$84.11est. delivered
The lowest delivered S-38E titled works, at $84 from a 100% seller. The title also says read, so check what the description discloses before you buy.
Model S-38E Hallicrafters Multi-Channel Shortwave Vacuum Tube Radio Works Read
Hallicrafters · Receiver · 1957–1961
Hallicrafters S-38E
The S-38 was Hallicrafters' beginner's receiver, and the S-38E was the last of the line. Radio Boulevard says the first S-38 of 1946 had six tubes and a real BFO, but the circuit soon dropped to five tubes and got its CW note by pushing the IF into oscillation. The A, B and C versions have semicircular dials, and the D and E have slide-rule dials. The first cabinet was a Raymond Loewy design. Rigpix dates the E from 1957, and production ended in 1961, with two dressier finishes, the S-38EB in blonde and the S-38EM in faux mahogany. It covers 540 kHz to 32 MHz in four bands, broadcast included, on AM and CW. Every S-38 runs on AC or DC with no power transformer, which kept it cheap and light. It's also why its chassis can carry line voltage.
S-38ES-38EB (blonde finish)S-38EM (faux mahogany finish)
Spec at a glance
- Maker
- Hallicrafters
- Type
- Receiver
- Launched
- 1957
- Made
- 1957–1961
- Covers
- 540 kHz to 32 MHz in four bands
- Modes
- AM, CW
- Tubes
- Five
- Power supply
- AC/DC, no power transformer
- Dial
- Slide-rule (S-38D and S-38E)
- Also listed as
- S38E, S-38E, S 38E, S-38EB, S-38EM
- Typical eBay ask (Oct 15, 2026)
- $65–$140
Bench check
Receive, tubes and supply
- Receiver
- It covers 540 kHz to 32 MHz in four bands on AM and CW, broadcast band included. Ask for a video of it receiving on all four. Radio Boulevard says CW is hard to copy on the five-tube S-38s, because the CW position works by making the IF oscillate.
- Tubes and circuit
- Five tubes, per rigpix, with no power transformer. Ask whether any tubes have been replaced. Phil's Old Radios says tubes outlast capacitors, and are only worth replacing when one is bad.
- Power supply
- There's no power transformer. Hallicrafters' own S-38 service bulletin says B-minus is tied to one side of the AC line, and called for an isolation transformer when adding a meter. Ask whether a polarized cord or an isolation transformer has been fitted, and never touch the chassis while it's plugged in.
- Dial and display
- The S-38D and S-38E have slide-rule dials, where earlier S-38s had semicircular ones. Ask for a photo with the dial lit and the pointer partway across. The pointer should follow the tuning knob.
- Filters and options
- There are no filters or options to look for. What varies is the cabinet. Radio Boulevard lists the plain S-38E plus the S-38EB in blonde and the S-38EM in faux mahogany.
Should come with it
- The original case, back and knobs
- The manual or schematic
Check the listing photos against this list, and ask the seller about anything you can’t see. A missing piece should come off the price.
What to check
Hallicrafters' own S-38 service bulletin says B-minus connects to one side of the AC line, so the chassis can carry line voltage, and it called for an isolation transformer. Phil's Old Radios adds that old electrolytics should be checked or replaced before power-up, and that cracked power cords are common.
- 01Live chassis: Ask whether it has a polarized cord or runs from an isolation transformer. Either one is what you want on an AC/DC set.
- 02Power cord: Look at the cord in the photos. It should be flexible with no cracks, or recently replaced.
- 03Capacitors: Ask whether the electrolytic capacitors have been replaced. A recapped set is safer to power up.
- 04Every band: Ask for a video receiving on all four bands, broadcast included. Each one should pull in stations.
- 05Dial: Ask whether the slide-rule pointer moves with the tuning knob. It should glide across the scale without slipping.
- 06Case and knobs: Check the photos for the case, back cover and all the knobs. They're what keeps your hands off the chassis.
- 07Manual: Ask whether a manual or schematic comes with it. Phil's Old Radios recommends having the schematic before any repair.
- 08Model and finish: Read the label for S-38E, S-38EB or S-38EM. The S-38D came just before it and also has a slide-rule dial.
New to used rigs? How to check a used ham radio covers receive, the tubes and the dial, and buying vintage tube gear covers old capacitors, tubes and first power-up.
Buying guide
Which one to buy
§ Oct 15, 2026We'd buy ham_stuff's S-38EM, the faux-mahogany finish, titled working at $107 delivered, right on the median, from a 99.9% seller. There are at least 13 for sale, most titled working ask $84 to $134 delivered, and untested sets start at $55. This is an AC/DC set with no power transformer, so its chassis can carry line voltage. Ask whether it has a polarized cord or runs from an isolation transformer, and whether the electrolytic capacitors were replaced. Ask for a video receiving on all four bands, and skip mobileauctionhouse's $249, about 2.3 times the median, with a pitted panel in the photo.
- Listed now
- 13
- For parts
- 0
- Typical ask
- $65–$140
- Full range
- $40–$175
Cheapest 
Best value $107.09est. delivered
Titled working, in the S-38EM faux-mahogany finish, at $107 delivered from a 99.9% seller. Ask whether it has a polarized cord or an isolation transformer, since the chassis can carry line voltage.
HALLICRAFTERS S-38EM HF RECEIVER - WORKING
View on eBay ↗: HALLICRAFTERS S-38EM HF RECEIVER - WORKING$107.09 est. delivered
Collector's pick $110.60est. delivered
The only blonde S-38EB here, complete with its knobs in the photo, at $111 delivered. It isn't titled tested, so ask for a video of it receiving on all four bands.
Vintage Hallicrafters S-38EB Tube Shortwave Radio Receiver
View on eBay ↗: Vintage Hallicrafters S-38EB Tube Shortwave Radio Receiver$110.60 est. delivered
Project piece $54.94est. delivered
Titled untested at $55 delivered, about half the $107 median. The photo shows a worn, spotted cabinet, so pay project money and have the capacitors checked before you plug it in.
⭐️Vintage Hallicrafters S-38E Shortwave Tube Radio⭐️Tabletop Receiver⭐️Untested
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 15, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
For sale on eBay
8 of 13 listedChecked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 15, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
- Used
- Cheapest
Model S-38E Hallicrafters Multi-Channel Shortwave Vacuum Tube Radio Works Read
$84.11est. delivered
$51.33 + $32.78 shipping
Buy It Now$51.33
Offers accepted
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Titled works, plus read. Check the description.
Seller: deals2smile4
100% positive
- Used
- Best value
HALLICRAFTERS S-38EM HF RECEIVER - WORKING
$107.09est. delivered
$74.99 + $32.10 shipping
Buy It Now$74.99
Good buy
Titled working. S-38EM faux-mahogany finish.
Seller: ham_stuff
99.9% positive
- Used
- Collector's pick
Vintage Hallicrafters S-38EB Tube Shortwave Radio Receiver
$110.60est. delivered
$99.44 + $11.16 shipping
Buy It Now$99.44
Offers accepted
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
S-38EB blonde finish. No test claim.
Seller: indianaflip
99.6% positive
- For parts
- Project piece
⭐️Vintage Hallicrafters S-38E Shortwave Tube Radio⭐️Tabletop Receiver⭐️Untested
$54.94est. delivered
$39.95 + $14.99 shipping
Buy It Now$39.95
Project piece
Untested. Worn, spotted cabinet in the photo. The same seller lists a second one.
Seller: kuhlman_second_act
99.1% positive
UsedVintage Hallicrafters S-38E Shortwave Tube Radio – Tabletop Receiver
$68.49est. delivered
$42.99 + $25.50 shipping
Buy It Now$42.99
Our take
No test claim. Complete with its knobs in the photo.
Seller: terrlalu_0
99.5% positive
UsedHallicrafters Co S38-E ShortWave Reciever 1957-1961
$113.19est. delivered
$95.69 + $17.50 shipping
Buy It Now$95.69
Offers accepted
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
No test claim.
Seller: caroljeanl10
99.6% positive
UsedVintage MCM Working Hallicrafters S-38EM Shortwave Am Radio Civil Defense
$133.80est. delivered
$75.00 + $58.80 shipping
Buy It Now$75.00
Our take
Titled working. S-38EM finish, with $59 shipping.
Seller: rusticwindmill
99.7% positive
Used- Priced high
VTG Short Wave Radio Receiver By The Hallicrafters Co. MODEL S-38E Works 4 Band
$248.96est. delivered
$170.00 + $78.96 shipping
Buy It Now$170.00
Priced high
Titled works on 4 bands. About 2.3 times the median, and the photo shows a pitted panel.
Seller: mobileauctionhouse
99.9% positive
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