For your consideration is a beautiful example of the RCA BC-5B Tube "Consolette" Mixer.
The BC-5B is a 4x1 tube broadcast mixer with basic routing functionality designed for a TV or radio station in the mid-20th century. This particular consolette is currently wired for (3) microphone inputs, (1) line input, and (1) output for the Program Amp (mix bus). The mic preamps sound excellent with lots of clean gain, well-suited to a variety of microphones, including ribbons of course. The line level preamp sounds fantastic as well, reproducing line level signals with clean gain and a touch of tubey hi-fi sheen. Instant better! Nice saturation can be attained by driving the mic or line amps at higher gain into the mix bus.
The RCA Consolettes are wonderful pieces and well-suited as a choice tube mic preamp and mono mixer for home recording, an auxiliary piece for a bigger studio, or as an integral part of a decidedly throwback analog workflow. The BC-5B makes for a great expansion to a BC-6B or BC-3B. Please be advised that the mic preamps do not have individual direct outs! All three mic preamps and the line input feed the single mono mix bus. That being said, the thorough restoration of this consolette makes it a perfect candidate for further modifications should the next owner desire.
Restoration:
This consolette was in really excellent cosmetic shape when we bought it. As you can see, the front panel is in near mint condition with very little in the way of wear or abrasions. The VU meter was replaced somewhere along the way. It is a Weston, dated 1964, and is also in impeccable shape. The metal cabinet has some wear along the sides and edges, but other than that, the aesthetic and ergonomic experience of this consolette is fairly impeccable. All knobs and switches are solid and move freely with little to no noise whatsoever. Nothing loose or flimsy.
There were previously some modifications made to the I/O and internal wiring. All of this was restored to original spec. New XLR I/O cabling was wired with vintage Gotham GAC-3 cable and Switchcraft connectors. The headphone jack was also replaced and wired so that the mono signal comes to the Left and Right of the phones. The preamp cards were uniformly recapped to reduce noise and improve low end response. The monitor amp was recapped as needed and retubed with JJ 6V6's. Note that as of now, the consolette is wired with (2) male XLR outputs, the 2nd being a redundant Program output. We haven't had any need for the Monitor out in a modern studio setting.
During the restoration process we encountered issues with the original power transformer. Instead of attempting to repair the transformer, or source an original replacement, we had an over-the-top, awesome external tube power supply built by Mark Sampson, using a Hammond power transformer and NOS JAN 5R4-GY power tube. The power supply is built to original spec of the internal supply and connects via a vintage style connector (such as is found on the RCA OP units), to a cable that is hardwired to the consolette. Though not original, the external power supply is a really nice improvement. Having some distance from the consolette itself reduces noise overall and adds some flexibility to the placement of the consolette.
This is by far the nicest example of the BC-5B I've ever seen on offer, and perhaps the only restored example I've seen anytime recently on Reverb or otherwise. Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions. I am happy to coordinate local pickup or domestic shipping. The $275 shipping fee covers FedEx Ground fully insured.
