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write your own review of the Drake L-4B.
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W4DSN
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 16, 2011 14:58
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A Big Boy Amp
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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i bought an L4B that looked like it was rode hard and put away wet. The paint was rough, and the switches stuck. I spent about 2 hours cleaning and un-sticking. The electronics were supreme - new power transformer, Harbach mods, new bottles (tubes to newbies). My ProIII pushes it just right. Does full legal power on all bands, 80 through 10. No 6, no 160. But, the 3-500Z's are not even breathing hard at a full gallon. It loafs along. Plates don't even get rosy.
It is not very agile, you have to re-tune for each band, but it is fast and straight-forward. On-air reports are excellent. I drive it with an IC-756proIII, which has the perfect amount of power. No ALC needed. And, when I get in pile-ups, I get the fastest response and biggest reports of all. They really do not build them like they used to.
L4B's are the only real amps, anything else is just a cheap imitation.
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W0KIZ
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 14, 2011 11:23
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Great amp now relatively cheap.
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This amplifier is one of the best made. It will put out 1200 to 1300 watts when run on 240 volts. If grid drive is limited to 240 mils and plate current to less than 800 mils, the tubes seem, to last forever. My spare tubes have been sitting on the shelve for over 20 years and have never been needed. Above power measured with a bird digital wattmeter. Switches are the weakest link and should have a relay or solid state relay put inbetween the switches and the line voltage. There is a web site that has information on this modification.
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WB0MCO
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 1, 2011 21:15
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Still One OF The Best
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I bought mine used several years ago, it need a
overhaul,new tubes,caps and a good cleaning.
It looks and operates like it just came out of the box.
I don't understand the the complaint about the
fan noise,you do have to oil it, mine you can't
hear run. I wish my other amplifier in the shack
was a quite.
Drake must of used two differant manufactured
band switches. The one in my amp is built better
than I've see in most of the amplifiers of today.
I do wish it had 160 meters, I would not had purchased the new amp in the shack.
The L-4B will out last most of them,too bad
RL Drake is out of the amateur radio business.
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K2TIS
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 16, 2011 18:32
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A timeless classic
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I purchased my L4B new in the mid-60s along with an T4XB and R4B. The only item I still own is the L4B. It ran nearly every day at my QTH in Mexico until I lost my 220 volt service, and I didn't want to run it on the poorly stabilized 110 volt service at my location. It sat in storage until my return to the states. It's been upgraded with new caps, solid state relay, etc. I had one 3-500 go gassy soon after I acquired the unit, but that's all. There are few amplifiers available today that can touch it, and none at its price. If you find one in decent condition, buy it. Even with the cost of upgrades, it's worth every dime.
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VE2BBC
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 19, 2010 08:49
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A real delight...!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have the privilege of owning what I consider as the Grand father of the linears... mine has been completely refurbished, Jenning relays fully QSK, step-start, soft-key, power supply has benn recapped....etc etc, so easy to load, very silent...the fan is very quiet and the relays have been placed in rubber grommets so I don't hear them either..sometimes I forget that it's running and it's sitting on the desk 2 feet from me.
Thanks Mr. Drake and Thanks VE2BUB for taking care of my precious amplifier.
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KB2CPW
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Rating: 5/5
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May 27, 2010 10:17
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Great Amp!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have an L4B that I picked up in excellent condition, but with all things electronic, they sometimes need updating. The beauty of an L4B is the separate supply which makes working on the deck safer by having it separate from the HVPS.
Yes its not the best amp out there (no 160 or warc) but its extremely well built and time tested. Since mine was in such good condition, I wanted it to stay that way, and with old amps its better to tastefully upgrade them than to leave them alone.
I started with the solid state relay mod by W8ZR. A fantastic and detailed writeup can be found on his website. This uses a Crouzet solid state relay to fire up the amp. The switch on the front now will only pass low voltage dc at 100ma or so helping your on/off switch survive the aging process better. The Crouzet handles the full brunt of the 240v shock wave.
I also swapped out the original skanky plate choke for the RF Parts choke that they use in all of the current 3-500 amps sold such as the AL-82. This is NOT a drop in change. The new plate choke will hit the top of the amp cage as it is about 7/8 of an inch taller than the stocker. I taped up the new plate choke and shaved the ends down with a tile wet saw about 1/2 inches on the bottom and a little less on the top giving me the headroom I needed. I maintained the exact spacing this way and still had enough air gap (matched to my old one) for everything to work properly but I gained a better designed choke. I then removed the original top and bottom band type connectors and top lug on the new choke and transferred the old ones from the original onto the new one with cir-clip pliers and reattached the windings and reassembled it. I am now moving onto the supply to complete some upgrades there (caps, resistors and diodes etc.)
Well, I love this amp, 1k+ all day long even before the mods. Easy to tune and work on and its a pretty amp as well. A true keeper!! If you can find a nice working example for under $750 with 900 or better out and no need for top band, go for it.. Regards, Richy N2ZD
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N3TU
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 28, 2010 15:03
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Great Amp
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I picked up this amp at a Hamfest for about $600 and it was very clean. It has performed well and made may good clean contacts without noise. The only problem I had but it could be due to age is the CW/SSB and On/Off Switch. I'll over look the age and give it a 5. It lasted this long so it is a great amp. They don't make the switches anymore and if you try to repair it, you will run into the same problem in time. The switches were replaced with heavy duty commercial flip switches and it's working like a charm. Also, I got an Ameritron ICP-240 in rush current protector switch as a safety. I have been getting great compliments on the air on how my Drake sounds and I plan on keeping it.
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KA2ZNI
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 1, 2008 17:47
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One terrific Amplifier!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I took delivery of a MINT condition L4B about a week ago, still has the original 3-500's from Eimac, BUT the transformer was replaced with a Peter Dahl XMFR and all new Caps and an additional fan added to the Power supply.
The RF deck was gone through with an improved squirrel cage blower, another blower mounted atop to remove the heat from the chimney's etc, and all cleaned up.
This amp will get after it! No problem running key-down AM or legal limit SSB thanks to the upgrades.
I will never part with this Amp.. It is the best I have come across!
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WY4J
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 23, 2007 15:53
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Best Amp I Have Ever Owned
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I purchased this amp for $400 back in 1982. It's 1968 vintage. The two 3-500Z tubes are still there and putting out full power although I have never really push it and have always ran it on the low power or CW mode.
This is a great amp that will give you many years of enjoyment if treated correctly. Only drawback is that due to its age, is does not have 160 or the WARC bands.
If you can pick one up in pristine condition, grab it and you will not be sorry you did. If you want to look at mine I have a picture of it by searching my online picture album.
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VE2DC
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Rating: 4/5
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Oct 28, 2007 09:02
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Best deal of my Ham life!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This was the first amp I owned back in the ,70s. Great RF deck covering 80-10 but a so-so power supply. However the best part was the price. The lab at RCA where I was working published a list of assets for disposal. One item was a brand new looking L4B. Being just married with a sorry looking bank balance... I bid the princely sum of $75. Apparently I was the only one who tendered a bid! Sure got my money's worth... Only changed it eventually because I wanted an amp to work on 160M.
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