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Author Topic: Quiet OTS. Troubleshooting help wanted.  (Read 8805 times)
buzzer
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« on: June 28, 2011, 01:41:52 PM »
Hi,

I turned my OTS on yesterday, and it lacked volume. I changed speakers, cables, and guitars. All had the same result. It had no oomph!

Can anyone suggest the nest step in troubleshooting what is obviously a troubled amp?

It's only a couple years old, and hasn't had much 'hard play'. I doubt i could have blown the power tubes yet, and this happened suddenly, like between one short session and another. Any info provided would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Buzzer
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T Wilcox
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« Reply #1 on: June 28, 2011, 02:16:50 PM »
Next step would be to swap tubes! Tubes can go at any time, a couple years is pretty good for new production tubes. I agree they should last longer but doesn't mean they will!

When you say "quiet" do you mean no sound at all or is the amp just weak?

After that next step would be to take some pics of guts and post here.

Did you build the amp or Niks crew?

Todd
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« Reply #2 on: June 28, 2011, 02:38:42 PM »
Hi,

Hardly used the amp. Bedroom only.

Quiet means turn the master to 10 and get less than 3 out of it.

Was put together by Nik and crew.

Will have to await  pics - I'm about to go to sleep.

Thanks!

Jeffrey
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T Wilcox
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« Reply #3 on: June 28, 2011, 03:14:49 PM »
9 out of 10 times when an amp goes from working to not working it is tubes so I have read/heard, and also experienced. Tubes can be bad out of the box brand new!
So the amount of playing time really doesn't prove anything.

The next question I have is, are the tubes both glowing ( heaters lit ) and not red plating. Also what voltage/millivolts is the bias set to?

Also, whats in your effects loop? Dumb question but one day my power to my delay pedal got pulled out ( Boss DD3 non true bypass ) and had similar problem. I was ready to open amp up and start swapping tubes and all that but luckily noticed that first.

Assuming you have a meter.

Todd
« Last Edit: June 28, 2011, 03:26:37 PM by T Wilcox » Logged
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« Reply #4 on: July 01, 2011, 01:12:39 AM »
+1 to all of the above. Check the tubes, and make sure they are snug. Also, like Todd suggested, check your loop if you have anything in it. I have a holy grail in mine, an di forgot to plug it into the power adapter. went to step on it for a nice reverby passage and...whisper quiet! Doh!
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buzzer
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« Reply #5 on: July 01, 2011, 08:56:32 AM »
Thanks for all the help. Still don't know what's wrong - I'll have some guys in Thailand look at it today or tomorrow.

Buzzer
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T Wilcox
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« Reply #6 on: July 01, 2011, 01:06:13 PM »
Please let us know what it turns out being. Even if its something simple it may help someone.

Good luck

Todd
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ampkits
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« Reply #7 on: July 04, 2011, 07:53:54 PM »

I'd check tubes indeed.

And voltages, perhaps (ask the techs, refer to www.ceriatone.com/voltage)

And, do turn the amp from time to time, even if you dont gig/use it.

And, with the OTS amp, check your settings. I get lots of "problem" like this, only to be fixed by the adjustment of the OD controls.

Set all to noon, and then try both clean and OD channels.

If the prob is only on OD channel, then it tells a lot.

Or, if not, and then you swap the 1st 2 preamp tubes, and the cleans is now OK, then that tells a lot too. Ie faulty preamp tube.

Bias would definitely need to be checked as well.



Thanks!

nik
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buzzer
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« Reply #8 on: July 05, 2011, 08:15:11 AM »
Hi,

Thanks for all the informative replies. Yesterday I took it to a shop that deals with PA systems and such,  Today they called me and asked me to come pick it up. They can't fix it. They said there is something inside, or it may need parts they can't get, or something. I couldn't understand them completely because of their English abilities.

I just hope they didn't help themselves to any parts that they may have considered of value. That kind of thing happens in Thailand.

My next choice is a guy that lives at quite a distance from me that runs a better shop.

After that it would be getting on a plane and flying to Bangkok and back for a trip that would be fairly expensive.

My next choice would be to send it back to Malaysia for a round trip. Thailand will make me pay full new item price for import duty. There's  no such thing as sending things out of Thailand for repairs because they have so many 'experts' here.

Oh Well,

Thanks,

Buzzer
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mcinku
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« Reply #9 on: July 05, 2011, 08:34:10 AM »
Quote from: buzzer on July 05, 2011, 08:15:11 AM
I just hope they didn't help themselves to any parts that they may have considered of value. That kind of thing happens in Thailand

Can you post some gut pictures...we can identify quite easily if something was replaced
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T Wilcox
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« Reply #10 on: July 05, 2011, 01:22:39 PM »
+1 Show us some gut pics, just make sure amp is not plugged in while chassis is opened.

Also, have you swapped tubes around yet?

Hopefully you didn't have to pay the PA shop for being useless

Todd
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« Reply #11 on: July 05, 2011, 02:06:06 PM »
Hi,

Before I send any pics, I'm going to take to a guy who, I believe, is a lot better.

I just didn't want to go there because it's a lot farther.

Buzz
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T Wilcox
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« Reply #12 on: July 05, 2011, 03:43:21 PM »
But have you swapped tubes yet?

I dont know your experience level but if you just take the tube in V1( Furthest tube from transformers ) and swap it with the tube in V2 ( tube next to V1, or middle small tube ) this can tell alot as Nik mentioned. When pulling the tube remove the tube shield by turning Lefty loosie then pull downwards then grab tube and while pulling wiggle in circular motion. When replacing tubes in the sockets make sure and notice where the gap between pins is then line up with socket and insert using same circular motion while pushing. Make sur the tubes are inserted fully then power up amp and try out. Try both the clean and OD channel and note what problems are on each.

Also if you notice what looks to be white powder inside the glass of any tube, that means the tube is bad!

Then report back

Just doing this may save you alot of money on repair people.

Todd
« Last Edit: July 05, 2011, 03:45:55 PM by T Wilcox » Logged
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« Reply #13 on: July 05, 2011, 07:22:48 PM »
+1 on what Todd is saying and everyone else. If the next guy is someone you trust, then I would try that after making sure it isn't a tube issue. After that, I would post some gut shots before anything else.
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