51d
Junior Member
Posts: 95 
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Post by 51d on May 4, 2014 10:08:23 GMT -7
I posted this problem elsewhere (Trouble with Ghia thread perhaps? - I'm new here)...the thing is, I've now replaced three fuses in less than a week ( the correct mA value, BTW) and changed all the valves with items I have working elsewhere in other amps, but after playing for a while and then turning off the amp, the amp is completely dead when I return to it and attempt to fire it up again. This is not good for my confidence in what otherwise is a great sounding amp; much preferred to my ex-Maz 8 Studio, actually.
Does anybody have any ideas on what might be the problem? I need to be able to take this amp on stage, and know it isn't going to fail; I have never had any valve amp fuse in 40 years of using them, so am apprehensive on finding this might be a problem with this Z. Bound to be fixable one presumes, but I need to know how!
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Post by gplayer1965 on May 4, 2014 10:35:37 GMT -7
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on May 4, 2014 11:51:02 GMT -7
Sounds,like a rectifier problem - do you have a known good rectifier tube to put it? This happened to my Galaxie - changed rectifier and no more problems.
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Post by heynewguy (Ol’ Bill) on May 4, 2014 12:06:44 GMT -7
Get a NOS (new old stock) 5Y3. Should cost around $25. Mike @ KCA NOS can help you out. www.kcanostubes.comLet us know how you make out. PS. Get some new power tubes while you're at it. Don't put them in till you have the problem solved. |
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Post by heynewguy (Ol’ Bill) on May 4, 2014 12:14:03 GMT -7
Just saw that you were in the UK.
Might have to look elsewhere.
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51d
Junior Member
Posts: 95
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Post by 51d on May 4, 2014 12:35:44 GMT -7
Thanks for all the tips; much appreciated.
Just transferred a NOS JAN Phillips 5Y3WGTA from my Vibro Champ into the Ghia; a pair of Harma EL84Ls have also been fitted. All seems to be well, but I'll spring for an entirely new complement of valves asap. Once the consistency is back, so will my confidence in the CG25! I'll post some pictures of it; #11/50, and a 240V model for the UK bought from a seller who had sourced it from the sole UK importer, Peach Guitars. You'd be surprised how hard it can still be to get the 'right' gear here in Albion. Looking forward to a good run with the Ghia, and to taking it out for gigs; plenty of volume for the country soul 4 piece I play with...I have many questions still to ask, so bear with me!
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Post by heynewguy (Ol’ Bill) on May 4, 2014 12:46:41 GMT -7
John Priest of Peach Guitars is a great guy. Also a forum member here.
Got to meet him and hear him play at Z Fest. Also a great player.
Hoping your troubles are over.
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51d
Junior Member
Posts: 95
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Post by 51d on May 5, 2014 10:58:58 GMT -7
Well, despite the valve exchange, the amp works perfectly after fired up and then, irrespective of the period I'm plugged in and playing, STILL won't work again after the power is turned off - and then on again for the next session. This is VERY frustrating; I'll work through the trouble shooting routine again, but am beginning to get irritated. Any bright ideas or parallel experiences/fixes, please let me know!
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Post by bryan0418 on May 5, 2014 11:14:31 GMT -7
Make sure you are using "Slo Blo" fuses.
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51d
Junior Member
Posts: 95
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Post by 51d on May 7, 2014 12:03:44 GMT -7
Yes, I've definitely used the slo-blo type - but I have to ask whether Ghias/Dr Z amps are usually so sensitive? I've used Hiwatt, Fender, Mesa, Bad Cat, and THD (to name a few) with never one blown fuse experienced. PLEASE don't take this as a criticism of the Ghia- I love it - but I intend to use this amp live, not at home, and have to know I can trust it. So far, I'm thinking I perhaps can't...I can't help noticing that there are quite a few threads containing woesome tales of blown fuses, and general my amp has died' stories.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on May 7, 2014 12:43:58 GMT -7
Yes, I've definitely used the slo-blo type - but I have to ask whether Ghias/Dr Z amps are usually so sensitive? I've used Hiwatt, Fender, Mesa, Bad Cat, and THD (to name a few) with never one blown fuse experienced. PLEASE don't take this as a criticism of the Ghia- I love it - but I intend to use this amp live, not at home, and have to know I can trust it. So far, I'm thinking I perhaps can't...I can't help noticing that there are quite a few threads containing woesome tales of blown fuses, and general my amp has died' stories. That would be because those whose amps haven't blown any fuses seldom post that status. You only hear from those with a problem. I've gigged tube amps for 45 years, and my Z's have been utterly reliable >>once I got decent tubes in them<<Tubes are getting to be more and more difficult as new manufacture quality slides and NOS tubes are used up. Fact of life. |
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Post by nmz on May 7, 2014 14:38:46 GMT -7
Yes, I've definitely used the slo-blo type - but I have to ask whether Ghias/Dr Z amps are usually so sensitive? I've used Hiwatt, Fender, Mesa, Bad Cat, and THD (to name a few) with never one blown fuse experienced. PLEASE don't take this as a criticism of the Ghia- I love it - but I intend to use this amp live, not at home, and have to know I can trust it. So far, I'm thinking I perhaps can't...I can't help noticing that there are quite a few threads containing woesome tales of blown fuses, and general my amp has died' stories. Never had any fuse issues with any Z amps. Outside of a Mesa melting down on me once I never really had any fuse issues. Good luck, it sounds like a trip to Peach guitars is in your future. |
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Post by BritInvasion on May 7, 2014 18:03:52 GMT -7
One of the new output tubes is probably bad or well out of specification.
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51d
Junior Member
Posts: 95
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Post by 51d on May 8, 2014 14:55:52 GMT -7
OK; the replacement valves arrived today (TAD EL84STR/Phillips JAN 5Y3/Groove Tubes 12AX7M/NOS GE 5751, thus not a bad cross section of the kind of fuel these amps seem to prefer...oh, and a new pack of slo-blo 500mA fuses. Everything is carefully installed, and the butterscotch Tele thinks it's in business. BUT...nothing when the power is turned on. Although if a quick blo fuse is put in instead, the amp powers up! Won't turn on again once it's shut off of course, but sensing that this might be the case, the amp was left on with the new valves, and was judged to sound excellent...
So, if the problem appears to centre around the fuse, rather than the $150 of valves I've just paid for, what might the diagnosis be? I do appreciate that the answer might be 'take it to your nearest tech', but this is the UK, and we have only one (yes, one) Dr Z importer in this country - and whilst they're lovely guys and all that, their shop is in a field about one thousand miles from nowhere...so it's a commitment to get there, if there's no clear sense of what my CG25th is suffering from. Remember this Ghia is less than a year old...
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Post by bluzman on May 8, 2014 18:54:29 GMT -7
Are you using a 500mA fuse because of the higher input voltage on UK units?
Does it say 500mA under the fuse holder?
I almost positive my 25th Ghia uses a 1 Amp... but I'm in the US.
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51d
Junior Member
Posts: 95
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Post by 51d on May 8, 2014 23:06:57 GMT -7
Thanks for the response. Yes, it definitely says 500mA, and as I'm now getting desperate on this issue, I think I really will have to call the UK importers - or maybe even a swift call to the Dr Z works...?
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Post by bluzman on May 8, 2014 23:14:26 GMT -7
Yes do that....
BUT before you do that make sure you have the Rectifier tube properly in the socket. While they are "keyed" they often can go in wrong. This sounds like a tube issue.
Please keep us posted. I'm sure it will all be sorted out shortly!
Best of luck!
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Post by Alan M (aka 'Milky') on May 9, 2014 8:18:52 GMT -7
.........but this is the UK, and we have only one (yes, one) Dr Z importer in this country - and whilst they're lovely guys and all that, their shop is in a field about one thousand miles from nowhere...so it's a commitment to get there......... Huh?? I wouldn't say that 15 - 20 mins from London Stansted airport is "in a field 1000 miles from nowhere".  Anyways '51d', sorry to hear about the problems you're having and, as others have suggested, 95% of the time you will find that it's tube related. However, unless you're way up in the north or way out in the west country, a trip to Peach would be worthwhile (loads of really cool gear, and friendly guys too  ), or give John a call and perhaps send the amp via courier (not a risk if it's packaged properly) and get it checked out by the Dr Z experts. If Dr Z himself sees this thread, he may very well chime in with a diagnosis......! I have three Z amps and the only problems I have experienced (very rare) have been down to bad tubes (always carry spares with you). The Ghia is my #1 'go to' amp for gigs and studio work, so I hope you get yours sorted soon. |
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51d
Junior Member
Posts: 95
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Post by 51d on May 9, 2014 12:28:02 GMT -7
Thank you all for your interest in this problem of mine. The problem was the value of the fuse; whilst a 500mA doesn't work (although this is what it says you need on the back of the amp), and when replaced either blows - or doesn't work AT ALL - a 1 amp value is fine! Please read my new thread; the CG25th is back to sounding like the solution I wish I'd found a decade ago...sumptuous.
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), or give John a call and perhaps send the amp via courier (not a risk if it's packaged properly) and get it checked out by the Dr Z experts. If Dr Z himself sees this thread, he may very well chime in with a diagnosis......! 
