Wednesday, May 14, 2025

D&A Maverick Full Build...

 This is a complete build of a D&A Maverick HF amplifier. This started as a carcass I received from a friend as a parts unit to perhaps use the cabinet in a new build. There were many parts missing or bad, so I gutted it to its bare chassis. I removed everything...tube sockets, terminal strips, chassis solder spots...sanded, primed, and repainted all but the face. The face still had the original hammer tone paint with a few character makes it had earned over the last 50 years, allowing me to retain some of it's original heritage.

I tested the transformers and reinstalled them in the proper orientation (D&A never installed them at right angles to each other to minimize interaction / coupling), installed new tube sockets, terminal strips, components,etc. The process included many upgrades like a low voltage whisper fan, changed the tube complement to 2ea 6P45C tubes driving 4ea 6P45C tubes, 3a 1000v piv hv rectifiers, negative grid 1 bias, LV  switching relays, a solid state rf sampler and keying circuit, much improved HV filter cap bank, improved high current plate and cathode chokes, new properly wound driver and final tank coils, 3 wire safety power cord, added an external ac line fuse holder, etc. It's basically a new and improved version of this vintage 50 year old amplifier.

Here's a couple of videos and some photos...



Completed and running strong!

Completed stripping the donor unit...

All rivets, terminal strips, etc removed...

Waiting to be reborn...

Rubbing out the OEM paint on the face with Flitz polish...

The faceplate cleaned up nicely...

Sanding in prep for primer...

Faceplate taped out, prior to trimming...




Applying sandals primer...




The cabinet was coated with a Stone Gray Satin finish...

The interior was coated with a matte black finish...


The outer cover was finished in a satin black hammered finish. 

Both transformers were tested, tagged, and painted...



Black hammered finish, completed...






Assembly begins...

New gold plated porcelain tube sockets installed with rivets and electrically bonded to the chassis...

Terminal strips installed and bonded...









Build completed. Lots of work, but a labor of love!







These 6P45C tubes are very robust, similar to the M-2057 or 8908 from back in the 80's.