Tube Amp Survival Guide

Those filter caps are tiny, compared to the ones in the Traynor
DSC01052_zpszxkgn4ft.jpg

But then again, these are actually 2 in 1, sharing a common ground.
 
I have been in an ongoing conversation with a number of our members who are well versed in electronics and amps. Having invested in about 12 books and numerous hours learning on YouTube, I successfully learned how to check voltages to the pins for the tubes and other places. Also on my Marshall JMP head I did my first successful discharging of the caps to make the amp safe to do my diagnosing and repairs I paid a supposed pro to fix twice in the past.

Another valuable lesson I must pass on from a different amp is from my Laney head which had uncovered holes in the chassis and an open enough back to allow access for mice to come in and chew wires.

If anyone has an amp like this, make provision to block entry for mice. I cannot say if they got in after I bought it or if when a previous owner had it.
 
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chilipeppermaniac said:
I have been in an ongoing conversation with a number of our members who are well versed in electronics and amps. Having invested in about 12 books and numerous hours learning on YouTube, I successfully learned how to check voltages to the pins for the tubes and other places. Another valuable lesson I must pass on from a different amp is from my Laney head which had uncovered holes in the chassis and an open enough back to allow access for mice to come in and chew wires.

If anyone has an amp like this, make provision to block entry for mice.
Click to expand...


Wow!!! I never guessed!!!!
 
Yup Robert, my newly acquired knowledge and skills have already been stretched and tested when I began research to understand how amps work,the components, and designs of circuits to learn efficient and safe troubleshooting. When I began on my friend's combo, it was fortunate only to be a pair of KT 66 tubes and rebias once he gets new ones to me. Next, I took on the task of learning what to do to troubleshoot my '72 Marshall JMP 1987 Lead head. With each successive amp the complexity and extent of work needed has grown exponentially it seems. To rewire the Laney will take me to uncharted waters as I will have to access wires under the breadboard where mice might have chewed where I haven't seen yet. Then I will get into testing by ear and heavy reading to research if my Laney AOR multiple channel high/ low gain, push/pull channels are acting normal or not. Then will come volts, cap, resistor, transformer output tests to give me the health report once I get that far.

Thanks go to Ivan, DonP, 67plexi, Smitty and Relic so far on all they have taught me and explanations to my questions.
 
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