aspen pittman tube amp book
- Thread starter esandes
- Start date
Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: aspen pittman tube amp book
absolutely. My old amps needed and benefitted from swaps.
absolutely. My old amps needed and benefitted from swaps.
schecterplayer
New member
Re: aspen pittman tube amp book
I've always heard that you want to check the caps about once a decade. Electrolytic cap values slowly drift over time, especially if the amp isn't being used.
I've always heard that you want to check the caps about once a decade. Electrolytic cap values slowly drift over time, especially if the amp isn't being used.
Last edited:
LReese
Sausage Gravy
Re: aspen pittman tube amp book
I'm not a tech so take this with a grain of salt....
Newer manufactured caps should last longer than old originals. Replacing about every decade should be a bit much. I've read 20 to 30 years. Of course, replace when you see signs of failure, leaking or bubbling on the ends regardless of age.
Also take heed to the warning of the high voltages.
I'm not a tech so take this with a grain of salt....
Newer manufactured caps should last longer than old originals. Replacing about every decade should be a bit much. I've read 20 to 30 years. Of course, replace when you see signs of failure, leaking or bubbling on the ends regardless of age.
Also take heed to the warning of the high voltages.
schecterplayer
New member
Re: aspen pittman tube amp book
To clarify, you probably won't need to replace them every decade, but it would be a good idea to check your component values about that often to make sure things are still in good working order.
To clarify, you probably won't need to replace them every decade, but it would be a good idea to check your component values about that often to make sure things are still in good working order.
glassman
Electron Herder
Re: aspen pittman tube amp book
As a guy that has changed a LOT of caps over the years...I'd have to say it depends on a lot of factors.
Generally speaking, the lower the rating temperature, the longer the cap will last. I have personal equipment with low temp metal cans that are over 50 years old that function perfectly. I still get the occasional late 60's amp with original caps that don't need replacing. A little relaxatiion in value can really sound good but it depends on the circuit it filters.
Newer caps are less predictable and they tend to fail before their value reduces. I used to replace the Mallory caps in old Fender amps at 30 years and LCR caps in old Marshall amps at about 20 years...today's caps don't have the same indicators of imminent failure like the older ones, at least as I've found.
All in all, I really don't see a lot of cap failures but replacing every 10 years is way excessive.
As a guy that has changed a LOT of caps over the years...I'd have to say it depends on a lot of factors.
Generally speaking, the lower the rating temperature, the longer the cap will last. I have personal equipment with low temp metal cans that are over 50 years old that function perfectly. I still get the occasional late 60's amp with original caps that don't need replacing. A little relaxatiion in value can really sound good but it depends on the circuit it filters.
Newer caps are less predictable and they tend to fail before their value reduces. I used to replace the Mallory caps in old Fender amps at 30 years and LCR caps in old Marshall amps at about 20 years...today's caps don't have the same indicators of imminent failure like the older ones, at least as I've found.
All in all, I really don't see a lot of cap failures but replacing every 10 years is way excessive.
