ot. radio and tube amp fix/mod?

[bonkdav]

sorry if this post is not really stompbox related but this is the only place i know and trust.  I have an old tube radio and i was wondering if it is at all possible to convert this to a guitar amp. there is a pic so you get the idea. 
also  I have a gretsch bass amp i inherited but it doesnt work properly it cuts out and distorts and buzzes.  Do i just need to replace the tubes or maybe caps? im very new to tubes so any guidance or help would be appreciated cuz i dont really want to go poking around in it and get shocked. also i noticed that it likes to turn to crap at certain frequencies more than others. particularly at the 12th fret on the a string of my bass. any and all guidance will be really appreciated.

here is a picture of the radio and i know a place i can get another one if this actually works.  thanks

[theehman]

I wouldn't bother trying to convert.  That radio is an AC/DC model which means no power transformer for isolation from the AC line.  I'd put it back together, clean it up a bit, and sell it on ebay.

[bonkdav]

yes. ebay was plan b. any info on the bass amp. it has beautiful tone at low volume but when you turn it up everything goes to crap. it saddens me because i would love to use it live or for recording.

[theehman]

I'd start with the filter caps on the amp.  What model is it?  Any pics?

[bonkdav]

heres some info about it.  Mine is a bass/organ amp.  The guy who had it before me played an accordian through it.  it has several inputs volume and high and low knobs. an on switch a reset switch and a line reverse switch.  These links are amps close to what mine is. Gretsch 6170.  hope it helps, ill have to go through it and test the caps. and all that good stuff. its my first time working with an actual amp so im kinda nervous. ill do some reading up on safety then eventually give it a go.

http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/gretsch68p21.php

http://www.songbirdmusic.com/product_details.asp?id=11427&ret=%2Fproducts%5Flist%2Easp%3FcatID%3D65%26clear%3Dy&catID=65&clear=y

[runmikeyrun]

ah, the gretsch has no value, just send it to me, i will dispose of it properly    j/k that thing looks COOL!

[drewl]

Ditto on the Radio... I had a guy who wanted me to do the same thing...I said NO DICE...
w/No isolation transformer if something shorts to the chassis you're TOAST!!!

As far as the amp, clean all the tube sockets and tube pins, retension the tube sockets and see if it cuts out.
99% of the time it's a tube problem, so you may be able to switch the preamp tubes around to get it to work.