Do solid state amps need maintenance?
- Thread starter Willy25
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NegativeEase
New member
Re: Do solid state amps need maintenance?
Not regular maintenance or health checks like a tube amp.
The 1/4" jacks should be cleaned every year or two with De-oxit or similar electronic connector cleaner -or Isopropyl alcohol and maybe the fuse swapped after many years, but unless it's making noise from aging caps etc, I'd say there's not much to do -maybe clean the grill cloth, maybe gently clear the speaker of dust build up after years, check the speaker connections. I don't believe their are any analog pots on the face either, just digital controllers -so no pots to clean either.
Not regular maintenance or health checks like a tube amp.
The 1/4" jacks should be cleaned every year or two with De-oxit or similar electronic connector cleaner -or Isopropyl alcohol and maybe the fuse swapped after many years, but unless it's making noise from aging caps etc, I'd say there's not much to do -maybe clean the grill cloth, maybe gently clear the speaker of dust build up after years, check the speaker connections. I don't believe their are any analog pots on the face either, just digital controllers -so no pots to clean either.
NecroPolo
New member
Re: Do solid state amps need maintenance?
Hell yeah.
Checking / changing crackling pots, switches, jack slots, suspicious condensers and cracks on the mainboard e.t.c. They are less of a headache and break less frequently in my experience but still require some care to run long and happy.
Hell yeah.
Checking / changing crackling pots, switches, jack slots, suspicious condensers and cracks on the mainboard e.t.c. They are less of a headache and break less frequently in my experience but still require some care to run long and happy.
80's_Metal
Underglazed Hair Metalologist
Re: Do solid state amps need maintenance?
They Only need maintenance after I use em....
They Only need maintenance after I use em....
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Do solid state amps need maintenance?
For the record, your amp would be considered digital, not solid state.
For the record, your amp would be considered digital, not solid state.
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Do solid state amps need maintenance?
The shared parts between tube and solid state amps can have the same problems on both types. Obviously tube amps have parts that solid state amps do not have, and these parts need periodic replacement; that doesn't really exist in solid state amps. But you do still have to worry about standard upkeep of the components of the amp. E.g. jacks, pots, etc. That stuff can crap out on any type of "actual" (i.e. not "virtual") amp.
The shared parts between tube and solid state amps can have the same problems on both types. Obviously tube amps have parts that solid state amps do not have, and these parts need periodic replacement; that doesn't really exist in solid state amps. But you do still have to worry about standard upkeep of the components of the amp. E.g. jacks, pots, etc. That stuff can crap out on any type of "actual" (i.e. not "virtual") amp.
NegativeEase
New member
Re: Do solid state amps need maintenance?
OP, People are overthinking this becuase they aren't realizing the amp you have. It's a composite digital/solid state amp -the knobs are encoder knobs not audio pots -so refer to my original post. Literally the only maintenance until something fails or the amp is getting noisy is cleaning the grill cloth and exterior tolex and cleaning the 1/4" jacks with isopropyl alcohol or de-oxit once a year
trust me -that's it -for what you have. no worries!
Have a blast -you have a cool little amp.
OP, People are overthinking this becuase they aren't realizing the amp you have. It's a composite digital/solid state amp -the knobs are encoder knobs not audio pots -so refer to my original post. Literally the only maintenance until something fails or the amp is getting noisy is cleaning the grill cloth and exterior tolex and cleaning the 1/4" jacks with isopropyl alcohol or de-oxit once a year
trust me -that's it -for what you have. no worries!
Have a blast -you have a cool little amp.
ehdwuld
A Ficus
Re: Do solid state amps need maintenance?
Unplug it during storms
It could be damaged by lightning and such
It could be damaged by low voltage as well like brown outs
The speaker is designed for a modeling amp
And swapping the speaker may not have the desired effect
Dont hose it down like you would an automobile
Take care.when riding it down wheelchair ramps on its casters
Ok I'm just trying to think of all the ways I've seen solid state amps fail
Unplug it during storms
It could be damaged by lightning and such
It could be damaged by low voltage as well like brown outs
The speaker is designed for a modeling amp
And swapping the speaker may not have the desired effect
Dont hose it down like you would an automobile
Take care.when riding it down wheelchair ramps on its casters
Ok I'm just trying to think of all the ways I've seen solid state amps fail
NegativeEase
New member
smitty302
New member
Re: Do solid state amps need maintenance?
I bought a Peavey Bandit 75 brand new in 1987, it was my first amp. I've never done one thing to it despite years of total abuse. It's been loaned out countless times. One time I found out a guy used it for a bass amp at a gig because his amp blew, I was pissed. But it still sounds just like it did 32 year's ago.
I bought a Peavey Bandit 75 brand new in 1987, it was my first amp. I've never done one thing to it despite years of total abuse. It's been loaned out countless times. One time I found out a guy used it for a bass amp at a gig because his amp blew, I was pissed. But it still sounds just like it did 32 year's ago.
ibanezrocks
HardtailPisser
Re: Do solid state amps need maintenance?
Unless it breaks, leave it alone. You're more likely to break it doing "maintenance" than actually help anything.
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+1
Unless it breaks, leave it alone. You're more likely to break it doing "maintenance" than actually help anything.
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Nostalgic Distortion
New member
Nostalgic Distortion
New member
Re: Do solid state amps need maintenance?
To answer your question, no not unless you are experiencing problems...
To answer your question, no not unless you are experiencing problems...
Re: Do solid state amps need maintenance?
I recently got a 2nd hand 1997 Marshall Valvestate II VS65R. I know this is a hybrid amp with an ECC83 in the preamp and a solid state "everything else". I got lucky with it because everything is solid on the PCB.
But I looked into changing the stock tube to a JJ ECC83s. I found a D-Lab Electronics maintenance vid on YT to help me out (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIqtvDH9pkk). The main problem with the amp in the vid is from connections breaking on the PCB after a good number of years. I would imagine this is the same for most SS and Valve amps when they get old. The soldering repairs in this vid are probably closer to a professional level, but they are something to think about with an older amp.
I recently got a 2nd hand 1997 Marshall Valvestate II VS65R. I know this is a hybrid amp with an ECC83 in the preamp and a solid state "everything else". I got lucky with it because everything is solid on the PCB.
But I looked into changing the stock tube to a JJ ECC83s. I found a D-Lab Electronics maintenance vid on YT to help me out (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIqtvDH9pkk). The main problem with the amp in the vid is from connections breaking on the PCB after a good number of years. I would imagine this is the same for most SS and Valve amps when they get old. The soldering repairs in this vid are probably closer to a professional level, but they are something to think about with an older amp.
Last edited:
Gtrjunior
New member
Re: Do solid state amps need maintenance?
I didn’t watch the vid but is the connections issue due to changing the preamp tube?
You should just be able to pull it out and push a new one in.
I didn’t watch the vid but is the connections issue due to changing the preamp tube?
You should just be able to pull it out and push a new one in.
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