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Post by steamroller on Jan 29, 2021 13:58:46 GMT -7
Well about 2 or 3 weeks ago my Z-Plus got a little noisey, I shut it down, powered it up and all was good. About a week later I blew a fuse, no problem really, first blown fuse since it's Feb. 2020 manufacturing date. I replaced the fuse and all was well! A week more, another blown fuse. I replaced this fuse and all is well again. But we know it isn't don't we? What do you think about this? This is my first amp. so I don't have personal experience to rely on. I play every day twice a day for a minimum of two hours (usage info.) It has not blown a fuse while playing. It has not blown a fuse at startup. I have not noticed if the fuse fails before or after standby activation. Any help is appreciated!
-steamroller-
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Post by DRZ on Jan 29, 2021 14:54:03 GMT -7
99% of the time if a fuse blows after engaging the Stand-By switch it is a small arc in your rectifier tube that blows the fuse. You have a marginal rectifier , that is my best guess. DR.Z
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Post by zpilot on Jan 29, 2021 14:56:14 GMT -7
Most likely a rectifier arcing and needs replacement. Pretty common with new rectifiers. The only real long term fix is to find a good NOS tube. Bite the bullet, pay the price and you probably will never have to replace it again. Also, this is good general info for reference, and not just for Dr Z amps: drzamps.com/info/faq-troubleshoot/
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Post by steamroller on Jan 29, 2021 17:31:14 GMT -7
Thank you so much for the responses. If I go with NOS tube will it change the tone or touch sensitivity? I just love everything about this amplifier, I could live with replacing rectifier occasionally- I don't gig or anything.
-steamroller-
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Post by steamroller on Jan 30, 2021 3:03:59 GMT -7
UPDATE!
I just now powered up my amp everything seemed fine. I flipped on the standby and the fuse blew immediately! Now I know, a rectifier may be functional but still be bad. If I had more experience with this I might have observed something wrong with my rectifier tube, I will pay attention when I flip that power/ standby switches too. Shopping for a 5AR4. I think I will order a set of power tubes-just in case.
-steamroller- Thank you DR Z and zpilot
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Post by DRZ on Jan 30, 2021 3:52:19 GMT -7
Thank you so much for the responses. If I go with NOS tube will it change the tone or touch sensitivity? I just love everything about this amplifier, I could live with replacing rectifier occasionally- I don't gig or anything. -steamroller- Please understand steamroller, any tube change to a different brand/type will effect the sound of a tube amp. Most of the time it will very minute , but a change all the same, depends on how hard you want to try and find the difference. Many of my " Golden Eared friends " will explain the many differences in extreme ways. While others just enjoy their amp working and play music. If I may suggest NOS tubes in general are very expensive, becoming more and more rare , a crap shoot at best , and if I may I DO NOT buy NOS tubes off the internet. For an example I have boxes of very expensive NOS EF 86's that are useless and can not be used in guitar amp. But on the other side most NOS rectifiers function well, last, and add a rich tone to most Z Amps. If I were you I would purchase a couple Sino 5AR4's , that is what is stock in a Z Plus and be good for many years. A NOS Mullard 5AR4 / GZ 34 will cost you well over $100.00 if you can find a real NOS one. DR.Z
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Post by steamroller on Jan 30, 2021 10:01:16 GMT -7
So, Shu Guang 5AR4 it is! One other question, is a Sino 5AR4 a brand or is this speaking to origin? Sorry, this is all new to me.
-steamroller-
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Post by DRZ on Jan 30, 2021 10:10:13 GMT -7
So, Shu Guang 5AR4 it is! One other question, is a Sino 5AR4 a brand or is this speaking to origin? Sorry, this is all new to me. -steamroller- They are the OEM. They might be rebranded as all vacuum tubes are , Sino is the source.
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Post by DeanG on Jan 30, 2021 20:10:19 GMT -7
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