Amp Mad Scientist
Ambassador of Heresy
You need to have a bias probe.
You need to have a bias probe.
OP
BluesManRocker
Guest
So I guess that means I'm in time out
until I get the probe built. :wrench: Can we do anything else, or,,,?
OP
BluesManRocker
Guest
Can I play it quietly once a week for a half hour? Sorry, I could not help myself, I missed playing so. Dang she sounded goood too, wow.
syscokid
Ambassador of War & Peace
Amp Mad is very Mad at you right now! You better behave or you'll be grounded indefinitely...
So, you have one of those probe kits that need to be assembled?
Amp Mad Scientist
Ambassador of Heresy
Amp Mad is very Mad at you right now! You better behave or you'll be grounded indefinitely...
So, you have one of those probe kits that need to be assembled?
He must sacrifice 3 virgin fluorescent tubes to the 4 Gods of electricity.
Volts, Amps, Watts, and Gotcha.
He already had a close encounter with Gotcha.
Amp Mad Scientist
Ambassador of Heresy
So I guess that means I'm in time out
Why didn't you build the probes?
How long is that going to take? 30 minutes?
Your'e too stoned or something.
Howw come you didn't share?
dude you need to build the probes and measure the current.
Comeon man wakeup call.
Amp Mad Scientist
Ambassador of Heresy
I'm not kidding, he stuck a metal knife inside the chassis, and received the badge of courage.Amp Mad is very Mad at you right now! You better behave or you'll be grounded indefinitely...
So, you have one of those probe kits that need to be assembled?
Now that is brave.
OP
BluesManRocker
Guest
My life is not easy to explain. I could not find it, was the main problem. But I found it this morning. My life is complex, and not well ordered. I might be blessed with great ideas and creativity and compassion for we the people, but other aspects of my life are not going so well. It's like I have fallen, and I can't get up. I broke my foot a couple years ago, and my place became unmanageable so messy. Then after healing for about 9 months, I broke it again in the same place.Why didn't you build the probes?
How long is that going to take? 30 minutes?
Your'e too stoned or something.
Howw come you didn't share?
dude you need to build the probes and measure the current.
Comeon man wakeup call.
When I moved here, I didn't know anyone, so I don't get rides. I've learned to hate riding the bus as some of kids thinks it's great to gang up on older folks and mistreat them. I don't have good living situation, and so I just have my own personal struggle to get things done. Most people could not handle my life. Sometimes it causes me stress, but I stay grateful for the good things in life.
Somethings are worthwhile, and so at least I can say, although my domestic home life sucks, my thought life, my spirit, my soul, is doing great. It pays to not have normal expectations with me. I bust them all the time. I appreciate the encouragement.
As for the disappointment, I face the hardest known challenges, and I'm fighting for us all, and I may have already achieved the design goal, but along with my outstanding ideas and people get encouraged by different things I'm all about, that does not mean I do not have my own personal struggles, I do.
Frankly, my domestic life is a mess, just as my home is, but that doesn't stop me from possibly being one of the most fortunate on the planet, and I'm still a musician. I never said I was typical or normal, so some adjustment of typical expectations, may be required. Defeating the dark side's power base, check,, saving and preserving lives on the daily for decades, check,, having a clear and orderly house and home, not remotely in the picture.
Oh the humanity of it all.
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Amp Mad Scientist
Ambassador of Heresy
OK sorry I teased you. Get well and let your foot get better.
Seriously, stay off the foot.
OP
BluesManRocker
Guest
I'm disabled mostly from back pain and depression. My foot is better, pretty much fully healed. I can walk good again, no problem. But the damage has been done to the home, it's like I have fallen and I can't get up.
When you are chasing the most important projects, and probably winning, it dwarfs other things in ways that is hard for most people to understand. You speak as though you could understand, so because I believe I am not the only one designing great things like this, you may understand what it's like to have a world class idea, but the world is, as you say, not ready for it yet.
Last month, I walked 5 miles for my medicine. Same for the last three or four months. They stole my bike, when I broke down to get a shower at the local homeless shelter. It was the best bike I ever owned, and had an electric motor for it. I was converting it to recumbent, so it was perfect for my back and disability. Schwinn Twinn, got it on sale during the holiday season. So low priced I thought it was a rip off. Now I can't seem to replace it for 650 and a trip from the far east.
It just took me 7 years to finally reduce my monthly medicine expenses from nearly 700 a month, to nearly half that, as the black market had me all pinched in while the compassion clubs were non-existent in my area until recently. That's right, I'm very possibly loosing my house to back taxes I can't afford to pay because this is one heartless city. I will be surprised if I'm not homeless again as a result of this. My family said they were coming back as soon as the weather clears after wintertime, to finish the cleaning job. That was last year. We've been through another winter and still no family to help.
It's kinda like I've fallen, and I can't get up.
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OP
BluesManRocker
Guest
As for the Telefunkin power tubes, and preamp tube, wow, exceeded my expectations. I also had two new Mullards, an MU12AX7 and the CV4004. Best set of tubes I ever had, and I had a single preamp tube, wow do I wish I had 2 or more!, for the tone spots, V1 and V2.
Amazing, deeper and broader tones, awesome pick sensitivity and note blooming, but the tone, wow, it is hard to describe, how rich and deep and sorta vintage sounding it was. In a phrase, high quality.
So much so, I didn't need to roll off my tone for my bridge pickup, which I faithfully have had rolled off to 3/4, for ever! I turned that tone knob all the way up, and it still did not get ice picky, not too much high highs! I could not believe it!!!
~~~
That shocked me, on my SG Standard with stock pups and pots. I can't stand lower quality tubes now. I am hit, I have been changed, my eyes have seen the glory, hehe,, and I can't go back.
Nicest my rig has ever sounded since I've owned it, and that's going back some 12 yrs or so.
I can't wait to get this amp working properly and stops blowing fuses.
Amazing, deeper and broader tones, awesome pick sensitivity and note blooming, but the tone, wow, it is hard to describe, how rich and deep and sorta vintage sounding it was. In a phrase, high quality.
So much so, I didn't need to roll off my tone for my bridge pickup, which I faithfully have had rolled off to 3/4, for ever! I turned that tone knob all the way up, and it still did not get ice picky, not too much high highs! I could not believe it!!!
~~~
That shocked me, on my SG Standard with stock pups and pots. I can't stand lower quality tubes now. I am hit, I have been changed, my eyes have seen the glory, hehe,, and I can't go back.
Nicest my rig has ever sounded since I've owned it, and that's going back some 12 yrs or so.
I can't wait to get this amp working properly and stops blowing fuses.
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
Well, BLUES, you have had it rough and yet still have a JCM 800, albeit a malfunctioning one.
I know I asked Col Mustard to recommend a tech he would trust and use. As memory served me, I also remembered one fella some of might recall from another forum or 2. Kris Ford. Kris is a Michiganer, who I have discussed amp repairs with in the past.
He highly recommended this guy.
I know I asked Col Mustard to recommend a tech he would trust and use. As memory served me, I also remembered one fella some of might recall from another forum or 2. Kris Ford. Kris is a Michiganer, who I have discussed amp repairs with in the past.
He highly recommended this guy.
deanzink.com
Expert repair, service, restoration and de-modification by the premier specialist in Vintage Tube Amplifiers.
deanzink.com
OP
BluesManRocker
Guest
This is just the first guy I found that has already worked on dozens and dozens of JCM 800's. His name is Tim Shwarts, and had worked as Elderly's amp tech for 25 years, and works at Marshall Music Store here in Lansing, I suppose doing amp repair. But I called him direct from the number that I had to wait for, and then ask about, and then wait again, from Elderly's.
You see, I had fished, and landed this guy the first time, when my amp first went bad 5-6 years ago. So he was already on my radar, but money was as usual, tight, bills became due, such is life. And at the same time, I was going through an especially fertile stage of inventing the best stuff, it's been kinda crazy good on that note. But without owning a machine shop and a composite fabrication and testing laboratory, my ideas remain unbuilt and untested.
Fortunately this guy is willing to come and pick up my amp and bring it back to me, as I have no transportation. So the main thing is, he's local and can pickup and deliver. Next month, my electric might get shut off, but so far, it seems like covid has extended the emergency season such that I have no notice yet from the electric company about it being shut off. So far so good, cross your fingers for next month tho, IDK.
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
Good to hear, Blues. Tim is definitely your best bet I would say. Sure hope the tide turns and your road ahead brings more positive strides than setbacks and you get your amp 100%
OP
BluesManRocker
Guest
I redid the reading, and found the K symbol in the upper corner, while the value numbers are huge. It said it's 220K.
syscokid
Ambassador of War & Peace
Holy craapp! I get bent out of shape when I need to mow my own lawn. I need to be grateful that I have a lawn to mow. I feel like an idiot...
OP
BluesManRocker
Guest
Holy craapp! I get bent out of shape when I need to mow my own lawn. I need to be grateful that I have a lawn to mow. I feel like an idiot...
Right on. Don't feel bad brother. I am about as unusual as it gets. As bad as all that sounds...Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't trade my life for anyone else's, except a younger version of me and I can keep my memories. hehe If my energy inventions are correct, and I have several, I might be one of the most fortunate on the planet, and for eons. As far as my propulsion system goes, it's poised to revolutionize the aviation instustry, and give VTOL a real boost.
Door to door service flight, is the future. And here's the silver platinum and gold icing on the cake. My propeller tech, is expected to easily break the sound barrier. Not only that, but it might defeat Mach 2, with no combustion fuels at all. Just electric motors and my new flower of life propulsion technology.
I tend to defy normal expectations. I have lived a unique life, and have probably been through two significant paradigm shifts. And I may be the only person I know who's done that. Anyway, although this is about me, so you can get to know me better, I am not trying to hog people's time and energy. I am long winded and, sorry, I can't seem to shake it. I just think deeply, and live the contemplated life, which tends to make it seem like I have tons to say. hehe I constantly try to be more brief.
I have a lot of passions and learned a lot after not watching TV for the last 25 years because I was so offended by the false propaganda especially from politics. So when I hear your house rules, and wish to avoid some things and hot topics, and I relate on a personal level, and life upgrade level. I'm here to empower you all, and I hope and wish you will be encouraged to pursue your passion and dreams.
Life without enough passion and dream chasing, is not as meaningful and satisfying.
I care a lot, and I share alot. Unfortunately, hehe, it's related. I try to be brief and concise, but length is what tends to happen.
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syscokid
Ambassador of War & Peace
This one never gets old...
Ha ha... I had an epic 'Gotcha' moment two weeks ago while molesting my old JCM. I was experimenting with the voltage dropping resistor that's before the phase inverter and the other two preamp tubes. I was trying to alter the resistance of that resistor by clipping in parallel another resistor. I wanted to hear the difference of having more voltage going through the PI and preamp section of the circuit.
At first, I was being properly careful by switching the amp into standby when manipulating the wire clips. Then I got too impatient and started taking shortcuts by omitting the use of the standby... "I'll be extra careful", as I mumbled to myself. In a span of 10 minutes, I zapped myself four times. The first three were really cute and funny. The fourth was a real doozy! When I would grab with my right hand the insulated clips to attach to the second resistor, I also had my left hand holding on to the guitar at where the neck meets the headstock. As my right hand index finger (accidentally) made contact with the lead of that second resistor, 300+ dc volts entered at that point and exited through my left hand index finger and completed the new electrical detour at one of the metal tuners. I actually heard the zap in stereo...
. At this point, I stopped and took a few minutes break and contemplated what just happened. A few thanks to the Almighty ensued, and acknowledged his sense of humor.For the next couple of days, each of the tips of my index fingers had a tiny spot of white-ish yellow-ish skin as a little souvenir...
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
Holy craapp! I get bent out of shape when I need to mow my own lawn. I need to be grateful that I have a lawn to mow. I feel like an idiot...
Sysco, at least I can say this about you and 99% of the regulars in here. We all range from just getting by, to fairly comfortable income, home and family life wise. But the reality of it is, whatever our story, these 99% will be the first to reach out to help those who are up against it. Whether it is fixing someone's TS9 Pedal, offering to buy a guitar or amp etc to infuse some funds into a low funded member's need, or tech help on amps, cars, houses, health issues etc, we have a pretty knowledgeable, resourceful and good bunch here.
Having read his situation, plus his experience with his JCM800, I would express my biggest word of advice to Bluesman regarding his Jonesing to use the amp vs. getting it fixed right.......
First, My advice is the same as AMPMAD said. DO NOT play the amp until it is fully checked and gone over by Tech of choice. No matter how good the new Tubes make it sound NOW, you run the risk of ruining them and other more costly fixes to the amp. In doing so, you set yourself up to risking more of your already thin finances.
2nd, I know you say it has been 6+ years...
In 16+ years time for me, I have owned my 1972 Marshall JMP 50 watt head, and in my lack of experience/amp education, I did the thing I knew best to do. Asked a more experienced guitar playing friend who to go to for repairs here in Maryland. The guy had a decent reputation but some things about him during the initial consult and subsequent repairs rubbed me wrong. In the end I feel as if I lost a perfectly good OEM transformer that later became his stash or sold for profit,,,, because the amp still failed me after his 2 repair trips and even my own later learned amp checks and setting things right that he missed.
Ya see, after the amp still acted up on me once he " fixed" it, I decided to take a step back and see what I could learn to fix it myself or find a more knowledgeable and thorough tech to do it right. That is when I found some really sharp members here and on the Marshall amp forum. These guys can look at pictures and see things even better than I can looking in person with my untrained naked eye. They also know how to make sense of the schematics, expected values and specs of the components and how to test and verify that things are either within spec, or on their way out or already failed.
Third, I took the time I really would have loved to be playing the amp to learn as much electronics and amp theory, testing, study as I could immerse myself in till I got to the point of understanding what our " experts" were telling me.
You see, a 72 JMP that works as it should is a wonderful thing, but a dead amp or dead me was the downside I wasn't wanting to see happen. In all my learning, I stress safety as number 1. ( it troubles me that 218 221---- 220K etc statement you made.) This is because how do we know you were in your amp as safely as possible if their was any confusion as to what reading you were actually getting?
This is why I stated that in my own amp diagnosing sessions, I would proceed to make any test lead connection, any Multimeter setting, any tubes in- tubes out, fuse blows etc scenarios ONLY after confirming that I understood precisely what the experts were telling me and they understood what I was proposing to do.
In fact one member here even brought up such a level of concern that I was pretty sure I had covered. I cannot stress this was the most important concern and surely glad he voiced his thought for me to verify my equipment with him.
He said he wanted to make sure my test leads and the Volts ratings of them plus my Meter could handle the potential volts amps put out. He said to be safe in a live amp that needed to be like 600V.
Having said all that, I am sure I will come up with other advice. BUT that is a good start other than to say LISTEN to Ampmad. He will not steer you wrong, and if you want to stretch your skills before you get a complete understanding, I would only do so on useless sacrificial and non lethal components such as Scrap electronics, scrap pcb boards etc. DO not RISK your LIFE or RUIN a perfectly good JCM800 by your own limits of experience, patience or ability to fully concentrate and be organized in your repair bench/tool setup, and physical dexterity with test tool or hot soldering iron.
OP
BluesManRocker
Guest
I did that and the bug zapper as a kid. Oops, don't do that again. I kinda thought you had to be small enough to touch both screens, but found out that with enough voltage, just getting close, is close enough. heheThis one never gets old...
View attachment 44539
For the next couple of days, each of the tips of my index fingers had a tiny spot of white-ish yellow-ish skin as a little souvenir...
I was lucky with my amp. No sparks, probably mostly induction. I was physically already withdrawing motion, so when I got zapped, I just continued that motion times greater amplitude and quickness. hehe I felt absolutely no heart irregularity or chest area pains. I have good quality of water and my general heart space is glad and thankful, but I was lucky to not be hurt worse.
Life is different after you've achieved great things. But, the frustrations of how the world works is real. But our challenges are not impossible. I say, we are meant for greatness, and taught to accept mediocrity. We are forced to accept a world that does not reward dreaming and passion. Money is what drives the world, but if love is the greatest good, then lets hope caring people help make our world better.
Visionaries, forwards looking people, should be at the lead, because if you are too concerned with the past, you focus on behind, and you can't really move forward and progress in life. If in fear of the present or the future, that causes life to begin to end early. I am so glad I finally decided to try my hand at invention. But the 25 years of no TV is what started it all for me.
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