Tube Amp Issues

[atomicwash]

I have a '64 Bandmaster who seems to be acting up lately.  Has anyone seen a fade in volume and the output become crackly in tube amps?  Timing between events is not predictable, so I can't make it happen.  Then after a while it starts sounding beautiful, clean, and loud again.  I unplugged the pedalboard & ran directly into the amp and achieve the same noise once it starts.

With the age of this all original amp, I'm not sure if a bad tube would do this or if it needs its 50 year maintenance checkup for caps & such.  Both channels are affected similarly.

Thanks in advance.

Dan

[Bloozguy]

Sounds like it needs its 50-year checkup.

Could be caps, tube sockets, tubes...or any combination of those.

[Hfan]

At that age the filter caps should be changed almost for sure..the signal caps may be fine..if you don't have one already, get a three prong plug installed.

 

And try to find a trustworthy guy. If the tubes are original, they may still be good and can be worth a lot of money...I'm a suspicious type and would not trust the average random amp tech to not switch them out on the sly...give you similar looking bad ones..have even heard of amp techs pulling good original signal caps, keeping them and installing new ones for no reason.....   so get the old parts back..etc 

[JES1680]

Yep sounds like it's time for a tuneup. Casey Gooby is the trustworthy one here in MN if you can't find anyone over in WI. 

[hamerhead]

Ed Larson (Edtronics) in Oregon WI. He used to have a store in Oregon but now works out of his house. He's the only person to touch my '64 Vibrolux. He also repaired my '63 Pro-amp. He does excellent work, is very reasonably priced, and gets it done quickly.

I can't recommend him highly enough.

Edtronics - (608) 835-6613

600 Jefferson St
Oregon, Wisconsin 53575-1378

[Bloozguy]

Thanks for chiming in on this Tim. I was going to post a suggestion that atomicwash get in touch with you because I was pretty sure you'd know the right person in the area.

[Jakeboy]

If you cannot find a local tech, you can contact Jim Nicholson at Lil Dawg Amps....he knows old Fenders VERY well and would do the repair honestly and affordable.

 

it would involve shipping the chassis of course.

[gtone]

Checkup and servicing and it'll be good for another 20 yrs.  Those old Fenders are virtually bullet-proof in the tube amp world.

[atomicwash]

Thanks for all the comments.  I've had the amp on all day today and every hour or so I go and strum a song.  Sounds like a million dollars once I mentioned going to the doctor.  Hmmm.

I know Ed from his brick & mortar days and from playing with Puppy Costello.  Great guy.  Being local, that is probably my best bet.

Dan

[hamerhead]

21 hours ago, Bloozguy said:

Thanks for chiming in on this Tim. I was going to post a suggestion that atomicwash get in touch with you because I was pretty sure you'd know the right person in the area.

No -thank YOU for thinking I know something.