S
Searay
Active member
Really, A "collector" prefers the old caps left in the amps? Gosh, I have about 20 of the blue Dales and four of the green Plessy's. The mind boggles. One man's junk......
glpg80
Well-known member
Tungsrams? I thought they came with Mullards all around pre and post?
I'm positive this amplifier was an EL34 USA amplifier which predates the switch to 6550s for reliability, hence the non-original EL34 tubes in the poweramp. The original owner did play it out and it did get used. I know the preamp is full of super nice RCA tubes which are very rare. I'll definitely hold onto those and put something else in the preamp.
I'm positive this amplifier was an EL34 USA amplifier which predates the switch to 6550s for reliability, hence the non-original EL34 tubes in the poweramp. The original owner did play it out and it did get used. I know the preamp is full of super nice RCA tubes which are very rare. I'll definitely hold onto those and put something else in the preamp.
glpg80
Well-known member
paulyc":gahnaroz said:
They're over 50 years old with a service life of 10 years, 15 years max if used regularly. They're more than 4x over their lifespan. Believe it or not but filter capacitors are wear and tear items just like tubes. I don't get the emphasis with wanting them in the amplifiers for the risk of shorting out your B+ line to ground or unknowingly venting a capacitor inside an already clean amplifier. Mind you, the vented gasses are extremely corrosive and cancerous from that era and it's not only a risk to the components internally, but it's a risk to your health to repair it.
I wish collectors would get off their high horses and realize capacitors turn into resistors when rotted and beyond their shelf life. It makes no sense.
glpg80
Well-known member
Searay":2xf0w82t said:
I'll start charging $100/Daly capacitor to "collectors" who ask for original capacitors to be included.
R
Racerxrated
Well-known member
I’m not a collector. I played out for 33 yrs. But, when I started looking for a stock NMV Marshall I read up on them over on the Marshall forum, in the vintage section. Lots of knowledge over there. I was surprised to read that too...but there it was. Personally if there’s any bulge on the bottom of the can caps I change them out. But I’ve also owned many JMPs/JCMs with original can caps, no bulging and the amp sounds incredible. My 72 sounds incredible and no bulges, original caps.glpg80":rixnbs31 said:
They also said that if you do change them on a vintage Marshall to SAVE the old caps. Again, for the collectors. As a player I don’t get that but that’s what I read. My 72 has a later 70s PT so unless I find an original PT I’m out of that market.
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Racerxrated
Well-known member
Yeah I’d bet the pre tubes are replacements but the Siemens date to late 60s, who knows. For my money Siemens and Winged C sound better than Vintage Mullard 34s anyway.glpg80":3hu5enjs said:
glpg80
Well-known member
Racerxrated":ar0zr9bu said:
Sounds like a plan - I’ll look into it, thanks! Can tubes made recently handle the B+ of these monsters?
S
sivad
Active member
Nice find and do what you must to get it back and screaming.
stanz
Banned
Member
I'm willing to puchase the amp as-is.
R
Racerxrated
Well-known member
The only amps I've had with 500v or more are this Tremolo..495 so close enough..2 82 2204s and a Wizard MCI with 540v! Insane. But out of the new production tubes I believe Rick puts the JJ EL34L into his amps. I'd try those....but I've had those in some 800s and they are very tubby sounding. Just a heads up.glpg80":4ttvrk0z said:
JTyson
Well-known member
Nice score!!
panhead
Well-known member
Have you played through it? I have bought amps older than that and they were fine. Id see what it sounds like first for grins, then see how bad you fuck it up by putting new parts in it. Seriously been there before.
SpiderWars
Well-known member
panhead":2n3toyx0 said:
It's been sitting for 25 years. I wouldn't risk it. I guess I just don't see a compelling reason not to change the filter and bias caps.
glpg80
Well-known member
Let me be very clear - the amplifier will get restored and working before it ever reaches the market - even if I decide to trade. That was the number one condition of me getting it in the first place. I promised the original owner it would get electrically restored and clips made of it afterward as he never heard the amp his dad played. That was the condition of sale, and I'm holding my word. This will not be an amplifier that falls into the hands of collectors as-is; it will be a player's amplifier because the original owner requested so as a condition of sale for the price I received it for.
To the purists - I am not forming capacitors. Even if you measure the ESR and they pass as-is, they're over 4x their rated lifetime. I am not putting myself or my family at risk for cancer if one or more of them decides to vent in my house or garage. They make an absolute mess in a chassis and it's not only cancerous but highly corrosive. I am also not risking damaging the original iron due to shorted capacitors for too long at startup.
Once it has been electrically restored, and sound clips have been made as promised for the original owner, I will likely seriously trade for a 100W 1969 Superbass plus cash on my end. Until then I have no interest otherwise.
To the purists - I am not forming capacitors. Even if you measure the ESR and they pass as-is, they're over 4x their rated lifetime. I am not putting myself or my family at risk for cancer if one or more of them decides to vent in my house or garage. They make an absolute mess in a chassis and it's not only cancerous but highly corrosive. I am also not risking damaging the original iron due to shorted capacitors for too long at startup.
Once it has been electrically restored, and sound clips have been made as promised for the original owner, I will likely seriously trade for a 100W 1969 Superbass plus cash on my end. Until then I have no interest otherwise.
glpg80
Well-known member
JTyson":1si0ic3b said:Nice score!!
Ironically the amp was sold exactly 17 years to the day that the original owner passed away. It was not planned to be that way - the gentleman's son was shocked when he realized it.
I cannot wait to fire it up on its maiden voyage.
stanz
Banned
Member
Are you serious? Venting caps causes cancer? I had a new set of caps in a plastic bag that I was told were venting. I would close the bag, and after a few days the bag would be filled with gas/air... I didn't know what it was? I figured the caps were okay, as they had never been used. I didn't toss them until someone told me that they were venting. I believe they were Mundorf caps, but seeing as how the sleeves were black, I'm thinking that they may have been relabeled RUBY caps? I kept those caps for several years... Should I be concerned?glpg80":3fkdq0ns said:
stanz
Banned
Member
Regardless, this is a grand score! Are you going to sell it, once you're done updating it?
glpg80
Well-known member
stanz":1v3wi3o7 said:
Thank you
I honestly don’t know. Depends on how it sounds? I owe the original owner soundclips. After that I can do whatever I want with it - I’ll never own one again if I do sell it, that’s for sure. The components are just so rare and scarce these days and although the external chassis is in fair condition the internals are textbook mint.
Time will tell. It still needs a lot of work even as-is, so it will be a while.
panhead
Well-known member
Hate to tell ya but for the age it is in damn good condition. I don't see A lot of work. What I said previously you need to find out what it sounds like with minimal changes or you`ll never know. have you even powered it up? If not it may not even be functional.glpg80":qczbi0us said:stanz":qczbi0us said:
Thank you
I honestly don’t know. Depends on how it sounds? I owe the original owner soundclips. After that I can do whatever I want with it - I’ll never own one again if I do sell it, that’s for sure. The components are just so rare and scarce these days and although the external chassis is in fair condition the internals are textbook mint.
Time will tell. It still needs a lot of work even as-is, so it will be a while.
E
ErikT
Well-known member
Dude that is an excellent find! Been binging Johan lately so I'm extra salivating. Enjoy it!