Top 10 Vintage CB Radios 

Very nice radio ... If you're trying to track another one down , try looking on Ebay , Mercari , or Etsy . Also sign up for some CB forums like WorldwideDX Radio Forum ( www.worldwidedx.com/) , or Grumpy's Olde Time Radio Forum (grumpy.proboards.com/) and seeing what the other forum members are selling . Good luck , and thanks for watching the video.

I just recently bought a President Washington base ... it's not a 1st Generation , and it's not a Uniden Washington ... it falls somewhere in the middle .... lol . Hopefully I get a few good years out of it , and make a few good contacts with it . Thanks for hanging out at the Ranch .

The 878 PLL version (4-pin mic) was an audio screamer! It sounded a little flat in terms of bass & treble compared with the 8719 version (5-pin mic) but had louder audio. Only issue I didn't like was the receiver would stack images when someone strong was on one channel and someone else nearby was strong on another channel, sometimes they would mix and could both be heard together on a 3rd channel. Probably one of the best DX CB rigs due to the killer AM & SSB audio loudness.

I love the vintage stuff . I just got a few of my old timers back from the radio doctor yesterday , and been talking on them today . Had them gone through to make sure they're in top performance .

No problem , it's the least I could do for your support to the channel . I actually have 3 of these radios at the "Radio Doctor" getting fixed so they'll be back to their "Like New" state again . That's why I mentioned making sure everything was good at the end . Electrolytic Capacitors can be a pain when they're in bad shape .

I think the super base will be next on my list to find. The front of those radios.....just awesome.!

@@luke8210 I agree ... I had one once years ago . But it had been screwdrivered so bad by the locals ... that it was beyond help . I wouldn't mind finding another one though ... in decent shape .

Thank you very much Chip , I'm really glad that you like the videos . I've currently got the next one in production , and it's almost done . But make sure to hit the notification bell , that way you'll always be notified whenever I upload a new video .

The stupid music has to go.

I love those old timer radios . In fact , I have quite a few of them around here as well . I have a friend that talks about those T-Berry radios all the time . I don't own any T-Berry's myself , but I've thought about picking one up . I might look into getting one sometime in the near future . Thanks for hanging out here at the Ranch with us Elliot .

I had a Stalker IX am/fm/ssb with a super slide clarifier. I loved that radio. The receive dropped out on me. Ended up in a parts bin. Long gone now. 12ny waving.

You're welcome .... and thank you too

The Cobra 2000 gtl's are good radios , I have one too . Thanks for watching the video Hemp Head .

Sorry cuz , I've been doing this for a little while now , and I always share a post of the newest video on facebook when they come out . Instead of missing your CB , maybe it's time you get another one , get yourself set up ... and get back on the air . There are plenty of people to talk with , CB isn't dead . And if you hear east coast skip rolling in ... go to channel 12 and listen for me . That's where me and my friends hang out at . Thanks for spreading the word about the channel , I really appreciate it .

Raevan Flame: Get y'self a radio, etc and get back on the air!!!! The more the merrier I say!! Don't skimp on anything. Buy the best you can afford (a birthday/Christmas gift to yourself!!). Always get the best co-axial cable you can, it DOES make a difference. Awaiting your return to the air to welcome you back!! Be well & safe, brother!!

Reaven flame. How's your radio? (Asking from London

Not a problem .... I appreciate all the support that you give to the channel .

Also has no memory channels

The "Original" version of the President Washington radios had the 2 buttons on the lower right . One was the NB/Off button , and the other was the CB/PA button ... the newer versions have 3 buttons , the new button added an automatic Ch 9 option . You have one of the original President Washington radios , and I wouldn't do anything to change it Joseph . Thanks for watching the video .

If you’re looking for a crystal to get extra channels, eBay is about the only source. All custom crystal makers have shut their doors. If you have the first generation Washington and Madison, you can get over 190 channels with just switches. They are incredible!

Thanks Mr Tyler

What's a list of the classics without a Cobra 2000 ?

Thank you David ... and 73s . Look for me and my friends on Ch. 12 on the AM side when the skip rolls in ... Raccoon

I have not heard of Globe Star Electronics before, but I did look it up , and they're a nice radio . www.pinterest.com/pin/835488168341621919/

I'm always on the look out for vintage radios too . I have a few at the "Radio Doctors" right now being put back in working condition .

which radio is more popular ??

On eBay the Dak X is more popular. But that means nothing. For instance, there are many radios that are the same as others except for the name on the front. One is popular and the other isn’t. The Cobra 2000 is very popular. But it is the same radio as the new Washington, other than having a $15 frequency readout on the Cobra. The old model Washington beats the crap out of both of those radios. On the old Washington you can get 197 channels with a better overall radio for much less money. I’ve seen people go crazy over the “Buddy Base”. But it has a receiver that is very poor. Only one step above a regenerative receiver. But it is very rare and therefore collectible by some people. In my collection I have a Swan 1011 (not Siltronix). Very collectable radio because it is so rare. But it’s a.m. receiver is a POS and the SSB is typically poor, like most ham receivers. So I guess it comes down to what you want to collect. The DAK X is not a great performing radio, nor is it that uncommon. The old Adams is harder to find and outperforms the DAK X. But people love that vacuum tube on the PC board that causes damage to it. Also they are bad about their channel LEDs burning out. The Browning Eagle III beats the crap out of most base stations and it has real, hand soldered, tube sockets. Excellent transmitter and receiver. The downside is the crystals that are getting old and hard to find now. I’ve failed to understand the attraction to the DAK except that it has those rack handles and a vacuum tube. Certainly everyone has their opinion about collections. Years ago I paid a premium for my Siltronix 1011D. Today they are worth half what I paid. And they’re really not CBs. I have a Yaesu 101EE that people loved back in the 70’s. It has 11 meters right on the band switch, so it is collectable. But compared to modern equipment, it really sucks. If you collect for rarity, how about the Midland 13-778? It one of a very few SSB walkie talkies. It’s performance is just okay. In the old days people were going crazy over Handic radios. They advertised that because Sweden had tighter rules, their radios were better. But they were the same Japanese boards as Midland and many other brands. Oh well, that’s why there are so many brands out there.

@@keithweiss7899 You are a very "WORDY" person.

@@131Dusty is that a complaint or a compliment? My decades of experience gives me a really great position to educate others in electronics. Especially since I’m an electronics teacher and started collecting CB radios back in the early 70’s, before most people even thought of such a thing. But education is only good if the student is willing to receive the knowledge.

I had previously mentioned in one of my other comments after releasing this video , that it was a slip up on my part that I didn't catch in the editing . Thankfully I'm getting better at editing as I'm going ... thanks for watching the video Keith

A lot of people were using illegal setups back then . Not everyone , but a lot of them ... and now days , with the Export radios being so popular . Just about everyone is doing it these days .

There have been so many great radios over the years , that the actual list of great vintage radios is just way too big to fit into one "Top 10 Vintage CB Radios" video . I'll have to make another video in the near future featuring 10 different vintage radios to build the list up some more. Thank you for watching the video .

@RaccoonsRadioRanch no problem..the rangers were late 50s early 60s. You needed a receiver but it had the 11m on the band switch.

Nor man ... I like the idea , and you're not going to believe it . But I also run an RCA Co-pilot 14T-302 in the mobile , with a Wilson 1000 , and an Astatic Road Devil . I can be heard about 10/15 miles from the base on AM with that setup , and I never use amplifiers on any of my radios . I bought my Co-pilot at a hamfest about 12 years for around $5 in it's box .

@@RaccoonsRadioRanch: That is SO cool!! I got my RCA off of Facebook's Marketplace WITH the K30 antenna for about $20(US$)!! Awesome radio & price!! It's gonna absolutely scream with my vintage Radio Shack mag-mount once I finish the restoration!! I found an interesting video here on RU-vid I thought you'd enjoy. It's about working on an RCA 14T304 (non-SSB) radio. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-oxIxPnUoeuA.html Good tips to be sure, but I don't have the equipment!! Has anybody worked on your radio? Is it stock? If adjusted properly, I that our radio has amazing "ears"!! I'd love to put a Stryker or 102" whip on the mobile, but I'll wait until I finish restoring my mag-mount before I buy a new antenna. I'd like to make a base antenna with a 102" whip for fun, it'd be a 1/4 wave so I know it'll work(mower junkie made one!!). Question: what would be your 3 dream mobile radios, and your 3 dream base station radios that you'd love to own? I would like: Mobile: Radio Shack TRC-451, Cobra 148 GTL, high-power Galaxy/ Stryker SSB 11 meter capable. Base: President Madison, Cobra 2000 GTL, GE Super Base- (or high power Galaxy/Stryker 11 meter capable radio). How's that?! What about you? By the way, what's your 20? I can't wait to hear your choices!! Take care, we care!! Be well, healthy & happy!! 73's, Norman.

@@norman2999 My Co-pilot had work done to it prior to when I bought it . It already had extra channels in it , and the locals say it sounds loud . One even keeps asking me if I'd sell it (which I won't ... lol) . As for 3 dream mobiles , my 20 is NY ... so I prefer radios with an LED display because NY winters play hell with an LCD display . I wouldn't have ever guessed it , but my RCA seems to be my perfect mobile . It has the LED for the cold winters , it gets out really good , and it's been really dependable . I've been using it for 3 or 4 years now . As for 3 base radios , I love the classics . So that would have to be a Tram D201 ... 40 ch w/SSB . I love Browning equipment , so I've always wanted to get a Browning Golden Eagle , also 40 ch w/SSB ... and I'd like to find a nice ARF 2001 . I love the Cobra & President radios ... so don't think I don't because they didn't make my list . They didn't make my list because I already have the radios by them that I wanted . I'm actually planning on featuring my Cobra 2000 in one of my videos .

TRAM Titan II & 4 element beam.

@@crazybobdj Tram Titans were GREAT radios.

Nice ... I've had a few Realistic radios in my collection over the years . I like their radios .

hornhospital , there are far too many excellent radios made from 1958 until now , to try and fit them all into one list of 10 radios ... I just tried to get some of the more highly sought after radios in this list . But I will be making more videos in the future , with other great vintage radios in them as well ... so keep an eye for those .

@@RaccoonsRadioRanch Tram D-201 was a 23 channel and the D-201A was the 40 channel radio

@@131Dusty Yes, that's what I said above. :)

I noticed the music was loud myself , so the music in my newer videos is lower

you're right .... but there are so many great vintage radios that were made over the years , that it's pretty much impossible to cover them all in one top 10 list video . I'll have to make another top 10 vintage radios video in the near future ... thanks for watching the video .

It was , I didn't realize until after I uploaded the video that I had mistakenly said it was AM & Sideband . I even previewed it , and it escaped me . As for the Pace radios , there were just too many great radios made in the past to try and squeeze them all into a list of 10 . So I tried to list the ones that I thought were some of the ones that collectors hunt down . There will be videos with more classics in the future . The vintage equipment is my favorite stuff .

@@RaccoonsRadioRanch You are right... Too many great radios to get them all. SBE Console V - Teaberry Stalker - Realistic Navajo (Radio Shack) took a lot of undeserved bad press as being bad radios, they were the same "innereds" as the top brands, Just look on e-bay. They are quite collectable now. Maybe another vintage video??

I mentioned to make sure that the Tubes , Channel Crystals and the Electrolytic Capacitors were good towards the end of the video . ;)

@@RaccoonsRadioRanch Any older radio should be recapped! Just good insurance aganst what can be a costly repair later on. Also, never fire up and old tube set that hasn't been used in a long while Plug it into a VARIAC and slowly bring the AC voltage up to 117 VAC slowly over several hours to a few days. This can prevent the old electrolytic caps from blowing out on power up. I tried telling a friend to do this, even offered to loan him my VARIAC but he passed and when he powered up a "mint condition" Lafayette Comstat 25A he blew just about every electrolytic cap in the radio's AC power circuit!

I actually have a CPI 2000 sitting here that needs a little TLC to get back on the air ... I should feature it in a video , but I keep putting it off .

Thank you

I only wish I had one of those Browning's in the collection ... lol I'll get one eventually . Thanks for hanging out at the Ranch and watching the videos with us .

It's been so long since I've used some of the radios in this list ... that I can't remember how their receive was . But in my experience , radios that use vacuum tubes tend to receive better , and have cleaner audio ... than those that use transistors do . Maybe if you're lucky , one of the others might be able to answer your question for you .

The best receivers had Collins mechanical filters and Nuvistor tube front ends. Look at Browning Golden Eagles.

🤘

They're older radios because it's the "Top 10 Vintage CB Radios" ... and why wouldn't there be a Browning radio in this video . The Browning's are one of the most sought after radios by vintage CB radio collectors .

that's a great idea ... keep an eye out for that video

@@RaccoonsRadioRanch Will do !

the fact that you need so many pieces for a complete setup , and it takes up so much room on your desk ... is the only reason why I don't own a Browning setup . But I've been thinking about getting one for awhile now . I think that they're an amazing radio .

You’re probably thinking of the MKII. My Mk III is a two piece unit that is a.m. and SSB. One unit for transmit and one for receive.

The Stoner is a SSB only radio ... I have no idea how I managed to make that mistake in the video , but I did say something about it on one of the posts in the comment section .

That's where we're different ... I prefer the vintage radios over anything that's surface mount . I "had" a Lincoln II + and sadly I wasn't as impressed with it as I hoped I would be , so I sold it . Maybe I was being unfair to it because I was comparing it with the Stryker SR-955 , and it didn't come close to it . But then maybe that would be like comparing a vintage CB radio to a "Converted 10 Meter Ham Radio" ... they don't even come close to one another. Besides , I haven't seen a huge jump in the popularity of people using FM on CB yet .