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Post subject: A little more Tube Amp 101 Please !
Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2012 3:36 pm
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Sure hope others are benefiting from all the questions I've posted here going through this bassman.

I still have the slightest crackle and a bit of light background hum, (Trying for the quiet as a church mouse ARJAY used to explain his amps).
My preamp tubes are pretty loose in the sockets, i'm assuming the contact is less than perfect and could be causing some of the noise.

Draw me a picture will ya, how do you re-tighten those tube pin contacts ?

P.S. I put some Tung-Sol RI 6L6GC STR's in there and feel much better about my power tubes, Coin base in a Fender amp just scare me a bit.

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Post subject: Re: A little more Tube Amp 101 Please !
Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2012 4:06 pm
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I like using a Dental tool, like 22573, in link:

http://www.indigo.com/tools/gphtools/dental-picks.html

Pull chassis out of cab. Drain PS caps. Pull tubes. Now, flip amp over so you are seeing the breadboard. CAREFULLY, press up against the brass tangs in the sockets. Two tangs per each pin. So, you want to push the two tangs together.

I usually will insert the tubes with chassis out to be sure you have a good, tight fit. And, I like adding good old contact cleaner, at this point-- to each socket.

Might as well check the sockets for any cold solder points. And tighten the screws which hold them onto the chassis (unless they are riveted onto the chassis).

That's about it. On most octal sockets, not all pinout are used. Only four or five on most rectifiers. So, tighten only those that make contact with a live pin.

Good luck!


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Post subject: Re: A little more Tube Amp 101 Please !
Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2012 5:38 pm
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On top of the good advice given by BMW2002Ti, check this site for preamp type tube sockets and using a small jeweler type flat-blade screwdriver.

http://billmaudio.com/wp/?page_id=171

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Post subject: Re: A little more Tube Amp 101 Please !
Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2012 7:12 pm
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Thanks fellas !
I touched up the solder joints the last time I pulled the chassis.

A few of the12AX7's are loose enough to worry about so......

Time to pull the chassis AGAIN !!!! ARGHHHHHHHH as Charlie Brown would say.

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Keepn' the Blues Alive

2004 50th Ann. Limited edition AMSE Stratocaster
2017 50's Baja Telecaster BSB

1968 Bandmaster with 2X12 cab C-rex speakers
VHT Special 6 Ultra combo

Visual Sound Route 66
Cmatmods Signa Drive


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Post subject: Re: A little more Tube Amp 101 Please !
Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2012 10:21 pm
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Blues, welcome to the maintenance and rehab club!!! Art

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Post subject: Re: A little more Tube Amp 101 Please !
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 1:38 pm
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Now for a Rock and a hard place deal.

I have an original 67 Super Reverb I can pick up right now for 1K even

Deals coming out of the woodwork right now.

What to do ????????

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Keepn' the Blues Alive

2004 50th Ann. Limited edition AMSE Stratocaster
2017 50's Baja Telecaster BSB

1968 Bandmaster with 2X12 cab C-rex speakers
VHT Special 6 Ultra combo

Visual Sound Route 66
Cmatmods Signa Drive


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Post subject: Re: A little more Tube Amp 101 Please !
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 4:21 pm
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If you have the cash to spare...go for it!


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Post subject: Re: A little more Tube Amp 101 Please !
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 6:40 pm
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Tolex was torn and missing here and there, torn grill cloth.
Rusty & Dirty overall

#1 input on normal channel (dead soldier)
weak sounding reverb
no footswitch

Over priced for what it was.

I passed on it.

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Keepn' the Blues Alive

2004 50th Ann. Limited edition AMSE Stratocaster
2017 50's Baja Telecaster BSB

1968 Bandmaster with 2X12 cab C-rex speakers
VHT Special 6 Ultra combo

Visual Sound Route 66
Cmatmods Signa Drive


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Post subject: Re: A little more Tube Amp 101 Please !
Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2012 1:48 am
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Smart move,sometimes you'll spend more than you want to getting it in great shape...I can deal with a lot of issues,but if I'm buying a vintage amp,I prefer it to look good,I don't want to replace the grill cloth or tolex and I hate to see lots of rust.
It would have to be really cheap for me to buy a basket case.


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Post subject: Re: A little more Tube Amp 101 Please !
Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2012 5:27 am
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Exactly

Some poor fella with tone lust will buy it and spend more than its worth.

I have my Bassman in Blackface and it makes me smile, i'm imune for the moment.

G.A.S. will overcome me again, I'm sure :mrgreen:

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Keepn' the Blues Alive

2004 50th Ann. Limited edition AMSE Stratocaster
2017 50's Baja Telecaster BSB

1968 Bandmaster with 2X12 cab C-rex speakers
VHT Special 6 Ultra combo

Visual Sound Route 66
Cmatmods Signa Drive


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Post subject: Re: A little more Tube Amp 101 Please !
Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2012 9:29 am
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Oh yeah,make no mistake about it,....we are all addicted to G.A.S.,and can't recover. :lol:


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Post subject: Re: A little more Tube Amp 101 Please !
Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 1:15 pm
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O.K.
I touched up every solder joint on every tube socket, I tightened the pin holders, i sprayed deoxite.
Still background noise.

I replaced the 470 ohm resistors on the tube sockets not the 1500ohm ones
possible noise maker ???

Could it be something in the cap pan that didn't get a good enough solder job ???

I've swapped out every tube in every possition.

Still real light white noise, enough to hear it on a recording between notes.

All I want is a quiet amp !

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Keepn' the Blues Alive

2004 50th Ann. Limited edition AMSE Stratocaster
2017 50's Baja Telecaster BSB

1968 Bandmaster with 2X12 cab C-rex speakers
VHT Special 6 Ultra combo

Visual Sound Route 66
Cmatmods Signa Drive


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Profile
Post subject: Re: A little more Tube Amp 101 Please !
Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 1:20 pm
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the readings on the 1500ohm resistors on my 2k scale show off the charts
on the 20K they both show 2.2 to 2.3

so 2200 ohms and 2300 ohms Thats a far stretch from 1500

possible noise trouble ???

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Keepn' the Blues Alive

2004 50th Ann. Limited edition AMSE Stratocaster
2017 50's Baja Telecaster BSB

1968 Bandmaster with 2X12 cab C-rex speakers
VHT Special 6 Ultra combo

Visual Sound Route 66
Cmatmods Signa Drive


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Profile
Post subject: Re: A little more Tube Amp 101 Please !
Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 1:54 pm
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blues bondsman wrote:
the readings on the 1500ohm resistors on my 2k scale show off the charts
on the 20K they both show 2.2 to 2.3

so 2200 ohms and 2300 ohms Thats a far stretch from 1500

possible noise trouble ???


Well beyond the industry tolerance-spec of 10%.

Break out the soldering pencil!

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: A little more Tube Amp 101 Please !
Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 4:23 pm
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Thanks ARJAY !

2 watt ? metal oxide again ?

:D

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Keepn' the Blues Alive

2004 50th Ann. Limited edition AMSE Stratocaster
2017 50's Baja Telecaster BSB

1968 Bandmaster with 2X12 cab C-rex speakers
VHT Special 6 Ultra combo

Visual Sound Route 66
Cmatmods Signa Drive


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