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Topic: Need Amp Technician |
Gene Wright
From: Cody Wyoming USA
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Posted 2 Feb 2002 7:57 am
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I have a Fender Super Reverb amp that needs a new power transformer,and a check up. Do we have a technician on the forum or do you know of a good one? How about just parts. It is a 1965 black face. Thanks, Gene. |
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Ken Fox
From: Nashville GA USA
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Posted 2 Feb 2002 8:21 pm
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Gene, if you don't have any luck, I'll help out over here in Washington State. I live close to Portland,Oregon. I strictly repair as a hobby for myself and friends. What happened to the amp? Parts are very easy to get for this amp. I would suggest a complete check out of caps, resistors (for noise and values). A cap job, plate load resistors, screen grid resistors, 1500 ohm resistors at the grids of the 6L6 tubes, clean and retension power tube sockets, clean controls, test all preamp tubes, and most likely replace power tubes and inverter tube can really bring it back to life! Hopefully you can find a good tube tech closer to home, but the offer stands. |
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Gene Wright
From: Cody Wyoming USA
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Posted 3 Feb 2002 10:14 am
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Thanks Ken, I bought the amp from an old steel player here in Wyoming with the understanding that it was blowing fuses as soon as it was turned on. I took it to a local radio shack, that's about all we have in this area. He thought it was a cap, but tells me now that it's the power transformer. From reading, understand that if something else is bad, making the power transformer go, it could burn out the new one as well. If you would, please eMail me. csawrite@wtp.net. Thanks, Gene |
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Jerry Erickson
From: Atlanta,IL 61723
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Posted 3 Feb 2002 11:54 am
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Hi Gene,
I've seen ads in Vintage Guitar for a place in Denver,Mission Amps, that's been offering recap service on Fender amps for $6(9 oops),I believe.That's a pretty reasonable price. If you do need a transformer, they're available thru hoffmanamps.com or oei.com or Bruce at Mission would be able to offer one. I've not had any dealings with him, but have read posts from him on a few BB's. If you're interested in doing it yourself I'd recommend both of Gerald Weber's books,available from hoffmanamps.com. Hoffman also has an ezboard BB that deals with amp problems.You can find it through his website.Good luck with a great amp!
I did mean $69, guess I forgot to hunt for that 9. Mouser is very reasonable on their cap prices.[This message was edited by Jerry Erickson on 03 February 2002 at 09:47 PM.] |
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Ken Fox
From: Nashville GA USA
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Posted 3 Feb 2002 1:47 pm
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Typically a cap job runs $60 to $75.00. Mouser Electronics seems to have about the best prices on Atom/Sprague caps. Transformers can be had at Sovtek, Angelia amps, Antigue Electronics, Hohhman amps, Vibroworld, and others. Watch the prices, they vary all over the board on these parts! |
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Chris DeBarge
From: Boston, Mass
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Posted 4 Feb 2002 5:37 am
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The fuse could blow for any of a number of reasons, changing the power transformer may not be neccessary. For instance, check the resistors attached to the power tube sockets, blowing these is a very common problem, and if these were blown, so would be your tubes and the fuse would go too. I'm not saying that's your problem, but it's just an example why you shouldn't rush into major surgery like a transformer. Could be just a small problem, hope you can find a local tech, or learn about tubes amps and fix it yourself(the Fun way!). Good luck, that's a beautiful amp. |
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Bruce Derr
From: Lee, New Hampshire, USA
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Posted 4 Feb 2002 6:03 am
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I believe the most likely cause of the fuse blowing would be a bad 6L6 or 5AR4 tube. |
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Michael Brebes
From: Northridge CA
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Posted 4 Feb 2002 8:05 am
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If the amp is late enough that it's using rectifier diodes, it could be possible that some or all of them are shorted, which would blow the fuse easily. It is definitely possible that the transformer is okay. |
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Jim Florence
From: wilburton, Ok. US * R.I.P.
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Posted 4 Feb 2002 9:14 am
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This is not a joke. If the transformer hasen't leaked any tar,and if it doesn't smell burned, it is probably OK. If it is shorted it will stink, if it is open, it won't blow the fuse. |
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Gene Wright
From: Cody Wyoming USA
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Posted 4 Feb 2002 11:15 am
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I have retrieved the amp from radio shack and did the tests that Ken suggested. With the 6L6GC's and GZ34 out of the amp, it still blows the fuse. The power transformer smells burned and some thin black liquid has come out of the hole. Not a lot but some. Radio shack guy said dead short in transformer? I would replace the transformer myself, but think that something else may have burned the transformer out in the first place. I will come up with some books to work on amps, I think! Thank guys, Gene |
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Michael Brebes
From: Northridge CA
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Posted 5 Feb 2002 9:57 am
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If you are stuck and need to send the amp out somewhere, I do repair amps. If you don't mind sending it off to CA I could probably fix it for you. |
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