, a Zenith S-58040 AM/FM radio, and Western Electric 554 wall telephone from 1960.
I’m from post-com part of Europe and we have lot of radios like this here. Generaly worthless, nobody interrested, and if so for like 5-10 euro a piece. Need to praise you for going trought hard restoration like this, I can’t imagine someone here doing that. Also never known that PT tend to go bad on those, never had one with bad, but maybe I was just lucky. Cheers. I like how you enjoy what you do.
As a US radio collector, I shy away from those German sets. They're VERY good sounding, high quality sets when working, but they are notoriously hard to work on. Service info is very limited. Dial cords are often complex (and broken). I'm glad to see someone has tackled one of these.
Took me most of the day with free moments at work to watch this, but totally worth it! The baked transformer would have been the time I would have to pause, and consider. The smoking band switch would have been the point where the radio would have been placed on the death row shelf. Those band switches remind me of looking at the test switches on my B&K 707. Not exactly serviceable. Nice work!
I bought an old tube radio. But, before plugging it in, i went to measure the ohm rezistance on the plugs. It had no resistance. Then, i looked inside, and it was so messed up, that it did not match schematics at all. Lots of surprises in these old devices.
i bought an early 90s top of the range sony walkman from russia one day and it was packaged the same way. on a parts unit! i had to put 5 stars on everything. nice video man by the way, i'm starting to see fewer of those german radios every day. thank goodness i got a nice working blaupunkt when i could
I wish we still had an old school electronics/electronics salvage store here in Austin .. our last one closed several years ago. The owner had several businesses .. he got swindled when a major customer went belly up during the crash of ‘08, closed all, and retired .. it is still sorely missed …
Great work! You had wonderful perseverance to get all those problems sorted. They are called valves because the grids regulate the flow of electrons from the cathode to the plate. Keep up the good videos. Cheers.
I WACHT EVERY SPARE TIME ON MY DAYS WATCHING TO YOU VIDEOS AND ALLWAYS LEARN A LOT OF IT. LOVE DE WAY YOU MAKE IT VERY INTERESTING WITH A NICE AND PARTICULAR HUMOR WAY OF YOURS . YOU REPRESENT A REAL ELECTRONICAL FATHER TO ME .I REPAIR RADIOS AND VACUM TUBE TVS EVERSINDS MY 10 YEARS OF AGE. KIND REGARDS FROM ALMERE HAVEN CITY OF FLEVOLAND THE NETHERLANDS
I appreciate all your work that you have gone over on the TV's and Radios's that diagnose i have learned quite a bit with your repairs please keep up the GREAT work
dont assume anything before you view the entire video ;)
shango066 Ok. :)
shango066 Assumptions flag set to 0.
shango066 watch that dial cord!
shango066 obvious to why they clipped out the 500 ohmer😆
That was a long sit but it brought back memory's to me from my tube radio disassemble day's when I was maybe 8 or 9 (that'' s around the 80).
They where nice build the bigger sets and they did sound awesome.
Now they have about 5 or 6 of them sitting there in a thrift shop for 35 euros.
Even a 50's Philips for 35 but its a bit expansive shipping :P
Still was fun to watch Shango, better then plenty of "quality" monies they make nowadays.
I loved these big German radios, the sound is just phenomenal
Write my 3265 has dual speakers with a 6 by 9 it sounds good
@Cyrian Genesis I'm using Heco Presence 543 with an onkyo Model 255... great combo
Danka dude, haven't been called a hero since I retired from the Police Force in '93 but I did manage to get all the way through the video. It is nice in the way it shows how one problem can lead to the next, and the progression of such a situation even when dealing with the top of the line products from back in the day. I have always had a soft spot in my heart for Grundig since 1972 when I was transfered from Fort Lewis Washington to Fort Bliss Texas, this but a couple of years after I returned from Vietnam. We were the Advanced Party for the 3rd Armored Cav who were moving to the Fort to engage in Desert Warfare training, because of the trouble in the Middle East, a situation that has changed very little except for the fact that the 3rd has been over to the trouble spots since the initial outbreak of the wars. At any rate, when we got down there, my self and my good wife, our first child in arms and the second comfortably resting in my good wife's womb, our furniture was somehow lost over the road somewhere, and we had a small apartment just off post with no furniture, just the bed rolls we carried along in the old '63 Ford Econoline van that I drove down in. A trip to the hock shop just off base, a common shop near all military bases, and I found an old Gurndig combo radio/reel to reel tape machine. I picked it up for a few bucks and it was our soul entertainment till our stuff arrived about a month later. Well I did find a cheap black and white TV for 20 bucks at the base thrift store. I have loved the Gurndig machines since then and still have one little pocket model AM/FM/SW radio, made in, of course, China as nearly everything is now days, however when I pulled the back off her to take a look, I found that the quality was still present, and the build was WAY better then most of the shit coming out of China now days. Apparently the Chinese can build good stuff if you put a German in charge of the shop.
I took the plunge and bought a Grundig 3028 this week. $25 from Goodwill, pretty nice condition, and it works, mostly. Both tuners work, AM and FM work, the antenna rotate doesn't work. Doesn't sound right, a bit crackly, so a bunch of small parts will get changed out.
This video was great for me. Thanks.
Hi
When I was a boy I started in electronics with this radios in Germany. This radios were everywhere on flee markets on the street, from friends. The magic eye tubes are expensive today even if you buy a used one you can just see during daylight.
Grundig developed 3D sound, they figured out in a music hall in the concert you will get the treble and the bass from the front and only the treble is reflected from the walls right and left. The front speaker has treble and bass loudspeaker and the sides speakers are treble speakers. 3D sound. The bass is absorbed from the building or structure, this is also the reason why you hear the loud bass bumming in cars passing you with loud music.
The last Grundig I repaired with the help of a friend had a broken rectifier and we put a silicon bridge rectifier with a serial resistor to drop the higher voltage.
When the radio works it has a beautiful sound. It performs well in sound quality and was popular in the higher quality market e. g. to listen to classic music.
Nobody would repair a tuner it was changed (spare part). On shortwave we listened to 49m Europaband. Most popular sw band in Europe.
73
Hey Shango, nice video. I enjoyed it thoroughly.
About a year and a half ago I restored a Grundig Zauberklang 4090 and aside from the fact I recognized a lot of common parts in these types of radios, it also struck me you found exactly the same problems, or nearly so, I ran into when repairing the Zauberklang.
In fact, it was so uncanny, that I started wondering if the two radios were produced in the same factory with the same parts. The only problem you didn't encounter, but I did, was a shorted output transformer. But all the other problems: the sparking and burning switches, the smoking resistors, the shorted output tube(s) (the Zauberklang has two since it's push-pull), the shorted power transformer. Yes, even the 'dumb' FM stage I encountered as well.
Needless to say, I had to grin when you were summing up one by one the exact same problems I had encountered. The one thing you did, but I never dared to do myself, was to disassemble the switches. If you read about it on German forums, most people strongly advise AGAINST disassembling those, because they are devilishly difficult to reassemble. Not to mention the fact how fragile the coil assemblies are on top of the switches.
Hat off for daring the feat AND managing to reassemble the switches :) There is one more weak point in these Grundigs, and that's the power switch. It tends to fail or simply break apart.
Anyway, like you, I replaced power (and output) transformer and rectifier bridge as well as the filter capacitors, a number of tubes (or valves as they are called) and capacitors and resistors.
Watching you struggle with the exact same problems, AND solving them like I did with the Zauberklang, restored my faith in my own capacities for restoring these machines. The Grundig had really tested my patience and confidence.
Thanks a lot for sharing the video and tripple hurrah for this feat :)
Ha, that's so strange, I have here a Grundig 2025 "Hi-Fi Zauberklang" with many of the same issues although the transformer has already been replaced, badly, with a 250-0-250 and full wave rectifier. The big problem for me though, at the end when it died and was just humming faintly, then it was suddenly working again... Well, mine is currently at that stage and Shango kept the fix a secret! haha well, maybe i ought to throw it on it's side and hit it a few times & either magic sound or magic smoke will ensue.
I watched this in several parts over two days. Outstanding trouble shooting well beyond what most could handle. You're a master at this! A forensic electronic scientist would be a more apt description of your work! I watched a lot of your videos, it's like solving some crime drama mystery...with the crime being aged, worn parts and (in some cases) poor manufacturing practices. In this case, you restored a former masterpiece back to glory. Well done...
Thank you for this tutorial . I have change the 10k and repair the the selector switch like you have explained. Now my radio work good. Quebec city Mario best regard
i watched the whole video, couldn't not. enjoyed it all, especially the trip to the store.
Here it is two years later and I watched the whole thing again! Thanks and take care!
Watched it all in one shot. What an adventure in radio land! Congratulations on getting it working. This baby sounds great! Nice work!
I have about 15 German radios and I got them all working. I like their sound quality and the electrostatic tweeter and they look great.
Great video about an endless pit.
I have been repairing radio's for quite some time now, but had never heard of carbon tracking.
I learned new things!
I too have a valve radio which was assembled by my father . now when i took and repaired it and listened to the Radio .i thought to my self how much patience they had to change station to station to hear the selected program.I dont mind people calling me crazy .I was really happy to hear the old sound of the valve Radio. Thanks for posting such video.
Excellent video, well worth 1 hr., 45 min. Run time.
Definitely learned some good trouble shooting procedures, and learned to steer clear of push button band switches.
Rotary band switches are much better, but you solved all the problems.
Thanks, and keep up the good work.
Very useful video,thank you for making this. I have a Grundig 2035W/3D/GB which is in need of repair and restoration. It took me 8 hours to sort out the tuning strings. You have sooooo much patience, fair play sir. All the best from sunny Wales 🌞
Lovely old radio with great sound and built with typical (West) German quality. Watched beginning to end and understood 50%, but worth it to see just how much patience you have!
Amazing repair effort.
I got through it all and I am thoroughly impressed. I fix radios for me but you fix some stuff I would never touch. That said I hear KNX here in Tennessee on ocassion. To get it though, I use a 366 foot antenna in my back yard. Old Grundig radios are very nice units.
This is my favorite video on this channel. I love the commentary and shocking bloopers but also very educational.
You are the McGyver of radio, and a man of patience as well. I watched the whole thing, and it was great---lots of troubleshooting, which is what I find interesting.
Grundig is always a highlight. Known for best possible quality. Max Grundig was a crazy perfectionist.
I have to say, I'm impressed with Grundig's quality. Even the later (1979) RPC350 music centre I'm restoring is a cut above other music centres. Hell of all the caps I've tested all but 2 of the original Frako and Unicon items have tested better than some new ones!
And Herr Grundig must have had a "thing" for elaborate tuning/cord arrangements since on the RPC350 firstly it has 7 UKW presets (touch activated no less) and the dial cord itself is actually a pair of wires taking power to the lamp that moves with the dial cursor!
Love these long repair videos. I've learned a lot of practical troubleshooting from you, thanks.
The finished product sounds AMAZING! I think the finished product was worth the effort. A really unique radio from a unique time period. Thanks for sharing with us.
I am primarily a master of clock and make a living repairing such; but love working on radios too just for the challenge. I am learning and have a leg up on AA5 sets and transitor sets pretty good so far. But when I watch your stuff I feel like I am being taught piano by Mozart himself. I'm soaking it in. The European sets are my favorites and I have several waiting until I have learned enough to actually 'do no harm' thank you for the stellar level of knowledge and McGivering that will make me a better tech.
Well done, what a challenge. Many European radio's can be complex but do tend to sound very good even for normal domestic use. I think I would have got the magic eye working even with a different type. Quite easy to modify. I just love that green monster eye looking back at you in a darkened room. As a kid many years ago I remember my bedroom lit in green late at night.
No..... Your my hero! Supper quality sleuthing and troubleshooting, worth all @104 minutes. And throw in the lady with the smoking problem, really bizzarre. Thanks!!!!
Excellent video Shango, thanks for sticking at it, a real insight. I had a slightly later version of this set and it was pcb mounted, I'd say for me it was the most complicated set I had come across. Seemed strange after hearing you talk about American tube numbers in so many videos, going over to the European numbers that I've been used to here in the U.K.
I've now made it to the end at least two times, on 2 different accounts & it's been great to review this again with a few more years of experience and knowledge behind me. Your patience is admirable & well rewarded by the end result. I seem to recall issues with the electrostatic tweet as well though, or maybe that was a different unit. 73 Dan in UK
I love these long form videos.
Fantastic video! You sure have patience! I worked on a '58 Majestic years ago for a friend and although it's a nice radio, it's a pain. A much simpler fix, a new filter cap and rectifier.
I've watched this video in its entirety more than once, along with your other videos. There is always something new to pick up on.
Great and entertaining Video.The same 5k Resistor at 49:00 smoked on my Grundig 3033. Now I know why.
You sir, are an electrical genius!So much experience and knowledge, So much patience too! Im still watching.(:
I had a short break and couldn't resist to watch the full video today. Excellent idea with the voltage doubler. Pity that the old TX was fried on the 6.3 Volts winding. I love that radio parts store you have there in L.A. Put 2 x 3 Amps 1N5408 diodes in anti parrallel in series with the 6.3 Volts TX output.
ahhhh yes, that would drop it about .6 v. brilliant!
I send you a medal as a tribute to persistence and perseverance to that poor thing. You make it shine again as since its saved from the landfill you are a Resource Recovery and Conservation Act hero.
A marathon of a repair. Great Video. Perhaps I shouldn't have started to watch it just before midnight. I had to watch it all... I think it's bed time now!
Wow what a journey. I admire your persistence. Most people are throwing that out at the first sign of smoke.
great video, I learned my lesson years ago with Grundig. congratulations getting it to work,when it works it works well but when it goes wrong they are pain in arse.
I work on German atms. Pray for me 😬
I've got this radio. It was mostly restored when I got it. When the work they sound great
I admire your perseverance.
I've got several good working Dutch and German radios from the 50's and 60's. They sound great and there are still lots of them around here in The Netherlands.
I inherited one recently and am looking forward to restoring it. It is very dusty on the inside, I look forward to coming back to this video once I'm ready to repair :)
I'm late to the party but this helped me a buck with one of the slide switches (the FM band one that also triggers the clutch mechanism). AM (BC) worked but no love on the FM unless I held it down which told me that it was not making contact due to a number or potential problems. I wouldn't be as far along without this video. Thank you big time.
That eye tube is an EM85, they were also used in the Grundig TK 5 Tonband maschinen. ( reel to reel)
EM80 OR EM81 WILL REPLACE EM85
@@davidhorton2209 with a change to the connections...they're not directly pinout compatible
Congrats on this video. Welcome to European radios. Compared to American radios, these are a headache. I have restored a resemblance, and it was an authentic epic,
He's been a few times to fly out the window ... but compared to the philips ....
When the power transformer is burnt, I usually rewind them myself because it is very difficult to find substitutes. This is also true for out transformer.
I'd like to order the site where you ordered the valves. I saw it was in romania. Here in Portugal it is difficult to find and when they are expensive.
Once again I congratulate you on the video and if you have doubts on these European radios, do not hesitate to ask me the questions.
Your Subscriber
Sincerely
Eduardo Pereira
I like, how you don't gave up on that thing and came up with a creative solution for the transformer replacement.
Sometimes you can get radios like this pretty cheap here in Germany, but I think it's the same with American tube radios in America.
Thank you for the nice video und liebe Grüße aus Deutschland!
Extremely well done Sir !! I have a very similar Grundig console set using a similar chassis that developed carbon tracking on the FM switch bank sorting the HT to earth when FM was selected.. thankfully because of the way the switch bank works with the protruding sliders at the back of the switch bank.. with the help of a friend we managed to use a micro switch that is actuated when the FM switches are selected, my one which you can see in my videos has the added complication of push pull amp, 6 speakers and twin FM bands... although these sets especially the console versions sound incredible once up and running the down side is they are just so "fragile" in their construction... very well done bringing it back from the dead!!
they were also sold in Germany under the name "Billy" I had one, my Uncle told me it was a early 50's, was a fantastic unit, thanks,, interesting video
You spoke highly of that radio in a later vid. Seems you grew more and more fond of it as you progressed. I haven't watched it all yet.
We have an electronics store JUST like that here in Zurich, Switzerland too! Cardboard boxes with obsolete parts all over. Power resistors stacked 8ft high. Software manual books from 1993. Great if you mess with old stuff and otherwise useless.
New to the channel from good old England, former radio tv engineer trained in the mid 80's did lots with hybread tv , really enjoyed the complete video , can't believe how quite the background is over in the states , hear so many people installing poor quality inverters to there solar unless you are really selective just get a bunch of background noise, my neighbour recently had installed a new system to complement his existing solar panels and boy the noise is unbelievable, I did think about complaining to the broadcast department hear but hoping to move soon so decided to not bother . Great content keep it up
A very experienced tube radio repairman I once knew was asked to repair an early, post war Siemens radio like that but smaller. It had no capacitors in it, only wires wrapped around wires, and many of those. He found that if you even bent one of those wrapped wires it changed things. It was the only radio he ever gave up on and he had worked on thousands of them. It is what he did for a living for most of his life.
Yes, I watched the whole thing. Though not in one sitting. It is you who must be congratulated. You have tenacity. I understood much of what you did but taking the time to perform the job much less making a video along with your excellent commentary is something really special. Thanks I enjoyed watching.
Thank You for sharing this knowledge. Great job shango! I always throw the electrolytics bypass at el84 and the one at the EABC 80 out. The sound and stability at FM is much better then. If I had seen the video earlier, I would have sent you a transformer for free from Germany. The most German transformers are prepared for 117 and 120 Volt line voltage.
I sincerely have to admire your tenacity in getting this to work! Given the overall state of the radio and I have to admit, it was SOOOO grimy on the inside !! My Siemens radio was pristine despite the various faults! Also I think the build quality was far superior to the Grundig, the tuner assembly was far superior and NOT switch carbon tracking et. 👀 Overall the sound quality (mine had two powered tweeters, 3 mid range and bass units. ) is awesome. You will find it hard to beat the warmth that a valve radio amp et gives, Solid TEAK cabinet makes it a real beast. 😶True to say the instructions / circuit was in German including wire colour coding and et but once you got used to deciphering that, it was fine. Voltage readings were taken on my Avo 20,000ohms per volt. Well done sir.. stay safe! 👍
Thanks to that high gain the beeping you were hearing was your cell phone pinging the towers. I had that happen to me on a older model Tivoli Model One. The tuner was so sensitive that whenever I had set my phone on top of it, I would always hear my phone pinging the cell tower. When it happened I was always like "what the hell?!" Then it would hit me and I would take my phone and set it on the other side of the room where it wouldn't annoy me haha
Wow! I saw a bunch of these types and many other of that grade and era when in Amman Jordan at a radio shop near my hotel. Many of these high grade sets were likely from well to do families, the various embassies and of course during the occupation, many were imported or brought with military families.
Just found this. Great video! I like old multi-band radios and shortwave receivers.. I watched to the end.
I picked up a newer Grundig radio a few years back, it is a G8 traveler radio. Says designed in the USA assembled in China. It is a great little AM/FM/SW hand held radio with digital readout, built in clock/alarm clock and displays local temperature as part of the display, she takes 3 AA batteries and works better then any other little transistor radios I have ever had.
Viewed the whole video, quite a project. I am working a similar model now. Thanks for the insight on what is going on with these.
This video is just great. Watched it twice. Our "german" radios may not be the best servicable, but its worth it. They sound amazing. Thanks for the video shangoo, or whatever your real name is.
Amazing job !
I repaired a lot of Grundig radios and other German sets but none exhibited as many problems as this one. Anyway on one set problem was an IF base which was carbonating (fireworks !).
Well I made it all the way through! Can't believe I watched the whole thing! Cool radio though, I have always had a soft spot for Grundig, even the little pocket traveler that I have that, sadly was made in China under the Grudig name. AM/FM/SW shirt pocket radio/clock/alarm/world time/temp display. Nice set, I picked up off Ebay, a puppy had chewed up the data plate on the back and the battery cover. I found those parts brand new on Ebay so now she looks like new, runs like new. I had an old Grundig Reel to Reel back in the early 1970's that worked very well. I was unable to ship all my reel to reel tapes home when I was transfered from overseas back stateside, so I never did have much music to play on here. One night I was on CQ duty at the company and got to talking to my runner, he said he would give me a hundred bucks for the old machine! Well I had only paid 20 for her at a hock shop so I sold it.
Once I found out the transformer is toast.........I go no further. Kudos to you sir.
Great job with the doubler. Nice radio, and good determination.
You can't beat a good doubler
have a blaupunkt styled similar to this one with the tuning eye, its a great little piece that sounds beautiful.
I love the way you get along with temperamental technology! "What is this this doing?????...... Whatever..."
I love you're long videos!
LOCAL AND DX RADIO Same here.
LOCAL AND DX RADIO Your
EvanPlayzGames auto correct not me
I found one dumped on a pavement. Just coldn't leave it there. Asked householder if they wanted it. they did not. But now I've got it home I'm daunted at the task so not even started it. I have uploaded radio restoration videos but this beast - wow!
I've watched this multiple times. Fantastic work as always!
I watched the whole video and enjoyed it a lot. I admire your perseverance, you don't seem to just throw in the towel and give up like many would when faced with all the complex and time consuming issues like what this radio gave you.
Thanks for explaining the bucking transformer too, I've run across the term before, but your explanation cleared up what it is.
Yikes to the hole in the neck lady.....
I've always fancied one of these elaborate old Grundigs but after seeing this I think I'll preserve my sanity and swerve the idea!
However, I can mention a set that makes this look like childs play, the SCHAUB LORENZ 5001 music centre. I'll mention it's party piece and leave the rest to the imagination and some internet research! It is a radio receiver with a built in multi track tape recording feature, that uses 4" wide recording tape! So recordings can be made from the radio or an external source and playback selected as required from multiple tracks via search and select system. They are very, VERY complex, with enough servicing issues to send anyone insane. When working correctly though, they sound really superb. Don't know if they were ever sold in the US, here in the UK they never took off, in Europe they were a high end item.
Awesome video again Shango. Time for a transformer tear down and see where it all went wrong.
Love the job on the powersupply and installation, Amazing
The longer the better! So I hear. Works for me.
Why is it that TH-cam channels that suck ass go the patreon route, but TH-camrs who I'd gladly toss money at, like Shango066, never do?
The money isn't ther main interest if at all and more a welcome extra I think.
terabbs Yes, I agree. We're fortunate that many great channels post good videos to share their passion with the rest of us, getting paid doing what they love is the furthest from their mind.
I love Shango's videos as well, it's just a great channel. I'd happily toss some money his way if he went the Patreon way.
If I had to, I would pay to still watch the Shango066 channel. I would probably have to sell my kids & my household items as I'm broke & poor but it would be worth it though. LOL
Shango has asked for money before, hell he did it in another comment under this video. And there's nothing with that at all. Lot of people with knowledge are trying to make a living doing this, and there are at least a dozen really awesome vintage electronics channels. And most of them ask for money at some point.
Many time viewer, first time commenting, as one of your younger viewers at 17, your videos are of the most comprehensive and entertaining electronics repair of the internet. My prized possessions are a ChromaColor II console, a Zenith S-58040 AM/FM radio, and Western Electric 554 wall telephone from 1960.
My comment refused to show publicly.
I made it to the end. Great video! I enjoy seeing someone work on things that I only wish I could.
I’m from post-com part of Europe and we have lot of radios like this here. Generaly worthless, nobody interrested, and if so for like 5-10 euro a piece. Need to praise you for going trought hard restoration like this, I can’t imagine someone here doing that. Also never known that PT tend to go bad on those, never had one with bad, but maybe I was just lucky. Cheers. I like how you enjoy what you do.
As a US radio collector, I shy away from those German sets. They're VERY good sounding, high quality sets when working, but they are notoriously hard to work on. Service info is very limited. Dial cords are often complex (and broken).
I'm glad to see someone has tackled one of these.
Fascinating video. I watched the entire video. I love these old radios and tv sets.
Great repair and great sound radio! Huh, what problems there were. Amazing skills. Thank you for journey. 🍰
Took me most of the day with free moments at work to watch this, but totally worth it!
The baked transformer would have been the time I would have to pause, and consider.
The smoking band switch would have been the point where the radio would have been placed on the death row shelf.
Those band switches remind me of looking at the test switches on my B&K 707. Not exactly serviceable.
Nice work!
glad you got through it, allot going on.
I watched the whole thing! I always do, really enjoyed watching this one!
I bought an old tube radio. But, before plugging it in, i went to measure the ohm rezistance on the plugs.
It had no resistance.
Then, i looked inside, and it was so messed up, that it did not match schematics at all.
Lots of surprises in these old devices.
You should have check all the capacitors before use.
i bought an early 90s top of the range sony walkman from russia one day and it was packaged the same way. on a parts unit! i had to put 5 stars on everything. nice video man by the way, i'm starting to see fewer of those german radios every day. thank goodness i got a nice working blaupunkt when i could
The old West-German mains transformers are perfectly repairable. The hardest part is to count the original number of turns.
That's true.
I've rewound transformers before.
The plates can all be removed and the whole transformer pulled apart.
Im sure someone somewhere would pay for transformer rewind
Thumbs up for getting shocked and not caring. Great videos man.
New shango066 video. Thumbs up!
I wish we still had an old school electronics/electronics salvage store here in Austin .. our last one closed several years ago. The owner had several businesses .. he got swindled when a major customer went belly up during the crash of ‘08, closed all, and retired .. it is still sorely missed …
Thanks Shango066. Always a good time.
YOURE OUR HERO
Im thinking about starting on my own repair videos.
Great work! You had wonderful perseverance to get all those problems sorted. They are called valves because the grids regulate the flow of electrons from the cathode to the plate. Keep up the good videos. Cheers.
Loved that electronics shop, they have all but disappeared here in the UK
I WACHT EVERY SPARE TIME ON MY DAYS WATCHING TO YOU VIDEOS AND ALLWAYS LEARN A LOT OF IT. LOVE DE WAY YOU MAKE IT VERY INTERESTING WITH A NICE AND PARTICULAR HUMOR WAY OF YOURS . YOU REPRESENT A REAL ELECTRONICAL FATHER TO ME .I REPAIR RADIOS AND VACUM TUBE TVS EVERSINDS MY 10 YEARS OF AGE. KIND REGARDS FROM ALMERE HAVEN CITY OF FLEVOLAND THE NETHERLANDS
Most excellent. Thanks for persevering.
I admire your patience with the Grundig. Great video, Thanks.
I appreciate all your work that you have gone over on the TV's and Radios's that diagnose i have learned quite a bit with your repairs please keep up the GREAT work
This helped tremendously as I have a Telefunkin console stereo I need to rehab!
The bear was unexpected but made an amusing intermission! XD
Wow, quite a journey that was, and even the shortwave works! Nice rework/restore!
You did good job and you saved it life for this vintage