Well, the poltergeist was me
Started testing voltages and began to remember the circuit that I knew so well. I had perfect voltages on C1, meaning that the choke was good. Followed the circuit path over to C3 and nothing. Zip zero dead.....leaving that new focus resistor and the focus coil. Voltages coming in to the focus coil were fine, and nothing on the other side of the coil. Touched my probe to the newly installed NOS adjustable resistor and the sound blinked on.
It was a bad solder joint that I couldn't see
. Apparently there was enough solder *on* the joint to hold the resistor firmly in place, but it wasn't making contact with the lug due to the wax buildup that I thought I had cleared out.
She looks good now! And it was a great refresher on the circuit.....