Another killer score on and easy fix “Junk” amp

[scottosan]

Went to my favorite Japanese 2nd hand store at lunch. I see an Orange TH30C marked as junk. As usual, check to see if I get any sound, even his from the speaker. I get some his, so I know the OT is likely good. I try the comtrols on both channels and the signal intermittent and notes fizzling out and it get much worse in less than a minute . It’s priced at ¥22000 ($138). I also notice it’s loaded with a Celestine G12H 70th Anniversary. Alright, done deal.

Get it home, take the back off so I could see the tubes amd fire it up to see if I could visual observe any tubes flaking out. Within a minute I see one of the El84s redplating. Okay. Not problem. Pop the chassis, find and test the screen resistors and cathode bias resistors, all good

This amp has a 2/4 tube switch this disable 2 of the 4 output tube and switch you tap from the 16 ohm OT lead to the 8ohm lead to compensated for the impedance change from removing 2 tunes. I know the bad 2 was in then remaining sockets of the 2/4 switch so I pull the bad tube and a second tube and move a good tube to the socket where the bad tube was.

Turn it on and all is good in life. Confirmed it was just the tube. Got a new quad that should be here next week.

 

[Jccobb2]

I’ll save the pin, thanks. Probably moving to Oki next year. I think i remember you saying you didn’t like them, but I had some incredible luck at hard off / hobby off.

 

[Exo-metal]

Sounds like the best place to shop, congrats bro!!

 

[VonBonfire]

Nice score, and for $138!!!

Still, disappointed your post didn't include yet another Edwards purchase. You don't even have one of their E-SA's yet.

 

[Racerxrated]

$138???

Yes, Please!!
Congrats!!

 

[Racerxrated]

Nice score, and for $138!!!

Still, disappointed your post didn't include yet another Edwards purchase. You don't even have one of their E-SA's yet.

Meh, skip the Edwards. They're ok....now it's time to step up to the big boys that really compete with Gibbys....
Grecos.

 

[VonBonfire]

Meh, skip the Edwards. They're ok....now it's time to step up to the big boys that really compete with Gibbys....
Grecos.

I haven't found a Greco to lay hands on locally. So many of my blues friends here have Edwards LP's. But Greco, Edwards, Tokai....they all seem like solid, gig worthy instruments. Scott owns about half the Edwards LP's produced in Japan so he's kind of committed to the brand.

 

[Racerxrated]

I haven't found a Greco to lay hands on locally. So many of my blues friends here have Edwards LP's. But Greco, Edwards, Tokai....they all seem like solid, gig worthy instruments. Scott owns about half the Edwards LP's produced in Japan so he's kind of committed to the brand.

Edwards are cool. I've had 2 Edwards Sykes and another model I can't remember. The Grecos to me are a step up imo and are more LP-like. As long as they are EG 500 or higher, and from 1977-87 year builds. I had 1 that got away, damn thing was only 450 shipped from Japan and had this deep dark thick growl I've never heard out of any guitar. It was a little beat, no wonder since it sounded soo great. Don't know why I ever sold it. I've picked up a few vintage 70s LPs off the racks at GCs, Music Go Rounds and NONE sounded even close to that one Greco. Still have an 85 Greco Sykes here.

 

[VonBonfire]

Edwards are cool. I've had 2 Edwards Sykes and another model I can't remember. The Grecos to me are a step up imo and are more LP-like. As long as they are EG 500 or higher, and from 1977-87 year builds. I had 1 that got away, damn thing was only 450 shipped from Japan and had this deep dark thick growl I've never heard out of any guitar. It was a little beat, no wonder since it sounded soo great. Don't know why I ever sold it. I've picked up a few vintage 70s LPs off the racks at GCs, Music Go Rounds and NONE sounded even close to that one Greco. Still have an 85 Greco Sykes here.

I'll definitely note that for the future. I did load mine with Gibson and Lollar pickups but the big sustain and low end thunder was all there on arrival. The thin laminate figured top is cheap looking IMO but the rosewood board is amazingly slick and dark for such a budget guitar, actually one of the nicest rosewood boards I've ever laid hands on. When I pulled the pickups the long tenon joint is so tight it's almost invisible. This is tax season, my broke time of year, so I have it for sale at a stupid price hoping I can pull thru and hang onto it but truthfully I'm a blues guy so the ES' are all I really need to survive.

 

[LPMojoGL]

Scott's killing me with these deals he keeps finding. The TH30 is a great amp, at the nornal $7-800 they go for, used. Grabbing one for less than the last few pedal purchases? Steal. I'm not jealous.

 

[scottosan]

Meh, skip the Edwards. They're ok....now it's time to step up to the big boys that really compete with Gibbys....
Grecos.

Navigators compete with custom shop Gibsons

 

[VonBonfire]

Navigators compete with custom shop Gibsons

The Navigators are sick but man, if you decide you don't want it good luck trying to move it to someone stateside without eating it hard.

 

[LPMojoGL]

Navigators compete with custom shop Gibsons

Dude, shouldn't you be asleep?

 

[LPMojoGL]

The Navigators are sick but man, if you decide you don't want it good luck trying to move it to someone stateside without eating it hard.

I've come to the conclusion, Scott will not be moving anything. Ever. And he gently suggests for me to be the same way. lol

 

[grooveHT]

I'm not super familiar with Orange; what does this one, and most of their line, sound like?

Killer score!

 

[LPMojoGL]

I'm not super familiar with Orange; what does this one, and most of their line, sound like?

Killer score!

I've had many Orange amps. They have their own sound, which I very much dig.
Kind of like a tube screamer pushing a big muff?, but more refined.
It's a great color to have in your palette.

The TH30 has a 4xel84 power section, with a gorgeous clean channel, and a mid-scooped gain channel. It's is a great gigging amp for a cover band, that can sound good at lower volumes, but also hang at louder venues. Much like a PV Classic 30 is, in that in can cover a lot of sounds, and takes pedals well, in a smaller package. The build quality is better on the Orange, compared to the 3 pcbs connected by ribbon cable design of the PV C30.
I've always wanted one. Maybe Scott will sell me his for double what he paid.

 

[grooveHT]

Thanks much! Appreciate the overview...

Good luck scoring that amp

 

[7704A]

I'm not super familiar with Orange; what does this one, and most of their line, sound like?

Huge Elevator has a pretty good demo of the TH30:

 

[scottosan]

The Navigators are sick but man, if you decide you don't want it good luck trying to move it to someone stateside without eating it hard.

My 2008 custom I got for 1800. Still has plastic on the control cavities. I’ll be fine

 

[VonBonfire]

My 2008 custom I got for 1800. Still has plastic on the control cavities. I’ll be fine

Nice! Prices on Navigators (and Edwards) over here are another story. You landed an identical Edwards LP to mine for about half as much dough.