I just wanted to thank you for all your great tips. I changed the screen grid resistors in my ceriatone DZ30 and added a fan a few months back, but just now changed the bias resistors thanks to your tips once again. You are the king of VOX style circuits!
There was a guy that announced SF Giants games for decades. His name was Lon Simmons. Your voice reminds me of him - (superlative compliment). Your content is amazing. Thanks so much!
One of the greatest tones I've ever heard was a Matchless HC-85 (yes, 85... they made like 10 of them) while it was melting down a quad of Chinese EL34's. So glorious, but only lasted for about 10 minutes. I wish I still owned that amp.
I discovered this channel a couple months ago while researching the amp that I’d like to buy. I’ve been slowly researching for almost a year and this channel answers a lot of my questions. Unfortunately it seems like there aren’t many well built new amps, plus the whole tube thing right now, so I’m getting discouraged. I’m sure I’m being saved a lot of headaches though I’m beginning to think maybe I should spend my money on learning to repair amps instead of on buying the right amp. It’s probably be a lot cheaper! Looking at a Mojotone vibrolux/Harvard circuit. I don’t see much online from end users or repairs on Mojotone amps though. I was going to pay my local guy to assemble it, or learn how to do it myself; I can solder and use a meter but don’t have any experience working on pedals or amps, only guitars and car stereos
I heard that Mike Campbell riff from Running Down a Dream. As Brad from Aussie land says, why manufacturers run EL84s like rented mules is just asking for trouble with shortened tube life. We just don’t have the original Mullards as an option any more.
I bet some thin cork strips would work great in each of those tube clamps. Glue it in with E6000. Otherwise, Michaels has felt for sale that comes ready to go with adhesive backing
I know this is gonna be a weird question but how safe are tube amps? I’ve saved for my first real amp but have a lot of pets in the home and just scared with something that has electronics I know nothing about that it could catch fire. I guess these new digital amps could maybe do the same in a weird event but I don’t know. If I left a tube amp on and forgot and left my house is there a risk of fire? I have done that with my practice amp before just not thinking and walking out the house. Sorry just getting into this stuff and I always hear people say their amps get really hot and that kind of scares me.
Aside from them chewing on AC cables (same risk with a TV) no threat to pets. The fire risk is extraordinarily minimal. I can’t say it’s impossible but something would have to be really wrong with the house wiring itself. Same with any appliance.
I would assume (dangerous, I know) that any modern UL or EU-export rated tube amp would have a thermal fuse built into the power transformer, as well as multiple fuses for the AC input, the high voltage supply and perhaps the tube heaters, and therby being protected against overheating or excess current draw. A vintage amp would offer fewer such built-in safety features but of course if rebuilt and serviced properly should be equally reliable or perhaps even more so, maybe with a couple of extra fuses added. if somebody was really that absent-minded about leaving an amp on when they go out, a timer set for 2 or 3 hours should be fine for shutting it off automatically after practicing. As for pets, if one owns a cat that is prone to curling up inside the back of a combo amp, a piece of heavy mesh screen such as used for speaker grilles could be screwed over the rear of the cabinet. Now if one foolishly lets pythons and geckos and bearded dragons wander around loose where they could climb into a warmed-up amp, you might find out the hard way whether or not they taste like chicken....😳
Do NOS Mullard, RCA or Telefunken etc. light bulbs have more mojo in their light than those new chinese bulbs have? If not, I bet american or european NOS bulbs last much longer than cheap chinese ones.
That amp is built buetifly make it sing the full harmonic range. Thats what the tubes auto be called rangemaster and hey elon send an oversized 2ton one to orbit with a panel light to make it blink as it orbits maybe youll get to mars quicker than you expect as in the blink of an eye with a little 115 help as your fuel source and mind to think yourself into the right place. Now that we know aliens are powering their spaceships with a fuel energy source that creates its own gravity or repells like two polar magnets funny i thought about that as a 4 year old as a source of energy when i got my first two magnets pushing against one another energy forever nothing burning no heat i thought if they put it in a car superpowered moving in a circular motion energy free forever all systems change no wires ( slow down breath deep ) ok bye.
$5 each? You should be able to buy bayonet-base LED's for less than $2, possibly as little as 60 cents or so in bulk. Try Comet pinball supply, or some other supplier
I replaced the single bulb in my amp with an LED equivalent because the socket it's mounted in is just screwed to the inside of the cabinet behind the logo and was not insulated from vibration in any way (unlike a black panel Fender, for example, that has a socket mounted to the panel inside the chassis). I kept blowing bulbs when I had it cranked for any length of time. LED fixed that issue.
The vast majority of LED #47 replacement bulbs shoot a narrow beam out the end to suit the Fender jewel type bezels. They'd be of no use in this situation.
Most of the self-adhesive "felt" sold as weatherstripping and for putting underneath furniture legs so protect the floor isn't actually true animal-hair felt, it's a synthetic, plastic material.
@@gringopig , As a kid I used to read the series of true medical- detective stories compiled into book form by Berton Rouche', about outbreaks of rare diseases. Back in the 1950s I think it was, there was a pipe-fitter who was insulating steam pipes with felt made from imported goat hair, and he contracted anthrax. Interesting books for geeky science minded people like me; the two titles I remember were The Incurable Wound, and Eleven Blue Men.
What a pain in the ass. Sure, I want an amp to look cool but I'll take function over form any day. WAY too many bulbs just to make a logo light up for aesthetic purposes. An amp should have 1 bulb to indicate operation/power. One.
I just wanted to thank you for all your great tips. I changed the screen grid resistors in my ceriatone DZ30 and added a fan a few months back, but just now changed the bias resistors thanks to your tips once again. You are the king of VOX style circuits!
There was a guy that announced SF Giants games for decades. His name was Lon Simmons. Your voice reminds me of him - (superlative compliment). Your content is amazing. Thanks so much!
These videos have become my new addiction. I have found a new stream of education. Thank you Sir.
I love these amps but at there price they remain the stuff that legend is made of. Good deeds done Mr Lyle, good deeds indeed.
Always look forward to your videos! Favourite channel actually
One of the greatest tones I've ever heard was a Matchless HC-85 (yes, 85... they made like 10 of them) while it was melting down a quad of Chinese EL34's. So glorious, but only lasted for about 10 minutes. I wish I still owned that amp.
Great content! Thanks
That baby’s lit up like Times Square now.
Great sounding amp
Lyle I don't know a whole lot but It seemed pretty darn good to me. It certainly has that classic R and R sound.
I discovered this channel a couple months ago while researching the amp that I’d like to buy. I’ve been slowly researching for almost a year and this channel answers a lot of my questions. Unfortunately it seems like there aren’t many well built new amps, plus the whole tube thing right now, so I’m getting discouraged. I’m sure I’m being saved a lot of headaches though
I’m beginning to think maybe I should spend my money on learning to repair amps instead of on buying the right amp. It’s probably be a lot cheaper!
Looking at a Mojotone vibrolux/Harvard circuit. I don’t see much online from end users or repairs on Mojotone amps though. I was going to pay my local guy to assemble it, or learn how to do it myself; I can solder and use a meter but don’t have any experience working on pedals or amps, only guitars and car stereos
A little Begin the Begin there at the end? Nice!
Sounds about as impolite as my old DC-30.. well done my friend! :)
Nice SG!
Sounds great! Looks factory! More reliable, longer lasting... what's not to love???
With Stranger Things Season 4 now out, I’m further reminded how similar you and David Harbour sound. Uncanny.
I heard that Mike Campbell riff from Running Down a Dream. As Brad from Aussie land says, why manufacturers run EL84s like rented mules is just asking for trouble with shortened tube life. We just don’t have the original Mullards as an option any more.
I bet some thin cork strips would work great in each of those tube clamps. Glue it in with E6000.
Otherwise, Michaels has felt for sale that comes ready to go with adhesive backing
Thank you 🙏
Especially on a high end matchless vintage i ass ume.
I bet mohair from a first aid kit would work as a felt replacement!
As those #47 lamps burn out, does the heater voltage to all the tubes creep upwards, above their tube-manual specification?
Only slightly. The bulbs don't draw too much current. But yes, it does change a bit.
Some parts that are manufactured in Mexico are impossible to get here, I need to order them from US ... just like Fender guitars ... :(
Hey guy that vecro for the floor best be able to take the heat or gooey tube will be your nickname.
Will the glue on the Velcro melt from the heat of the rectifier?
Might dry out eventually but shouldn't melt.
@@PsionicAudio noice! Good to know!
I know this is gonna be a weird question but how safe are tube amps? I’ve saved for my first real amp but have a lot of pets in the home and just scared with something that has electronics I know nothing about that it could catch fire. I guess these new digital amps could maybe do the same in a weird event but I don’t know. If I left a tube amp on and forgot and left my house is there a risk of fire? I have done that with my practice amp before just not thinking and walking out the house. Sorry just getting into this stuff and I always hear people say their amps get really hot and that kind of scares me.
Aside from them chewing on AC cables (same risk with a TV) no threat to pets. The fire risk is extraordinarily minimal. I can’t say it’s impossible but something would have to be really wrong with the house wiring itself. Same with any appliance.
@@PsionicAudio Thank you so much for the reply. Makes me feel a lot better. I’m kind of a worry wort and this puts me at ease.
I would assume (dangerous, I know) that any modern UL or EU-export rated tube amp would have a thermal fuse built into the power transformer, as well as multiple fuses for the AC input, the high voltage supply and perhaps the tube heaters, and therby being protected against overheating or excess current draw. A vintage amp would offer fewer such built-in safety features but of course if rebuilt and serviced properly should be equally reliable or perhaps even more so, maybe with a couple of extra fuses added. if somebody was really that absent-minded about leaving an amp on when they go out, a timer set for 2 or 3 hours should be fine for shutting it off automatically after practicing. As for pets, if one owns a cat that is prone to curling up inside the back of a combo amp, a piece of heavy mesh screen such as used for speaker grilles could be screwed over the rear of the cabinet. Now if one foolishly lets pythons and geckos and bearded dragons wander around loose where they could climb into a warmed-up amp, you might find out the hard way whether or not they taste like chicken....😳
Do NOS Mullard, RCA or Telefunken etc. light bulbs have more mojo in their light than those new chinese bulbs have?
If not, I bet american or european NOS bulbs last much longer than cheap chinese ones.
😂😂🤣
Where can you get good tubes without paying a fortune ? Old v. Tonemas.
How many techs to replace a bulb and toss some tubes soullackers in a matchleess?
That amp is built buetifly make it sing the full harmonic range. Thats what the tubes auto be called rangemaster and hey elon send an oversized 2ton one to orbit with a panel light to make it blink as it orbits maybe youll get to mars quicker than you expect as in the blink of an eye with a little 115 help as your fuel source and mind to think yourself into the right place. Now that we know aliens are powering their spaceships with a fuel energy source that creates its own gravity or repells like two polar magnets funny i thought about that as a 4 year old as a source of energy when i got my first two magnets pushing against one another energy forever nothing burning no heat i thought if they put it in a car superpowered moving in a circular motion energy free forever all systems change no wires ( slow down breath deep ) ok bye.
Might the Velcro get too hot and catch on fire?
Unlikely. No issues after several hours of testing at least.
For about $5 each, you could put LED replacement lamps in? Supposed to last 10 years or so.
$5 each? You should be able to buy bayonet-base LED's for less than $2, possibly as little as 60 cents or so in bulk. Try Comet pinball supply, or some other supplier
Hi matchless owner tried to incorporate led instead of bulb but had diff problems with the system, so he decided not to change them.
LED bulbs would also cut the heat down somewhat inside the chassis.
I replaced the single bulb in my amp with an LED equivalent because the socket it's mounted in is just screwed to the inside of the cabinet behind the logo and was not insulated from vibration in any way (unlike a black panel Fender, for example, that has a socket mounted to the panel inside the chassis). I kept blowing bulbs when I had it cranked for any length of time. LED fixed that issue.
The vast majority of LED #47 replacement bulbs shoot a narrow beam out the end to suit the Fender jewel type bezels.
They'd be of no use in this situation.
Most of the self-adhesive "felt" sold as weatherstripping and for putting underneath furniture legs so protect the floor isn't actually true animal-hair felt, it's a synthetic, plastic material.
I thought they had factories giving Badgers a gentle trim! 🤘🐷🤘
We don't need no steenking....
@@gringopig , As a kid I used to read the series of true medical- detective stories compiled into book form by Berton Rouche', about outbreaks of rare diseases. Back in the 1950s I think it was, there was a pipe-fitter who was insulating steam pipes with felt made from imported goat hair, and he contracted anthrax. Interesting books for geeky science minded people like me; the two titles I remember were The Incurable Wound, and Eleven Blue Men.
@@gringopig , ps, out West, ground squirrels and prairie dogs and other rodents can carry bubonic plague.
Should’ve bought a Traynor.
10 incandescent bulbs = more unnecessary heat
What a pain in the ass. Sure, I want an amp to look cool but I'll take function over form any day. WAY too many bulbs just to make a logo light up for aesthetic purposes. An amp should have 1 bulb to indicate operation/power. One.