Okay, so I'm not sure if this is where this post belongs since it's not exactly urgent, but it is a request for help! A bit of a long request to make my ignorance known. (Skip ahead for TL;DR if you're lazy)
So, I was playing on the amp about two years ago, jamming out having fun etc. Well I wanted to play with the foot pedal, so I reached back into the cab to fish it out, and felt something round and made of a hard material resting in the bottom. I don't remember what I thought it was, only that at the time I thought I knew what it was. So I disregarded it, and a few days/weeks later the amp started sounding noticeably worse. I remembered the thing in the back of the amp and dug it out, my fingers mentally crossed, and sure enough one of my 2 6L6GC tubes just -fell out-.
I turned off and unplugged my amp, tilting it forward on its face to figure out how to get the tube back in. Since it had apparently come out without my knowledge, I didn't know which way it was supposed to fit. I was looking for markings, or something, which I couldn't find on the loose tube. So I reached in and pulled out the other tube, immediately turning it around looking for a marking, almost immediately realizing my mistake. I also noticed at this point that the plastic center post on the tube I had removed was broken off (The part of the tube that was apparently being protected by the center post was intact, it was only the black plastic part that broke off). I did not, however, notice that the first tube's center post had a notch designed to make it only fit into the socket one way. So, I assumed (VERY WRONGLY, I now know) that they just go in however. So I put them back in however.
I turned the amp on, watching the power light come on as I do so. I turn to boot up my amp/cab modelling program on my PC, and within seconds I get a hint of a smell. I recognize it instantly as "stuff going wrong" and turn to notice the power light on my amp had gone off(power switch still on), and a bit of smoke was wafting up from the back. Power off, plug out, stood up in case I needed to grab a fire extinguisher since I had no idea what was going to happen, which turned out to be nothing else. It's now sat for two years, me too lazy to look into fixing it until now.
TL:DR - 6L6GC Tube fell out, I plugged it back in wrong, amp's power light goes out and smoke starts coming from the back.
So... My question: Are the problems my amp now has limited to the one improperly-inserted tube, or could it have damaged other components?
Thanks in advance for having the patience to read through my rambling story of cringe-worthy idiocy(or for skipping to the TL;DR bit), and for any help offered!
-Kevin
RD 50
Well, that COULD be bad. Depending on which direction you plugged it in, all sorts of things could have fried. This is one that I will suggest going to a professional for. There are too many things that COULD have been damaged from the drivers to the transformers and they all need to be checked before firing it up again. You MIGHT get lucky but honestly, I doubt it. The fact that you SMELLED something burned, usually indicates that it's fried somewhere. At the least, you fried a couple or resistors on the sockets, if I had to guess. Mike.
RD 50
Ah. Well here's another question. Is it possible the tube could have survived being inserted incorrectly? It was only receiving power for a handful of seconds.
Also, does anyone happen to know a qualified tech in the Houston area?
Thanks again!
-Kevin
Tube depends on where it was
Tube depends on where it was plugged in. You send 700v through the filaments, they are toast. Don't know anybody in Houston but make sure they are familiar with MM. They ARE different than your run of the mill fender amp. Especially since they are SS driver amps.
Benton Electronics
I can highly recommend George Benton. 281-479-3939.
Sincerely,
Lars Verholt
Definitely take it to a Tech!
I wouldn't be worrying about that broken tube... a tube without it's key is a disaster waiting to happen and you just found that out the hard way. Never re-use a tube like this or you might do it all over again! Smoke is ALWAYS bad and it needs to be looked at by a professional. You should be budgeting for a new matched pair of output tubes in addition to repairing whatever smoked.
The tube fell out for a couple of reasons... first, if the output tubes had been repeatedly inserted and removed (or bent) without exercising due care the the sockets for the pins got stretched and by themselves could not hold the tube into the inverted socket. The center core of the base (that has the key on it) also provides a little tension to keep the tube in place. When this broke on your tube, it simply fell out of the socket! This illustrates how the original issues (lack of care in tube handling and regular maintenance) compounded over time to create the situation you find yourself in now. We all end up paying for our own education!
This sort of failure is why I ALWAYS suggest that you NEVER store your footswitch in the back of the amp unless you keep it upright at all times. NEVER lay it down on its back or sides because a footswitch will damage or wipe-out a tube in a heartbeat!
Your tube sockets will also need to be re-tensioned (or replaced if arcing occurred) and I would suggest that your tech install some spring-retainer clips on your sockets to help keep the output tubes well seated once the repair process is done.
Steve