Hello, I have been using a Z28 for the last 5 years as my main amp. It has the 15th anniversary sticker on the back. Lately, I have not been enjoying its sound as much.
I have changed the power tubes a few times and always biased it correctly afterwards. I currently have JJs.
I have changed the screen grid resistors a couple of years ago after one of them blew (I used the correct parts).
The fuse was blowing repeatedly recently and I bought a new rectifier (JJ GZ34S) and rechecked the bias.
I changed the volume pot and got an Alpha pot identical to the ones in the amp.
I have a few EF86 tubes. They all sound a bit different.
I use two different cabs, one (V-boutique Vbox) has a Eminence Canabis Rex and the other (Dr. Z 1x12) has a WGS ET-65.
The amp seems really, really bright compared to when I got it. It also is way louder. I cannot turn it up at all. It is loud and bright right away.
Could the bright cap be defective and acting like a straight conductor in some way? A lot of people mention this amp being dark, mine is super bright!
Maybe the taper of the pot is wrong?
Any help or insight would be appreciated.
I can send pictures of the chassis if its helpful.