Carmen Ghia Tube Replacement

[nashman]

I broke a new tube trying to get the wire contraption back in place that hold the EL84. How is that thing supposed to work?

[John]

It's kind of hard to describe in print.

[purpletele]

Nashman,

The EL84 restraining clip can be troublesome.  You have just joined a club of guys that have had the same issue.  It usually only happens once.  I have treated the clip as a spring and I am careful to not push it place but rather try to stretch it into place without creating a force on the glass.

Good luck

[southmusic70]

Let me recommend my approach:

Don't try to fix anything; hire a professional.

It works every time and is never less than a bargain.

[purpletele]

Feb 3, 2016 15:58:56 GMT -7 southmusic70 said:

Let me recommend my approach:

Don't try to fix anything; hire a professional.

It works every time and is never less than a bargain.

I think you are so much better off in life when you recognize your own limitations and utilize the philosophy as stated above.

[southmusic70]

Thank you; it's also a hell of a lot less frustrating.

[purpletele]

I am on the other end of the spectrum. I am always pushing the envelope on what I can build or what I can repair.


The worst trait is the Tim Taylor disease.  I have to keep it in check and I don't touch my Z amps, except for the major cab change coming up for the Maz.  

I recently had an OCD pedal modified by JHS.  I have a circuit head buddy that told me I could make it really cool if I change the IC Chip.  I bought the parts and when I started I found the IC to be soldered to the board and not in a socket.  That put's the replacement at 50% success, and I succeeded in damaging a trace circuit.

So within 1/2 hour of receiving my newly modified pedal from JHS I wreaked some serious damage.  I know I should not have tried the chip change but I took a chance.

I sent the pedal to my Tube head buddy that suggested the change.  He was able to hard wire connections to the IC Chip socket which is quite phenomenal.  He also decided that we should change transistors to a germanium model xxyy.

Then end result is really a significantly upgrade that puts it into germanium based OD category and it has a smooth grit. 

Was it all worth it?  No, bad move.  However, I am fascinated with amplifying sound and all products associated, so I am stoked about the OCD and the Tim Taylor experiment.


 

[nashman]

Had, the tubes replaced professionally. Put a NOS 5V4 in the rectifier position,NOS EL84 installed, I noticed that the amp takes a little longer to come on, is that normal/

[premiumplus (Dave)]

It's probably just the rectifier tube taking a little longer to come up, I wouldn't worry about it. Unless we're talking minutes.