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Amp from 1975. Does it need new caps?

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Cameron Kinsey (gibson175)
Username: gibson175

Registered: 09-2007
Posted on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 - 07:26 pm:   

Hey all - just bought a 210 sixty five. The original MM speakers are dead and are being reconditioned. While waiting, I have run the amp thru my PA bin as well as a single 12inch boogie speaker and its sound is thick and fat with epic low end, but seems to distort at low/middle gain settings. Kind of raspy. If the treble is anywhere past 3 it sounds like refried snot. Plugged my gibson 175, '66 epiphone caiola and strat into it and can't really dial a good sound with any of them. I thought these were supposed to be killer clean machines. I may be spoiled by being a boogie user OR:
This amp is 32 years old....
Should I be getting it recapped as well as new tubes?
Mike Kaus (mm210)
Username: mm210

Registered: 05-2006
Posted on Thursday, September 13, 2007 - 04:33 am:   

Recapping would be the first thing I would do. Mke SURE that you get the bias caps replaced as well as the electrolytics on the main board(I think there are two on the main board). If you have the SS driver version, there are a couple on that board as well. There are a few(like mine) thatt start to break up early. My amp is usually full volume by 4 and after that is dirt. That's USUALLY loud! The tubes are probably suspect but do the caps first
Cameron Kinsey (gibson175)
Username: gibson175

Registered: 09-2007
Posted on Friday, September 14, 2007 - 12:49 am:   

Thanks Mike. I will replace the lot. I think the big brown ones have already been done, but I am taking no chances. It is the tube PI version and I don't want my own chernobyl!
Mike Kaus (mm210)
Username: mm210

Registered: 05-2006
Posted on Friday, September 14, 2007 - 04:11 am:   

If it IS the tube inverter, make sure that it is biased no warmer than 25mA PER TUBE. I really suggest a little cooler yet, like 22-23mA. I don't suggest the "-point Y measurement either. I suggest reading each tube seperately. Youcould have one hot tube and one cool tube.
Giorgio (giorgio)
Username: giorgio

Registered: 07-2007
Posted on Friday, September 14, 2007 - 05:15 pm:   

My suggest is: change one thing at once, step to step. Too much changes at the same time make a lot of confusion. This is the best way to reach "your" sound,