BEST CB TUBE AMP. EVER MADE

[Stellasstillarat]

Ok what's the best 11 meter tube base amplifier ever made and why? Im mostly interested in the amps AM performance. I also hope you can tell me why the amp you choose is or was the best you have ever used. Modified amps made for the ham band are excluded, im really interested in tube base amplifiers that were made for cb use exclusively. I'm looking for a history lesson in cb base tube amplifiers and the best ones ever made. All from 50 watts to a kw ++.

 

[Mustang 131]

Best built? Easiest to fix? Cheap? Most power?
Pride DX300 is my favorite all around.
(3) 3-500z Davemade is number 2 for me. Build quality second to none.

 

[wavrider]

Anderson golden falcon.

 

[unit_399]

Contex 500 Plus is my favorite. Single 3-500Z. Pretty much an amateur amp for 11 meters.

 

[Atlasta]

That Pride DX 300 was one hell of an amp. One of the few to use a 'real' amplifier tube. Also I would mention the Wawasee JB 2000. With a pair of 3-500z tubes it was damn near unbeatable.

However I do have a soft spot for the sweep tube amps and in that arena it comes down to either the D&A Phantom (okay, maybe the Warrior, but how many of those do you see?) or the Varmint amps. Although I own a restored Phantom I lean toward the Varmint amps for sheer output power. When they worked, they were the loudest damn thing on the air.

 

[Tripple Nickel]

Contex 500 Plus is my favorite. Single 3-500Z. Pretty much an amateur amp for 11 meters.

View attachment 14358

These Contex were very reliable for me in the late 60's/early 70's, they were AWESOME with a 3 element HY-GAIN. I laid mine @ 45 degrees and could talk antime I needed too. You didn't have to drop the dead key to run one of these, plug and go. JMHO, I wish I knew where a virgin one was, if anyone knows, let me know.
555

 

[RatsoW8]

Everyone knows the answer is: The one you had in the 70's that you had to convince your dad to let you bring in the house by telling him there was no way the FCC would ever catch you using it.