Tube Amps 101 repairs, maintenance and more

A snippet of my new DVD TUBE AMPS 101
or things I wish I knew when I started.
Check www.recycledsound.net for more info.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Tube
• amp
• Fender
• Amp
• Deluxe
• Reverb
• learn
• tube
• amps
• repair
• identification

[ieatu98]

What happened to my tube amp????

Unplugged the speaker while changing speakers a guy was still playing with the guitar plugged in, the sounds went out and smoke came out from the amp. then the lights went off. it wont turn off

[glprecycledsound]

@ieatu98 What kind of amp is it? Hope it wasn't a Marshall? Did you run the amp with out speakers connected? I assume you mean "the lights went out" and now it won't turn ON?

First thing - check the fuse. If it is blown, replace it with the CORRECT amp rating and style (usually slow blo) and try it again. Then advise.

[wybo2]

Wow, wait, wait wait, is there a deference in the sound production of a amplifier if the rectifier is solid or tube-based?

I know very, very litle aboud music, but if thats the case then my entire worldview on what sound is, is basicly wrong.

[glprecycledsound]

@wybo2 Not sure if youre being serious or not but YES, there is a difference. Solid state rectifiers tend to have a more defined low end that holds together better and adds a little punch too! While a tube recitifier introduces "sag", sometimes softening initial attack but blossoming into sustain as the note is held. Both useful.... just a matter of choice, taste and tone!

[ieatu98]

@glprecycledsound it was a kustom defender v5 amp the newer kind. If the fuse is not black but looks like there is a metal wire in it, is the fuse alright? And I ran the amp withouht speaker for about 10 seconds while switching speakers, then a slight pop, smoke came out and so I was running up to turn it off when the amp turned off by itself. I tried the amp on many different ac outlets and it still does not work...

[cast390]

Were those sprag bumblebees?

[glprecycledsound]

@12Rockstarlivin if you read the original post.... the AMP did not get WET! Sure you can let it try to dehumidify by lettting it air dry...but you will need to cook the moisture absorbed by the pcb or wait for a good long dry winter. In any case you HAVE TO test the amp at some point........ test it with a current limiter and you can determine if it is or was part of the problem......

[12Rockstarlivin]

@glprecycledsound leave it off to dry you will fuck it up with it on my dad salvaged computer that were under water for days during hurricane katrina and thats all he did

[pghg022]

WW II engineering lol

[TheEPROM9]

I also find caps are best seconds to chips and transistors when trying to date old electrical equipment.