I wouldn't say any of the wires are frayed... but I can't say they're in great shape. In fact, a couple of them look rather burnt.

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/9227/img0936b.jpg

That bare wire coming out of the transformer seems to be some kind of ground, I believe. That big white wire is a temporary power cord to the phono, by the way. I've been wanting to buy some vintage-style wires but the only place I know that has them doesn't take PayPal, and since the wires are sort of pricey, I've used whatever I had around for now.

That grounded bare wire is an interwinding shield. From what I can see the wires look OK, not old and cracked. The black stuff is potting tar from the xfrmr. A lot of times over the years some leaks out normally.

Have you checked your plate resistances on rectifier?
Looks like socket may have been arcing.
Bill Cahill

Well, I haven't messed with this thing in a few weeks but I went back and checked everything and I can't find anything troublesome other than the 6SQ7 tubes. With the two original tubes installed, I get a loud buzz as I turn up the volume. When I switch out the one nearest the volume pot for a newer 6SQ7, it causes the static in the middle of the range. I only get static with that one tube and I get a buzz with the others.

I'd try putting the one back in that allows static, and, get some good control cleaner, and, try cleanning the volume control. See if that soves that problem.
What is the model of the set, and, tube line up?
Bill Cahill

Yeah, the problem I've had with the pot's is that they are pretty much encased. I know I can use that stuff called De-Oxit but even if I had some, I don't know where or how to spray it to get in inside of there. There's a picture of my pots in this thread on the previous page.

My Admiral is a 4215-C7 from around 1942, least that's what he schematic says.

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/5...schematics.jpg

If you put some cleaner where the shaft goes into the control, and also around the terminals, sometimes there's enough space or play in there for it to wick inside, while you're working the shaft back and forth.