The Gold series 29 LTD was a limited series made by Cobra. It is no different than a 29 LTD Classic made in the Philippines. You won't run into many of these still in working condition. The Cobra 29 LTD is the most popular AM CB radio built. It was first built by Uniden for Cobra. Uniden manufactured its own version called the Uniden 76, now called the Uniden 78. Both of these radios are almost identical. The Cobra 29 Classic has gone through many versions since it was first introduced as the Cobra GTL. The Cobra GTL was a durable radio with red LED's and no channel 9 switch, but the board and theory of operation hasn't change since 1977. First manufactured in Japan for a brief time as the Cobra 29 XLR (Not the same Chassis), they then began being manufactured in Hong Kong as the Cobra 29 GTL, then to the Cobra 29 LTD. The LED's were changed to green, and the emergency channel 9 switch was added. The radio was next manufactured in Taiwan and then in the Philippines. Over the next decade a variety of options were added to the Cobra 29 LTD, such as, a back lit face panel to a weather receiver. At some point the radio added the word Classic to the model name. Some were successful and others short lived, such as, the wireless microphone. Today the radio is made in China. It has been reworked to bring the cost down from $169 in 1978 to $69 today. Many of the components have been reduced in tolerance and in value. Still a good radio for the price, but expect some possible cold solder connections from the factory. The quality control has suffered, but then the cost is $100 less and in today's dollar. The biggest change was moving the microphone jack from the side to the front. The faceplate that once was made of metal covered with a plastic bezel is now just a plastic bezel. The covers that were once solid and hard to bend are very light. I would say they are 1/3 the thickness; that is 3 times as many covers that can made from the same amount of metal. The Cobra 29 LTD is still a workhorse. I have seen a Philippine Cobra 29 LTD classic with 6 toys installed in it, and every front switch used for a different purpose. The radio is very forgiving when it comes to modifications and installations. The radio did go through three different types of audio chips. The first was the TA 72222 AP, it then went to another 10 pin audio chip for about four years; the YD 1022 . The latest audio chip is the 5 pin TDA 2003. This chip lacks the frequency compensation circuit, and may give you problems with certain modifications. The closest manual to the 29 LTD is the 29 GTL: Sam's Photo Facts #217 Click here to see the three different audio chips used. More Information will be added 4-01-09 Return to Photo Return Radio list | 
