Yaesu FT-501 reviews

I love my FT501. One day it is going to kill me, but I'll still have it buried with me. It doesn't do AM, no WARC bands and no 160m band. The 6KD6 valves used in the finals are EXTREMELY expensive to replace. On the other hand, it is one of the most beautiful radios ever built, in my opinion. It puts out an enormous signal well over 280 watts and modulation is excellent. The construction is solid, it is very heavy and buttons practically indestructible. It can take a punch and after 40+ years, mine is still working perfectly, despite some heavy handling at times. It is a bit of a Frankenstein mix of transistors and vacuum tubes, but it is a well thought through mix. That Nixie tube display is amazing.