›

Reuther ST240/8 Restoration

What's Hot
HarrySevenHarrySeven Frets: 8030
edited February 2021 in Amps
Thanks to the great generosity of @emorej, I now have a third Reuther combo in the H7 collection.

Earlier threads are here:

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/85749/free-to-collect-reuther-st240-stereo-guitar-amp (how I acquired my first one), and here:

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/119953/wtb-reuther-st240-8-stereo-combo

For those unfamiliar with the name, Reuther are one of the great ‘sleeper’ solid-state amps of the ‘80’s - think of a Gallien-Krueger 250ML on steroids, with Teutonic over-engineering and you won’t be far off the mark.

It arrived a few days ago, but due to an adverse reaction to a COVID jab, I wasn’t able to open up the package and commence stripping it down until today.

I’ll let the pics do the talking...

https://i.imgur.com/jbC6prO.jpg

















I’ll let @emorej fill in the blanks, but I understand that the amp has been unused for many years and one time also had a trip down a flight of stairs.

I’m a big believer in patination telling the story of objects, so this isn’t going to be a full make-over - more of a clean-up and return to full working order.

More pics to follow...



HarrySeven - Intangible Asset Appraiser & Wrecker of Civilisation. Searching for weird guitars - so you don't have to.
Forum feedback thread.    |     G&B interview #1 & #2   |  https://www.instagram.com/_harry_seven_/ 

0reaction image LOL 2reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
«1

Comments

  • impmannimpmann Frets: 12663
    I've not seen one of those before. 

    If you find a Sundown 1012C on your travels, give me a shout - I'd love to give one a go with my 21st Century ears on... I remember being blown away by one (quite literally) in Rose Morris Music on Denmark street in the mid 80s and thinking it sounded epic... it would be interesting to see if it lives up to the memory. :-)
    Never Ever Bloody Anything Ever.

    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • HarrySevenHarrySeven Frets: 8030
    impmann said:
    I've not seen one of those before. 

    If you find a Sundown 1012C on your travels, give me a shout - I'd love to give one a go with my 21st Century ears on... I remember being blown away by one (quite literally) in Rose Morris Music on Denmark street in the mid 80s and thinking it sounded epic... it would be interesting to see if it lives up to the memory. :-)

    I've not seen one in years! Will keep you posted... :)


    HarrySeven - Intangible Asset Appraiser & Wrecker of Civilisation. Searching for weird guitars - so you don't have to.
    Forum feedback thread.    |     G&B interview #1 & #2   |  https://www.instagram.com/_harry_seven_/ 

    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • xemorejxemorej Frets: 14
    edited March 2021
    Wow, you really put a smile on my face there Harry, great pics and parts I have never even seen before !  A bit of background history now, the amplifier was purchased new in October 1991 from "The Guitar Store" , originally in Hope Street, Glasgow. It cost £300 and I bought it along with a Vanden solid body guitar, from Derek Ogilvie who owned "The Guitar Store" and went on to become famous as a baby psychic with his own tv series, crazy but true !
    Sadly it was thrown down a flight of stairs once (temper tantrum) and was repaired in Andy's guitar workshop in Denmark St. London. 
    It has lived in various wardrobes for the last 15-20 years until Harry rescued it !
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 1reaction image Wisdom
  • HarrySevenHarrySeven Frets: 8030
    A bit of remedial woodwork...

    https://i.imgur.com/QyTfMae.jpg

    https://i.imgur.com/hn4CDrW.jpg


    I’ve also repainted the cab internals in satin black, cleaned the external tolex and started cleaning/polishing the metalwork.


    HarrySeven - Intangible Asset Appraiser & Wrecker of Civilisation. Searching for weird guitars - so you don't have to.
    Forum feedback thread.    |     G&B interview #1 & #2   |  https://www.instagram.com/_harry_seven_/ 

    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • xemorejxemorej Frets: 14
    Looking better already, very happy to hear you have recovered Harry  :)
    0reaction image LOL 1reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • 4on64on6 Frets: 86
    I used to gig one of these regularly back in the day. I was using it at a gig in a little club called the Brahms and Liszt in Covent Garden one night when a load of smoke started pouring out of the back.
     I seem to remember loving the sound but it was never quite loud enough even with a couple of extension speakers. I think I may have had the impedances wrong and that’s what caused the problem (ignorance if youth!!) Got it fixed but think I moved it on soon after that. 
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • HarrySevenHarrySeven Frets: 8030
    edited March 2021
    https://i.imgur.com/Bg1ZJai.jpg

    Internal woodwork repaired/repainted, tolex cleaned/re-glued, metalwork polished, speaker cloth cleaned, etc - ready for reassembly once I’ve cleaned all the screws/fixings.


    HarrySeven - Intangible Asset Appraiser & Wrecker of Civilisation. Searching for weird guitars - so you don't have to.
    Forum feedback thread.    |     G&B interview #1 & #2   |  https://www.instagram.com/_harry_seven_/ 

    0reaction image LOL 1reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • HarrySevenHarrySeven Frets: 8030
    4on6 said:

     I seem to remember loving the sound...
    Everyone I’ve spoken to (who owned one of these) says the same thing re. how good they sounded.


    HarrySeven - Intangible Asset Appraiser & Wrecker of Civilisation. Searching for weird guitars - so you don't have to.
    Forum feedback thread.    |     G&B interview #1 & #2   |  https://www.instagram.com/_harry_seven_/ 

    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • 4on64on6 Frets: 86
    I’m not sure about the description “GK on steroids” but from memory it was much easier to get a fairly organic, rich (objective!!) lead tone than a GK (didn’t have a GK til relatively recently) Not as gainy though. I do remember playing it next to a mates sessionette and being aware that it wasn’t as deep. I guess 8s are never going to compete with even a single 12 in that department. Would be fascinated to play through one again after all these years. 
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • HarrySevenHarrySeven Frets: 8030
    https://i.imgur.com/PiTeU9z.jpg

    Frying tonight...well, ultrasonic cleaning! :D


    HarrySeven - Intangible Asset Appraiser & Wrecker of Civilisation. Searching for weird guitars - so you don't have to.
    Forum feedback thread.    |     G&B interview #1 & #2   |  https://www.instagram.com/_harry_seven_/ 

    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • xemorejxemorej Frets: 14
    HarrySeven said:Internal woodwork repaired/repainted, tolex cleaned/re-glued, metalwork polished, speaker cloth cleaned, etc - ready for reassembly once I’ve cleaned all the screws/fixings.
    Looks almost like new again !
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • HarrySevenHarrySeven Frets: 8030
    edited March 2021
    Latest updates...

    https://i.imgur.com/boLcMym.jpg

    https://i.imgur.com/UT9ZjU5.jpg

    https://i.imgur.com/XSXGcPL.jpg


    HarrySeven - Intangible Asset Appraiser & Wrecker of Civilisation. Searching for weird guitars - so you don't have to.
    Forum feedback thread.    |     G&B interview #1 & #2   |  https://www.instagram.com/_harry_seven_/ 

    0reaction image LOL 1reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • HarrySevenHarrySeven Frets: 8030
    https://i.imgur.com/czPFrbP.jpg


    HarrySeven - Intangible Asset Appraiser & Wrecker of Civilisation. Searching for weird guitars - so you don't have to.
    Forum feedback thread.    |     G&B interview #1 & #2   |  https://www.instagram.com/_harry_seven_/ 

    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • HarrySevenHarrySeven Frets: 8030
    edited March 2021
    Physically fully sorted* and now also fully working. D 







    *As I mentioned in my initial post, I’ve gone for a ‘patinated’ rebuild, rather than attempting to make it pristine (primarily due to the previous work to the cabinet).


    HarrySeven - Intangible Asset Appraiser & Wrecker of Civilisation. Searching for weird guitars - so you don't have to.
    Forum feedback thread.    |     G&B interview #1 & #2   |  https://www.instagram.com/_harry_seven_/ 

    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 1reaction image Wisdom
  • 4on64on6 Frets: 86
    Memories !!!... nice work mr 7
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 1reaction image Wisdom
  • xemorejxemorej Frets: 14
    Very nice job Harry, what was the gain channel volume problem with that sudden surge in power ? And it looks like you sorted the high input out too where it was all askew, is it rethreaded or renewed ?  :)
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • HarrySevenHarrySeven Frets: 8030
    @emorej - a lot of issues I’ve previously experienced with these related to excessively dirty/noisy pots and really dodgy contacts on the numerous 1/4” inputs/outputs (many of which are also switches).

    This one was fortunately no different - repeated flushes with Servisol seem to have rectified matters - at least for now! 

    NB. I’ve left the wonky socket in place until I can obtain the correct-spec replacement.


    HarrySeven - Intangible Asset Appraiser & Wrecker of Civilisation. Searching for weird guitars - so you don't have to.
    Forum feedback thread.    |     G&B interview #1 & #2   |  https://www.instagram.com/_harry_seven_/ 

    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • xemorejxemorej Frets: 14
    @HarrySeven ;Did the reverb sound any different on mine to the others ?
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • HarrySevenHarrySeven Frets: 8030
    emorej said:
    @HarrySeven ;Did the reverb sound any different on mine to the others ?

    Yes - a wee bit deeper.


    HarrySeven - Intangible Asset Appraiser & Wrecker of Civilisation. Searching for weird guitars - so you don't have to.
    Forum feedback thread.    |     G&B interview #1 & #2   |  https://www.instagram.com/_harry_seven_/ 

    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • xemorejxemorej Frets: 14
    HarrySeven said:
    emorej said:
    @HarrySeven ;Did the reverb sound any different on mine to the others ?

    Yes - a wee bit deeper.
    Interesting, so they have slightly different characteristics, a bit like guitars  :) It's all yours now, great job on the amp, it couldn't have gone to a better home  ;)
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
Sign In or Register to comment.