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Post subject: Disaster!
Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 6:27 pm
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Disaster struck!
...So the other day I was going to play my '68 Ampeg rocketreverb, letting it warmup as always, and it made a terrible noise...

Fearing the worst I cut it off, waited a couple of seconds to cut it back on, and tried it out.

First thing, when I sometimes plug into it, the amp will imediately cut off...
Then, when I could plug into it, it would make this horrible low droning out noise...
And the sound is pretty weak coming out of it when I put my guitar in and its very broken up...

I don't know what has happen! Its been working beautifuly for the 5 months I've had it (as well as the 42 years its been around).

Please tell me its could be something just like it needs new tubes... I'm deeply depressed. (I was wondering if this could be the case since lately I've notice I haven't been getting much headroom without it breaking up at some of the higher volumes)

What else stinks is that there's no one in my area who has an expertise in old amp and av repairs... What should I do?

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Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 6:28 pm
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& yes for all of those who want to know I've unplugged it and I'm not going to go ANYWHERE near the electronics of the amp. I don't want to die anytime soon...

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Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 6:47 pm
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Sounds like a runaway power tube. Could be shorted tube or have some issues with the bias power supply. Or dried out main power filter cap. In other words, needs to see an Amp Doctor (tech), ASAP.


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Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 6:54 pm
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Sounds like a bad tube.I would try a local fender service center or any brand amp service center.If anything is close.They usually look at vintage gear


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Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 8:30 pm
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Could also be a bad 6U10. I believe that year's Ampeg Reverborocket used this triple-triode. Or the PI, 7199. Or the first gain stage 12AX7.

If you have trouble finding an NOS 6U10 (or 6Q10 eq) or 7199 (good ones are really hard to find)... pst a note.

Good luck!


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 8:55 pm
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
Sounds like a runaway power tube. Could be shorted tube or have some issues with the bias power supply. Or dried out main power filter cap. In other words, needs to see an Amp Doctor (tech), ASAP.


+1

Arjay

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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 10:52 pm
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Yes Jimbo, I totally agree, with the guys ! That amp needs to be checked out by a tech familiar with the older Ampegs. Maybe Arjay or BMW2002Ti could direct you to an Ampeg site, from there, the folks should be able to direct you to a tech. I've worked on enough old Ampegs to know my limits. IMO Your research and shipping(if necessary), will be well worth it ! I certainly wouldn't trust that amp to just any one. Good Luck ! Art

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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 11:30 pm
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Here's a dedicated Ampeg site......

http://www.fliptops.net/

And a dedicated Ampeg forum......

http://www.vintageamps.com/plexiboard/v ... m.php?f=52

Best of luck, HTH

Arjay

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Post subject:
Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 10:17 am
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Thanks guys for all your support. :D
I think my guitar teach knows a guy who's been dealing with vintage amps for years and years and years... so I need to talk to him about it. I just hope he's familiar with ampegs. And hopefully if its just a tube replacement, I can ask him to do that 3-prong power cable that I really need to have done.

And ya'll are definitely right with the tubes. If it ends up being the 6U10 I'll probably need to order some NOS from online if I can find them. Would it be worth my money to maybe order a spare as well?

I should probably think about maybe sometime in the future buying a modern amp too so I won't have to worry about finding unmanufactured parts or tubes. The music store I'll be working at has a brand new Deluxe Reverb and Supersonic for under a thousand... and a Hot Rod Deluxe reverb for 600.

Again thanks for everything. I'm glad I got this forum to turn to when things take a turn for worse.

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Post subject:
Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 10:21 am
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Quote:
and a Hot Rod Deluxe reverb for 600.



*sorry, I meant just a HR deluxe... was thinking about the deluxe reverb I mentioned before... :roll:

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Post subject:
Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 11:53 am
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jimbo612 wrote:
I should probably think about maybe sometime in the future buying a modern amp too so I won't have to worry about finding unmanufactured parts or tubes.


There are very few vintage Fender amps that might be considered "difficult" in terms of logistic supportability -- that's why there are kits on the market that permit cloning virtually every amp the company ever made. The 6U10 tube was used only briefly in Fender's history, most notably in the 180-watt Super Twin and Super Twin Reverb, the Studio Bass, and the Rivera-era Super Champ. Ampeg took its own road "back in the day" as far as amp design, and many of the tubes used have long since passed into obscurity and obsolescence. It's a shame too as many of those tubes -- most notably the 7027A beam power pentode as used in the V4, VT22, B25 etc -- were superior products of their time.

Mark my words and flag this post......when the lights are turned out and the doors are finally nailed shut on the last vacuum tube factory on planet Earth, the last glass out the door will have been the 12AX7 and the 6L6GC. Thus, you'll be safe with a Fender.

Arjay

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Post subject:
Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 6:34 pm
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Jimbo, If your tech can't find the 6U10/6Q10 or a 7199... post this. I maybe able to slide you a set. I've redone quite a few Ampegs with 6U10 problems. And TOO MANY Dynaco ST-70 that use the oddball (but great sounding) 7199.

Believe me, you wanna GOOD 7199 (read: RCA). MAkes a ton of tonal difference. Check out link:

http://www.triodeel.com/7199.htm


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Post subject:
Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 6:44 pm
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
Believe me, you wanna GOOD 7199 (read: RCA). MAkes a ton of tonal difference. Check out link:


Pretty much anything from "the old Nipper" was a fine piece of engineering.

Their blackplate 6L6GC is the "Lexus" of the type.

Arjay

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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 4:58 pm
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Well I took her into the shop today and we all gathered around to ponder on it. It was the first time I played it since the incident, and it just was very quiet and broken up at a mid volume level.

The amp tech will come by sometime this week to pick it up, he's been around for a long time working on amps. But what my teach and the guys there think is its just the tubes, a grounding issue, or maybe a problem with the transformer. Its just a rough guess.

This will be a good time to get the two-prong plug replaced with a 3-prong too
Thanks for all the help and support though! And I'll definitely keep ya'll posted, especially if I can't find the 6U10 (or a 6Q10 and 7199)- Extreme thanks, too, to you, BMW2002Ti. I'm glad there's all you guys lookin' out for those like me (new to the world old vintage amps). :D

Anyways... I don't think I'm going to be getting it back before Christmas, but I was wondering... how did ya'll get to be such electronic wiz's (especially vintage stuff)? I think this would be a cool hobby to pick up during college...

And also- any Blues or Jazz guitarist? I've decided that I think I'm going to take my playing a little further and start diverging into the world of Jazz and Blues. I want to keep it alive, and I want to be different than my fellow brothers-in-arms. 8)

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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 11:32 pm
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Jimbo, good luck with the tech and your amp! Hey, people say I play good Blues. But, I think it's because I make everyone cry when I play. :lol:

Whether I mean to or not. 8^)


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