Secrets of the Mesa Boogie Mark IIb - AMP PORN with Service & Shredding
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ค. 2017
- In this video we'll open up a vintage Mesa Boogie Mark Series amp from the 80s and do some stuff to it. Then I'll play it in some increasingly ridiculous, shreddy, wanky ways.
Tube Amp Repair Essentials: kit.com/TheGuitologist/tube-a...
Interdental Brushes (for tube sockets): amzn.to/2uNzi4j
Nylon brush set: amzn.to/2hg4Xqo
Thanks to Free Info Society for Schematic: www.freeinfosociety.com/electr... - วิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี
A note on the tone at the end of the vid... I accidentally left the overhead room mic on too loud during the jamming parts, so you'll notice some distorting here and there. That's why.
Hey Brad! If you're interested in a professionally-made recording of this amp's various tones... i used this very amp, in all its wonderfully restored glory, for all but one of the guitar tracks on an EP recorded at Nitrosonic studio two weeks ago and released today, over here: metricsoul.bandcamp.com/releases
Those tracks include a '90 Gibson Flying V (the '67 reissue, my main squeeze) and a '98 PRS McCarty Soapbar (P90s!!!) through this Boogie head into a Marshall 2x12 cab, master volume on about 5, "clean" gain ("Volume 1") on 10, dirty gain ("Lead Drive") on about 3. (The outlier is a rhythm track on a Danelectro U1 through a silver face Fender Champ-Amp... you'll know it's not the Boogie.)
Oddly enough, the engineer put the microphone in front of the cabinet instead of in front of the head. :shrug: Some people...
Thank you for giving new life to this beast. I may need you to look at my Champ-Amp sometime. ;-)
@@leaharrington4472 microphone in front of the cabinet instead of the head!!!!!!?????? Insanity!!!!!
Even though I have absolutely no idea what in the hell you are talking about more than 3 quarters of the time, I love watching your videos!!!!!!
Thanks for posting..... Also, do you live in Kentucky??? You were mentioning Richmond KY, and Louisville KY.... That's why I was asking.
is that a Hondo 2 you are playing at the end??
@@leaharrington4472 There was some crackling in Broken Down,apart from that it seemed ok.
The cricket is NOT in your house, he's in mine. My daughter named him "Crickey". If we could find him, we'd probably feed him.
...to the dog.
The Guitologist what was the slave knob for could you use this amp for metal back in the 80s? or now these days? thanks
The "Slave" is for enslaving your audience to the service of the Dark Lord. :P
...and also you can plug a cable from that jack to another amplifier and get your overall tone with the Mesa and use the slave amp as just clean amplification of your Boogie tone.
jinxx Iwasawa Well Metallica used Mark IIC+'s slaved into JCM800's on Master of Puppets. So it was definitely good for 80s metal, not sure how well it could do modern metal though.
EVER SO SLIGHT clean-boost, and this amp will chug faster than a Kentucky ....... uh....guy who chugs beer. Well, I butchered that one. (audience boos, "Get off the stage!")
The best metal came out of the 80s. It will be laid to rest with Iron Maiden.
MB is Mike Bendinelli was the 1st employee at Mesa and the co-creator of some of Mesa's most famous amps like the Mark II C+. He checked and signed off on most of the early amps thus the MB near the AC plug and still keeps the vintage Mesas touring.
Mike was the greatest. He would take your phone call and talk you through with your amplifier problems or repairs.
darryl t He still is the greatest, too. I had him convert a IIC to a IIC+ last year, and had several conversations with him throughout the process, both on the phone and in person. Answered all my questions, and was the nicest guy you'll ever meet. He told me he has a mortgage to pay off, so he'd be at Mesa for at least another few years.
DickTruth Miles’s wife makes great amp & cabinet durable covers. Plus a nice lady.
He’s still working at Mesa Hollywood I believe
These are sooo cool. So many little features that aren’t so apparent, like I would do if I was to customize an amp like this. Rad.
Wow, I was just looking at MKII schematics this morning while you were uploading this! Synchronisity! Great vid and demo again
That happens to me all the time. I swear, it's God saying, "yes, you dumbass, I'm here, and you are SOOOOOO gonna get it!"
You're playing is freaking amazing. Also this amp sounds incredible.
Great video! And great playing. I have been wondering what these older mesas sound like for a while now. Pretty cool. Glad you went with the new mic set up a while back for these amp demos.
bwgti I kinda screwed this one up cause the overhead mic was too loud and clipping a bit. But eh.
great vid, wish i could resurrect some old amps where i live but there's not many people to get em off, so i'll continue to live vicariously through your videos lol.
A sign of a good amp when you can clearly hear the individual notes played without any muddiness.
Why you hear this on the live Dire Straits album _Alchemy_ (1984).
The “MB” is a quality sign off from Mike Bendinelli at Mesa Boogie. I know because I owned a Mark IIB that I had upgraded to a II-C.
I know nothing about electronics but I really enjoy the way you explain what’s going on inside the amp and damn you can shred!
Very wise move to solder the cap on the existing leads instead of risking breaking something on the board. Really enjoy your videos.
I love the Mesa Boogie repair videos because I know theres always going to be strange problems with the amp.
I can tell this amp would be especially sensitive to a microphonic V1. I can just imagine the auditory fireworks that might occur if V1 was microphonic.
To combat this problem the late 70s Mk I and the Mk IIa came with an optional FETRON for V1, this was basically a JFET in a 12ax7 sized can. These didn't sound particularly good and had a tendency to spontaneously fail so most would just replace them with a tube; there was a switch next to v1 on top of the chassis to select which you were running. Since it was unanimously hated, with the Mk IIb, Mesa started supplying an additional 12ax7 in place of the FETRON.
Thanks for the comment, Scott.
Scott Cramer i recently scored a minty 85 mesa SOB combo, and included the fetron. it dramatically cleaned up the noise, but without loop or reverb, no way to change channels, it jis gna be a pedal amp for me. thinkin of modding it for footswitch, but i dno... i like the fetron... schematic came with, has it listed to use fetron, im usin fetron. :)
Great job with the cap at the 26 minute mark. Love that you talked out why it is the right decision. I will definitely be using this method if needed in the future! Awesome video!
I use that method anywhere I feel that pulling the board would risk more than would be gained by achieving a cleaner look. Sometimes it just isn't worth the risk.
The Guitologist I'm curious about this, isn't there some concern for the integrity of the joint below the pcb? Since you couldn't check it visually after doing this, I would be worried that the heat transferred from the iron through the original lead would weaken that joint.
Please understand this is curiosity and not criticism, I've learned quite a bit from your videos and enjoy tuning in
Pretty good for an amp from the 80's. Shredding done well sir!
Something about ending with Randy and just switching off the amp.
I enjoy your videos. Thanks, Brad.
It's amazing how far ahead of the game Mesa was on overdrive. There was simply no other amp that could get this level of solid gain at the time. And I'm not even talking about the Mark IIC Plus, like what Brad Gillis used, and I think still uses. I never liked the Mark III or IV or V, or the Rectifier. But I love the 50 Cal Plus (owned a combo), the 38 Special, Studio .22 (including the rack mounted preamp), the Mini Rectoverb 25, Lonestar, Stiletto (not as bad as people say. Di Meola loves it) and the Petrucci model because it has a Mark II C Plus preamp, which has a lot more clarity than later Mark series.
I have a 1989 50 Caliber + 1x12 combo 6L6 version. Absolutely love it! The lead channel is glorious, the clean channel takes pedals very well in the front, and the eq is great. I replaced the stock speaker with an Eminence Wizard. Just WOW!!!!
These old Mesa amps are a work of art . Even the circuit boards seem to be hand made. The curved traces are too cool.
Best amp channel on youtube. Great amp!
The "Oil On Your Fingers" destroying vacuum tubes is based on the same idea as Halogen light bulbs. Halogen bulbs get SUPER HOT, and anything that would get on the glass could cause extra heat. When you get new headlights for you car, you'll note they ask you to wear rubber gloves.
This MAY have an effect on SUPER SUPER high power broadcast tubes that glow bright as the sun... but general audio tubes don't apply.
Good comment. Thanks!
And of course 5 seconds after I hit Submit, you comment the same idea/concept. LOL.
I just had a fun fix up... I got a Conn ST-6 Strobotuner... like the one Led Zeppelin used on tour.
I had one of those strobes. I was just thinking about it yesterday while doing a setup.
I truly think the strobes do a better job than the electronic ones... I've tried some really pricey electronic ones too. The strobe is annoying to use, but the result was amazing.
You'll get that effect on things like projector tubes, either in televisions or actual projectors. In that case you can get anything from burnt on fingerprints to a popped bulb.
Love the Roadstar,I have two of them , and am considering buying a Mesa Mark II Myself! Love your channel and you expertise!
I had two Roadstars many years ago, and really miss them. I would love to get my hands on one again someday.
50:30 damn, man! These videos are fantastic, but they go over the edge because of your playing. That was some serious shredding!
a mentor of mine once told me we don't bend it we reform it ... great videos I am hooked .. silvertone rules!!! thank you
If it says Boogie you don't want it. They stared getting too creaive and are pains. All of your Mesa videos prove this. Mesa Engineering is the stuff. I chose a Carvin X amp combo over the Mesa back in 1988 and am glad of it.
Wow....this is the first time I have seen you play !!! Not only are you a whiz fixing amps....you can make em scream too !!! All killer....no filler...nice licks !!!
Thanks for watching Patrick. I appreciate the compliments.
Great video...Fascinating details. Amp sounds super smooth after servicing.
I enjoy your guitar playing a very original sound ,you were really flying on the fingerboard, great movie
Thanks, Frank. Appreciate that, man.
I'm learning so much from this channel.
Watching this again today (3/31) and saw the date written on the chassis which is 3/31! How weird... Love your channel Brad!
Killer playing, amazing riffing there....I had a 180W tweed-covered (twill cloth a la Fender) Mark IIB head, ran it through a newer 4x12 Marshall (in the 90s). What a sound, these Mark IIB's are my favorite Boogies (they're all really good). sick mids and crunch, if you need over-the-top, put your pedal in front. My right ear rings all the time because of that Boogie.
She was a beast, for sure.
Great playing! Nice job, I wish you where in my band back in the day! Just AWSOME!
Thanks, bro. I wish I was in your band back in the day too. We'd have gotten ALL the chicks! :D
The Guitaologist, I'm showing this to your wife.... :D
She knows how lucky she is...although she routinely denies it.
As much as I love to hear you play some blues, I am a listener of siriusxm octane channel. It's pretty heavy stuff. Great vid and playing Brad!
Im so happy I kept my dads, great review. I need to get mine serviced at some point.
Interesting aside, in high school I got a lemon of a Hot Rod Deville 212 that was bought new. It would work for awhile, then cut out completely. It went in twice for warranty work at that same place in Richmond, however, was never made right. Needless to say, it went back to the shop for an exchange. The replacement amp served me well for years!
This was way back when the guitar shop was next to a pizza place.
Appreciate your channel, Guitologist, as a former Kentuckian.
Thanks for the comment, fellow Kentucky Colonel.
hahaha that mic the head bit was hilarious
I've had "Engineers" do it at shows... You know it's going to be a long night when the engineer mic's the head instead of the cab, or he comes to you with a 1/4 inch cord wanting to take a line out of the amp. Ouch
David Ouellette I was wondering what the hell he was on about. Lol
Think it was a joke? I was really worried...
mic the head LMFAO
Yep, me too!
Just a few bits of info for you.I own a very early Mark II from 1978. At the time Boogies were built to order & took about 6-7 months to get. The basic amp was 60 watts then you could add 100 watt, reverb & eq, You also had a choice of EV or Altec speaker in 12"or 15" & choice of black, cream or a exotic hardwood cabinet.Mine is was ordered with everything (including a flight case) except for the eq.The extra tube was actually because there was a switch that allowed either the tube or a solid state device to be installed in one of the sockets (perhaps the beginnings of the Dual Rectifier?) tube was warmer , the solid state device gave more gain. Love the channel ,its one of my regulars & maybe you could help me with some advise. the amp has been in its road case untouched for close to 20 years & I would like to start using it again, was told by a local tech ( Chicago area) to just plug it in & fire it up (all that Variac stuff is not nessesary if stuff is going to go wrong, its going to go wrong anyway )I'm thinking he just might be looking for an expensive repair job. What do you think?
bishton22 there is probably enough in this vid if you get a variac and dial up slowly, you might save your caps for a while and avoid repair. You can buy a 3A variac for $50: amzn.to/2uPAX9u
The Guitologist I bought that same variac and it is functioning as expected. I like the LED readout you modified yours with, I had a box of analog gauges that needed a purpose to exist so I went that route, but that readout on yours is better and if I had it do again I would include it in my Amazon order for the variac. (For anyone who missed it, the Guitologist made a video that shows you how to install the readout)
thanks, think I'll give it a try.
I remember that Smith was building these in his converted dog kennel up in Lagunitas CA and it did take months to get one. I ordered mine in the fall of 1977 and received it in the late spring of 1978. $880 shipped. These were dual footswitch models-front switch for the lead channel with a red LED and a double footswitch that connected to a switchcraft jack on the underside of the chassis for Gain Boost and EQ or Reverb. That little plastic clip held a 9 pin tube, the amp came with a FETRON 9 pin device in the V1 socket and a toggle switch if you chose to run the tube instead. All in all I found the amp problematic, the relay switching was noisy, balance between channels was difficult to achieve and it was a heavy little bastard. That said I did keep it for 15 years before selling it.
That looks like the magical Weezer Blue Album amp that Rivers used. HUGE distortion sound on that thing...and can be had at really low volumes
That was a MK 1 with a bright pull knob.
Thanks! Love your channel! You've inspired me to mod my old Acoustic 134 solid state amp. I know only the very basic of electronics so watching you explain things with your friendly casual manner really helps me get the confidence to give it a try. I was wondering if I could ask you some questions regarding my amp. I have schematics and the service manual. What I was trying to do was simplify this 2 channel amp into a 1channel amp, taking out the 2nd channel (which is a board with reverb and tremolo which I never use). Anyway, thanks for doing this and damn.....you #%€£* rock. One of the reasons I love this channel is that you're not just a repairman, you're a kickass player as well. Thanks Brad!
Appreciate that, very much, Matt. Just be careful. Exercise caution around high voltage. One hand in your pocket when probing around in amps. Be safe.
The one thing I remember most from tech school was the instructors stressing the best techs have one arm. This was way back when we were trouble shooting CRT TVs. I flinch seeing your rings.
Brad,
You are clearly having WAY too much fun doing these vids, and we, your loyal following, are having too much fun watching...the thought police cannot be far behind...don't change a thing, but just be aware...:)
They are called Interdental Brushes.They don't replace floss, and they are not single use :D
I've learned a lot from you (although I've only built one amp head case,and a few stompboxes) , now you've learned something from me :)
Thanks for watching, dude. Actually, already had a link for them on amazon in the description. But you're right...interdental brushes.
I took your advice and miced up the head the way you said. We recorded the whole album like it. The studio tech wasn't happy but I trusted you more than him. So roomy!
Right!?
As i suggested on another vid, what would be great is for you to do a more design oriented video, say looking at a Princeton circuit, and following it through to explain what is going on in the circuit. Then, you could show maybe (or in a follow up video), how Randall Smith took that amp and turned it into the first Mesa Boogie?
Not sure if that's something you would be interested in doing, but i bet a lot of us here would love to watch!
one just like it came up for sale rather recently.. this is my second viewing of this video, and I’m in the process of making a deal 🤘🏽
I just picked a Mesa boogie amp up on crates list for $730 dollars. I got it serviced I had them put new groove tubes in it. I also put a Emenince Swamp twang speaker in it this amp is awesome. I can't believe I finally got my dream amp. Plus. I just traded my Telecaster and $300 dollars for a USA Les Paul standard Pro 2013 .i am ready to Rock. Pat Romero Denver Colo. Cheers.
What model?
Covid-19 Lockdown Fest 2020: Guitologist vid marathon keeping me sane during these trying times!
Yup, I'm on it!
Same here
I love seeing those old service stickers on amps. Years back I bought a Fender Twin that had started life in the USA, and it had a few service stickers on the chassis from various cities, one looked very 70s
I couldn't see anything they did unless it was just a cleaning and tube swap.
It's had the rectifier replaced at least twice. I swapped the power tubes myself (and the retainers were already down when i got it, twenty-some years ago).
The guy at audio video in Richmond ky is a wizard. He fixed my peavey ultra. He's retiring in a few years which leaves the amp repair in lexington very hard to find.
OMG...
This is my current amp!
I will watch this when I get time today. I have the 60 watt 1 12 combo with eq and reverb. It needs some work for sure.
Cool man. Shoot a demo and link here!
Brad, I can't thank you enough. I used this video to recap the power supply on my Mark2b. It was real nerve wracking bringing it up little by little on the variac. But it sounds awesome and much less noisy even on high gain.
Subscribed. Keep up the good work man. Make your work your passion and vice versa.
Thanks for subscribing. Welcome aboard!
Love your vids sir. Fun, and I learn something new from them almost every time.
I have been using a couple of Fender cybertwin se for the last ten years and have remained just as infatuated with them as the day I brought em home.
I get a lot of ribbing from friends that I own and play an overpriced modeling amps.
I try to explain why they are not really a modeling amp and how and why they work. Not with any success of course.
Wondering if you have worked on any and what your thoughts are regarding them.
No need to worry about offending me if your not a fan, LOL I have heard it all.
Yet on stage no one has ever complained 😁,
Cheers, and thank you for a great channel.
Extra stamp at 20:53 would be for an ungrounded outlet for your amp that was utilized if you ordered it with the cooling fan. I had a Mark ii-B which was 60/100 watts with reverb, EV speaker, and effects loop...but no EQ. Later I got a Mark III which had a 2 conductor AC outlet right there for it's fan, so I guess maybe the fan was an option in the Mark II as well, since that punch is in the same spot.
i remember tube testers at Thrifty's. I'd go there with my Dad and look at the $35 Teisco's while he'd check TV tubes then we'd get a, ice cream cone for like 35 cents.
Those were the days.
Sounds like a piece of heaven.
Thanx for the response, Guit. It was a nice time. I was mainly referring to what some people would be concerned about when touching tubes.
Someone mentioned new headlight bulbs. That's probably a where the fear may have started.
BTW, great vid. You tore it up, man !!! Amp sounded killer!!!!
MB I think is Mike Bendinelli, a famed/ renowned Mesa Boogie guru :)
Thanks for clarifying.
No trouble at all, I have a MkIIa from around 1980, it has all the options except the 'Simul-class which I believe only came out as an option on the 'b'. I do get the audible pop on switching channels but it does not really bother me as I can work around it :)
I agree, on the MB, the early marks, II's IIb's IIC+'s and IIIs have sharpie markings next to the power cord based on who inspected them, and thats one of the things people do when they get their factory IIa or IIb converted, they take a sharpie and add the C+ mark. thats also where the mark III's get their types, red stripe,blue stripe,black stripe...its check mark in whatever color sharpie they used at the time.
Wow super clean for being so old all top shelf components looks like. Maybe thats why Mesa's are so expensive.
Yeah, I don't think Mesa was really thinking too much about collectors 30 and 40 years down the road.
The rectangular cutout on the right hand side is for a two prong power plug for the power cord of the cooling fan
Thanks for clearing that up. I wasn't sure on that one.
Yep, I just posted the same thing, and I scroll down and, well, ya beat me to it fair and square. I had a Mark III short chassis head (blue stripe, simul-class, but no EQ) and it had the fan in it.
Fantastic and informative! Great tone and plaing....
I remember when these amps got released, my buddy owned one. It was a great sounding amp, I truly envied him, lol.
I have a Mark IIB with the graphic, the power switch at the back is marked "60-100 watt" It's been dated to '82 by Mesa. nice vid.
Your playing is Amazing, and i wish i had you for a tech!!
Techno amp geek lettin' her RIP at the end of the video! Fine playing, sir. Nice job on the amp, too.
I had the combo version, best amp I ever had.
I was curious where you got the digital display on top of your variac that gives you the voltage and amps that are being drawn? A link would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Love this channel!
Dude, you're killin' it @51:45.
That's a nice Roadstar.... No doubt it's been well cared for over the years. I have one of the later MIK models, but I can imagine it don't hold a candle to those old MIJ's. That thing just looks like it has a nice feel to it.
very cool sir watched the whole service you can't kill the METAL!!
Metall up your a**!!!
Great video, thanks!! Not sure if this question was asked, but there is a 1/4" jack between the preamp and poweramp tubes on the bottom of the chassis. It looked like it may have been connected to the Pull Bright pot on the Lead Master. Is that a footswitch jack to engage the Pull Bright feature? Looks like a second under-chassis jack is hooked up to the Gain Boost/Master 1 pot. You can see them at 17:17. Any ideas?
Wow, finaly a boogie I love the gain sound of. This amp Is sweet.
Hello Brad,
quick question: why do you use flammable stuff for cleaning pots? Wouldn't it be safer to use inflammable products?
That's the greatest tone. Right on.
So what you left the 12ax7 in the at labeled slot? was that a preamp tube inverter or what? thx brad
ken hancock es, I left the AX there. An AT would be a better choice for lower gain or if you wanted a more tamed down effects loop. That tube includes the cathode follower, so a modern JJ 12AT7 would be the best choice really. Also reminds me...that beefy jack I pointed out in the effects loop is there because ALL of the amp's signal has to pass those contacts. Any corrosion or bad contact will result in overall signal loss.
Nice work! And Fuckinay, great demo!
Hey Brad, cool video and good call with the cap on the input board. The thing really that got my attention is the fact you were on point when testing the amp. Great playing. It sounds as if you've been practicing a bit. No insult to your playing in past videos but you've obviously improved. We should jam someday. :)
Thanks. As much as I'd like to believe I'm improving, I think it's just a case of being a bit better warmed up from experimenting with tones. In most videos I literally just flip the amp on and start cold. My window of time for filming anything is usually small.
You're welcome. Still, great pickin'.
You're right on with this. I have seen quite a lot of broken joins that were repaired this way. Some where the previous tech expected an end-to-end butt join to hold; of course it didn't. And besides that, the fact is that it simply looks amateurish, even if it never breaks. Even though I am against this type of repair, on occasion I have had to do so out of necessity, but I certainly didn't like doing so. Thankfully, 99.9% of amplifier repairs can be made without resorting to this type of shortcut. And, in quite a number of his videos Brad has expressed disdain when he encountered an eyelet board amp where a previous tech did a repair job by soldering a lead across an eyelet, instead of through it. But, one is just as bad as the other, isn't it?
Jeff Yost I'm very curious as to the reasoning behind each of your statements, specifically.
Great sounding amp.
Soooo what are the 1/4" phone and RCA jack on the bottom of the chassis between the pre and power section boards?
rebelcat420 Reverb tank???
change the capacitor change the tone of the amp, or is think that I should do without being afraid of lost quality in overall sound of the amp?
Love the tone! My brother in laws old MKII B never sounded that good.
Who do you order your caps from?
Also, am I correct in thinking that's a guitologist original at 23:48? Certainly sounds like you on vocals.
Yeah, that's one of mine.
Hey, those initials are probably for Michael Bendinelli, long time employee and amp wizard. He is the only one to service my Boogies (F50 and DC-3).
What's that music playing in the background when you're replacing the caps, starting at 23:47? It reminds me of Al Stewart, but I don't regognize it. Also, that meditative guitar you played starting at 46:33 was beautiful. Original?
umac76 music at 23:00 was me, other stuff at end was just making stuff up
Are all the mk2b's the same (black vs blonde)? Are the ones with the EQ better?
How do you discharge your caps? Also, I notice you touching the caps with your hands, I thought they could still be dangerous even when discharged due to potential recovery voltage?
Tungsram's are really nice sounding tubes. You can always spot them by the little metal badge near the top structure. V-2 is actually an old Mullard and probably sounds great.
Fantastic sounding amp.
Thanks. Belongs to a nice lady who subscribes to the channel. Thanks to her for bringing it my way.
What happened to the pretty decorated amp at the beginning? Love that Ibanez you're playing. What kinda guitar was the 2nd one, the one with the stripe?
In which tuning is that guitar 48:00 ?
Regards!
The rectangle hole is for an a/c receptacle for a computer style fan used on 100w models. the other holes are for reverb.
Really nice tone!
I'm i the process of moving house and that means putting together a new and better workshop. In my last shop, I inset my test speaker in the drywall stud space behind my bench (sounded surprisingly good) and hard mounted my multimeter to the left side of the bench. I'm always looking for ideas - have you ever consider doing a shop ideas video?
The myth about tubes burning up when the oil from your hand gets on them comes from the fact that the lamps (lightbulbs) used in theatrical lighting fixtures, and other high intensity lights will be destroyed when you get the oil from your skin on them. The glass gets so hot that if there is any oil on it, it will get blackened and form bubbles where you touched it. A lot of these lamps look very similar to vacuum tubes so that's why people get confused.
Tube socket cleaning - would pipe cleaners work, or would the wire be too big to fit through the pinhole?
What's with the heatsink attached to the chassis? What are they sinking heat from in that location?
Sinking heat from the chassis in general. With 4x power tubes, the whole area will be hot.
Lol brad you’re better than like %90 of the youtubers out there.
Cool amp sounds great 👍✌️
im 49 yrs old (I'm old ass dude lol) and i wish i cld visit and jam w this guy. He's a good soul. 💪👊
Would this be a good amp head to use as a bass head power sorce
I Mic Guitar Amps the same way but, I like the tone better with it more off axis than you demonstrated. I come right in the back, pointed directly toward the output Xformer on Bass amps for better Sub freqs. Believe it or not, once on a live gig we forgot half the Mic stands and I taped MICS TO THE HANDLES ON TOP OF BOTH Guitar and Bass Amps. sounded really good but, it may have just been that room.
Great instructional video!
Nice repair job as always. Quick question: what forum was it that you referred to in this video? I'd like to join tube electronics forums so I can learn more. Any recommendations?
themarcoharder search on Facebook for Tube Amp Builders or Tube Amp Mods. Join those groups. Internet forums, try amp garage or Hoffman amps forums.
The Guitologist Thanks! I'm not on Facebook but I'll sign up at the Hoffman forums. I'm already a member of the Amp Garage. Thanks for the recommendations!
That head really ROCKS man!
If you would, what is the guitar with the lespaulish look/fender body at the end? I love it! Thanks!