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Post by gotmojo on Nov 15, 2011 16:44:56 GMT -7
Hey! Two questions:
1). Why does the Stang Ray have two fuses? What the ......?
2). Why is my Stang Ray blowing the 3 amp fuse? Seems to happen when I first turn the amp on and then flip the standby to "on" without waiting long enough for the amp to warm up (impatience: wanna hear that glorious tone!). Any knowledgeable insight from you's guys? I mean, insight other than suggesting more patience.
jj
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Post by Albert on Nov 15, 2011 20:03:32 GMT -7
sounds like the rectifier ...pull ALL the tubes insert new fuse and put them in starting with the rectifier tube continue to put tubes in until fuse blows and you have found the bad tube ...good luck Albert
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Post by gotmojo on Nov 15, 2011 21:22:40 GMT -7
Actually just blew another fuse, again as I turned the standby switch to "on". This time after a good long warm up, so I don't think it's impatience. Thanks for the tips, Albert. I seem to remember Benttop Steve sayng that most blown fuses are due to rectifier tube failure! Will give that a try first off - I actually found a 5AR4 in my box-o-tubes! When you do that tube by tube replacement method, you switch to standby for each tube insertion? It's OK to have the amp turned on with no tubes/missing tubes in it?
jj
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Nov 15, 2011 21:46:46 GMT -7
One of the fuses is on the AC line, the other is on the high voltage between the power supply and the output tranny (I think). Almost anything can cause a fuse to pop; bad tubes, shorting component, etc. But you'll notice more rectifier and power tube problems causing fuses to pop than most other causes. I hate to generalize, but the reality is a shorting rectifier generally pops the mains fuse and bad power tubes generally pops the HV fuse, but as with everything in life, there are a bazillion exceptions.
I like the idea of pulling tubes and putting them back in till the fuse pops again. At least you get a clue that way. I have never done that though - if my mains fuse popped I put in a new rectifier and 99.9% of the time I hit a home run on the first swing. Then I bought some NOS rectifiers and I've not had to deal with it since.
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Post by gotmojo on Nov 16, 2011 17:03:20 GMT -7
Yo, yo ,yo. OK! So the last fuse I put in that blew was only a 1 amp fuse! Sheesh. Couldn't fricking see the danged thang with bad light and old eyes and whatever - a real senior moment. But I pulled the rectifier out to find it was a GZ34, not a 5AR4!! Bought this amp on eBay from a guy that played on tour with Billy Currington, this amp had been used by them on tour, supposedly. Came with a road case! I never looked inside till now! So I put a 5AR4 in there - and it runs fine, so far. Question is, is a GZ34 that much different from a 5AR4, and would that in and of itself blow fuses? ? Is the GZ34 bad or was it simply the wrong tube in there causing the problem? My Aspen Pittman tube book is somewhere deep in a storage unit right now and I can't research in my usual manner, so I turn to you, my knowledgable and good brothers to slip some insight into this befuddlement made worse by old age and weak glasses! Tanks. jj never a dull moment or a lack of foresight!
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Post by twotoneguitars on Nov 16, 2011 18:54:52 GMT -7
Hey man, the GZ34 is the same tube as the 5AR4. GZ34 is the European numbering system, 5AR4 is the American numbering system. The same tube.
About the fuses,.....the 3 amp fuse is for the high voltage section. The 1/2 amp fuse is basically for the DC section. The most likely cause for blowing the 3 amp fuse is a failed rectifier. When mine failed it would be sparking inside the glass tube and then blow the fuse.
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Post by gotmojo on Nov 16, 2011 20:47:05 GMT -7
Thanks Twotone! And THAT is why ya gotta have an Aspen Pittman Tube Amp Book around the house at all times. More important than medical reference books! That J & J GZ34 is trash bound, my friends. Don't want that sparker back in any o' my amps ever again!
I'm betting that is one little problem solved around this household, eh? Thanks to all o' you guys!
jj
and gawd that stang ray is a toney machine!!! innit?
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Post by Albert on Nov 20, 2011 11:07:04 GMT -7
If the fuse was a 1 amp fuse it would likely blow because the GZ34/5AR4 rectifier pulls 2 amps of current ...
Glad you have you're Ray back up !
Albert
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Post by gotmojo on Nov 20, 2011 21:38:05 GMT -7
May I just repeat myself and say this Ray has such a killer tone at any volume, if you use a Dr Z Brake. Good Gawd it just sounds so freaking good even at I-can-talk-over-it volume. Love this amp.
And it's nice when it ain't blowing fuses!
jj
and it's red.
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