QST reviewed the SB-220 in August 1970, and K7BIT calls it one of the most successful linear amplifiers ever built. It's a table-top, grounded-grid amp with two Eimac 3-500Z triodes, styled to match Heath's SB line and meant for exciters with 100 W or more. Its party trick was a CW/Tune and SSB switch. You tune up at the 1 kW limit, then flip to 2 kW PEP input for SSB without retuning. The supply is built in and wants a 240 V line. Later SB-221s lost 10 m after the FCC required amateur amplifiers to be incapable of running at 27 MHz, a response to CB operators using them. So an original SB-220 with 10 m intact is the one collectors want, with strong tubes and an unburnt band switch.
Bench check
Should come with it
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.
Old 3-500Zs go gassy and arc, and QST's Hints and Kinks says a stock amp with high-gain tubes can break into VHF parasitic oscillation, seen as arcing at the Tune capacitor or band switch, that can short a tube or blow the bias zener and grid chokes. The hot equalising resistors cook the HV filter caps over time, and the T/R relay contacts wear from a bypass cap discharging through them.
New to used rigs? How to check a used ham radio covers power out, receive, the finals and the display, and buying vintage tube gear covers old capacitors, tubes and first power-up.
Buying guide
We'd buy whatsinthetruck's SB-220, titled as a King Conversions complete rebuild with 3-500Z tubes, at $2,125 delivered, about the $2,105 median, from a 100% seller. There are at least 10 for sale asking $1,000 to $3,250, and four quote no shipping on a 50 lb amp, so get a freight quote and ask how it'll be packed before you offer. Ask for a wattmeter reading into a legal-limit dummy load, the 3-500Z date codes and a photo of the HV reading, since old tubes go gassy and the HV filter caps cook over time. Skip the two accounts sharing one title, nsol3646 at $1,200 and melo456 at $1,644 delivered, and samedayships' $3,250 serviced amp from a 97.1% seller. You don't need a license to own one, but using it means transmitting, which needs an amateur license, and US rules cap output at 1,500 W PEP.
$1,599.90est. delivered
The lowest delivered SB-220 not titled untested or from a flagged seller, at $1,600, and the photo shows the meters lit. There's no test claim, so ask for power out into a dummy load and the tube date codes.
VINTAGE HEATHKIT SB-220 2KW LINEAR AMPLIFIER ESTATE FINE!!!
$2,124.99est. delivered
Titled as a complete rebuild with 3-500Z tubes, and the supply is built in, at $2,125 delivered. Ask what the rebuild covered, and whether it's wired for 240 V or a 20 A line at 120 V.
KING CONVERSIONS HEATHKIT SB-220 HF LINEAR AMP COMPLETE REBUILD, 3-500z TUBES
$1,000.00+ ship
Titled untested at $1,000, about half the median, but no shipping is quoted on a 50 lb amp. Pay project money, since gassy tubes and tired HV caps are the usual faults.
Heathkit SB-220 2KW Linear Amplifier Ham Radio Amp Vintage 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
Checked . 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$1,599.90est. delivered
$1,499.95 + $99.95 shipping
Buy It Now$1,499.95
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 ESTATE FINE!!! with no test claim. Photo shows the meters lit.
Seller: alltime.collecting
99.6% positive
Serviced$2,124.99est. delivered
$1,999.99 + $125.00 shipping
Buy It Now$1,999.99
Good buy
Titled as a King Conversions complete rebuild with 3-500Z tubes. Paperwork in the photo.
Seller: whatsinthetruck
100% positive
For parts$1,000.00+ shipping
$1,000.00 · shipping not stated
Buy It Now$1,000.00
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.
Project piece
Titled untested. No shipping quoted; ask.
Seller: shirlenalle_0
100% positive
Used$2,084.00est. delivered
$1,999.00 + $85.00 shipping
Buy It Now$1,999.00
Our take
Titled needs tubes, so budget for a pair of 3-500Zs on top of the ask.
Seller: thecuriosityspot
99.8% positive
Used$1,800.00+ shipping
$1,800.00 · shipping not stated
Buy It Now$1,800.00
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
Titled modified with 160 m, and the photo shows a 160 label on the panel. No shipping quoted; ask.
Seller: b2ni
100% positive
Used$2,299.00+ shipping
$2,299.00 · shipping not stated
Auction · no bids yet · ends in 23h 12m
Our take
Titled all-stock. Auction at $2,299 with no bids, so it will climb. No shipping quoted; ask.
Seller: k6ted
100% positive
Serviced$3,250.00delivered
$3,250.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$3,250.00
Priced high
Titled fully tested and serviced, from a 97.1% seller, at about 1.5 times the median.
Seller: samedayships
97.1% positive
Used$1,200.00+ shipping
$1,200.00 · shipping not stated
Buy It Now$1,200.00
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.
Check the seller
Same title as melo456's listing at $1,644 delivered. Ask for photos of this amp. No shipping quoted; ask.
Seller: nsol3646
100% positive
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