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Post by niversen on Dec 12, 2005 14:11:34 GMT -7
Hi all. I am the happy owner of this fine amplifier. Upon receipt, I loaded it with a bunch of fantastic NOS tubes and have been a very happy guitar player for over a month. The tone is simply fantastic (but you knew that)
While practicing last night, it was just like someone turned off the power while I was playing. You could hear the sound fading out while I was playing, and then....nothing. I opened up the amp and looked inside - nothing appears black or damaged. Then I remembered the fuse - sure enough it was blown.
I took a similar fuse out of a Victoria Bandmaster that I have and tried to put it back in. I had to twist to release the fuse, and figure I have to do the same to put it back in. I can push until the springs are completely compressed and turn all I want, but nothing engages. The amp won't turn on, and I'm beginning to question how a normally competent musician can't insert a fuse correctly.
Any ideas for me? Last resort is to take it into Ultrasound in NYC and just have them deal with it.
Thank you in advance,
- Nathanael
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Post by billyguitar on Dec 12, 2005 19:15:13 GMT -7
I assume the fuses are both the same length?
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Post by niversen on Dec 12, 2005 21:23:15 GMT -7
Yes, same length and voltage rating. Perhaps I've got a bad fuse socket... that would be a strange failure, but I guess even mechanical things break. I certainly didn't torque it or anything.
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Post by niversen on Jan 29, 2006 16:18:21 GMT -7
Well, I'm part way there. I ended up replacing the fuse socket, and that got me back into passing signal. The remaining challenge is that the fuse will blow in fairly random fashion anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour and half in. Fade to nothing......
Any ideas? I've got a decent multimeter, etc, but I'd be just as happy to take it somewhere. Live in NJ just outside NYC.
Thanks,
Nathanael
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Post by zdogma on Jan 29, 2006 16:22:24 GMT -7
try the original output tubes again, could be bad tube or bias issue.
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Post by niversen on Jan 29, 2006 16:39:03 GMT -7
Thanks for the tip - I had previously tried replacing the rectifier tube. I swapped out to the GT tubes that came with the amp, and there was a fair bit of background hiss - which I hadn't had before. Gain was only on 9 o'clock, so. The fuse blew in less than a minute.
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Post by zdogma on Jan 29, 2006 16:59:13 GMT -7
try myles before giving up, but it sounds like you need a tech...
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Post by niversen on Jan 29, 2006 20:51:11 GMT -7
Thanks - I sent him a PM. I suspect you are right that I need a tech. I thought I'd check here first. I've got a good multimeter and bias kit, etc., but what time I have, I'd prefer to be playing.
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Post by myles on Jan 30, 2006 11:41:39 GMT -7
Hi all. I am the happy owner of this fine amplifier. Upon receipt, I loaded it with a bunch of fantastic NOS tubes and have been a very happy guitar player for over a month. The tone is simply fantastic (but you knew that) While practicing last night, it was just like someone turned off the power while I was playing. You could hear the sound fading out while I was playing, and then....nothing. I opened up the amp and looked inside - nothing appears black or damaged. Then I remembered the fuse - sure enough it was blown. I took a similar fuse out of a Victoria Bandmaster that I have and tried to put it back in. I had to twist to release the fuse, and figure I have to do the same to put it back in. I can push until the springs are completely compressed and turn all I want, but nothing engages. The amp won't turn on, and I'm beginning to question how a normally competent musician can't insert a fuse correctly. Any ideas for me? Last resort is to take it into Ultrasound in NYC and just have them deal with it. Thank you in advance, - Nathanael First off .... it is a good thing the bandmaster fuse did not work or fit. It would have been a 2 or 3 amp fuse. You need a 1 amp fuse in the Carmen Ghia. Take the original fuse to any home depot sort of place and go to their electrical section and you will find these easily.
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Post by niversen on Jan 30, 2006 17:06:59 GMT -7
Myles,
Thanks for responding. I did figure that out. I have been using correct fuses sourced at a local Radio Shack. 1 amp fuses are blowing 5 min to 1.5 hours in for no immediately apparent reason. Changing rectifier and power tubes has had no effect.
Any ideas? Or straight to a tech?
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Post by G'OlPeachPhan on Jan 30, 2006 19:40:28 GMT -7
niversen - sorry to hear about your technical issue... Hope you get that bug worked out quickly!
myles - I thought the Ghia used a 1.5 amp fuse...? That's what has always been in mine from day one...
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Post by niversen on Feb 19, 2006 19:13:21 GMT -7
Well, a trip to the emergency room, and Dr. Z fixed everything. I sent the amp out, and was out of town for a week. Just about when I thought, "I should make sure it got there OK", I returned home, and there it was! What great service! I wasn't the original owner and he fixed it as a warranty repair. Pure class. This is my favorite amplifier, and I think I know what brand I'll buy next time.... I don't know what was ultimately wrong, but it plays great again - I used it at rehearsal tonight!
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Post by zdogma on Feb 19, 2006 19:52:42 GMT -7
;D
Be interesting to find out what was wrong, in case it ever happens again. Please update if you find out.
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cliff
New Member
Posts: 3
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Post by cliff on Feb 21, 2006 21:52:52 GMT -7
I had a similar situation. Fuse blew during a gig, though. Caused a bit of drama. After inspecting it, changing tubes, etc, I sent it to Z and had it back in a week. Blew my mind, for sure. I wasn't even sure he had it yet, and there it was, back on my doorstep. Amazing good service. I emailed Z to find out the problem. Here is his return email......
"A blown tube took out the conjuctive filter which was then shorted to ground. Updated cap in filter so that won't happen again."
Kind of weird because I changed out all the tubes before I sent it to Z, and the fuse still blew. Oh well. Something caused a short, that's for sure....and it's working fine now. You guys might find it interesting that my fuse was a 2A when it blew. I've since found out it's supposed to be a 1A. I'm not the original owner, and it's an old one. I've had it since the late '90s. Who knows how the 2A got in there.
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