What I am working on . .
The WEM copicat still causes amazement to all those who use, see or work on one. Physically moving parts clearly make a difference to the human ability to understand. Almost anyone that watches the little tape spin around the can see and imagine this marvellous device works with just a quick explanation and a bit … Read more
Had the pleasure of servicing a Hellcat combo this week. A low serial number from around 2003 or 2004 built to the usual high Cornford standard. Compared with your average production amp like Fender and Marshall it’s the little things that I notice on these amps that make them stand out. For example aerospace PTFE … Read more
These monster heads are well liked by metal players for their high gain and awesome volume. Well this one came to me like a crippled kitten, working one minute and then cutting out where volume dipped completely strangling the output. The cause? Well Laney do design great amps, in terms of tone, but due the … Read more
Nice Diddy combos that have a massive sound despite their tiny size. Issues I have seen inclue: Output transformer cut out after a while and the culprit turns out to be the tiny output transformer. If you google round you’ll find this isn’t such an isolated problem and if you have this then you are … Read more
Well made PCB amps with high quality components and Lead dress. Watch out for the hidden mains fuse holder on the back. Its functiona is combined with voltage selector so if you put it in incorrectly then there could be trouble as you could be accidentally configuring the amp for say 110v and applying 240v.
What an oddity. Is it a storage heater? Nope its a 212 hybrid combo from Germany and by date on some of the caps 1971. The design inside is completely eccentric, it feels more like a laboratory prototype than a rock amp. There are bus bars for the HT voltage, ground rail and little clusters … Read more
I am afraid no pictures but noticed much improved circuit board quality of and less dressing improved with coaxial connections to pre amp valves. if you have one of these amps and it is misbehaving, it is well worth getting it serviced. That will usually get it back on track.
Recently had the pleasure to work on a couple of 1960s AC30. The earlier one is from 1964 and is a great example of how a complex fault of various un-related problems can really be difficult unless you stick to as well disciplined diagnosis routine. In this case the amp is working but the sound … Read more
This AC30 came to me with a strong smell of burnt mains transformer. This is not unusual as old transformer windings are insulated with Paper and wax – sometimes you can see it leaking out of your vintage amp. But you know what 40 years without the occasional leak is not that bad. Finding a … Read more
What I really like about these Peavey amps is the DC power supply feeding the valve heater element circuit. It’s one of the circuit features that can make an amplifier run without any hum. But there is a downside that perhaps Peavey could have done better on. If your valve king has stopped working suddenly … Read more
It seems to me that Marshall really got it right here – the right mix of hard wiring and PCB. The Valve sockets are all carefully hard wired to the circuit boards and the. Layout is very neat and as a valve bass amplifier I think this takes some beating really warm bubbly typical valve … Read more
I have always liked QSC RMX series amplifiers for PA. Well defined and detailed sound and extremely well made. QSC are also extremely helpful with circuit details, advice and help. Some common faults Premature transformer failure. Very expensive replacement part at over £100 from UK distributors but thouroughly worth it once restored, these amps retail … Read more