Nad! This one will make you guys laugh!

karpathion

karpathion

New member
I was in a pawn shop earlier today and saw a Crate GT500H. It had a $100 on it. I told the guy behind the counter that I had $75 in pocket, and he said, "Sold!"

From what I understand, this amp got a name change and makeover, and was called the Vintage Club, in early 2000. Same amp just a different look and name.

It has 4 brand new JJ 12ax7's in the pre, and what look like 4 old Phillips
6b5q's in the power section. Hell, the tubes are worth the 75 beans I paid for it!

Pretty cool little amp, believe it or not. The clean is as nice as can be expected, and the OD channel screams the 80's.

I'm about to break out my spandex, eyeliner, and hairspray, *****es! I'm gonna get my glam rock on! LOL!
 
Re: Nad! This one will make you guys laugh!

Just give until the marrow. I do believe I'm a bit trashed at the moment. It would be embarrassing if I tried right now.
 
Re: Nad! This one will make you guys laugh!

gibson175 said:
all toob for seventy five! sweet!
Click to expand...

I wouldn't say it's all that great.

I pulled it apart a couple hours ago, and found a few big ass electrolitics that are swelling up on the blowout end.

I can discharge them and cut out the silicone and replace 'em, I just don't have the time to do it right now.

The circuit is fine for the moment, but it's about to go into squeel mode if it doesn't get re-capped soon.

It's a damn shame... A 14 year old amp should not be showing the stretch marks that this young mamma is showing.

I really think someone ran it at the wrong impedance for too long and didn't know any better. I believe the trannies can take the abuse, but the components can't. The pcb is even starting to warp a little. " Not Much, but it does show signs of overheating."

I'm just gonna take it to a local and have him go through it. It may cost $40-$60 to fix it, but I think it's worth it.

If I have $150 in it when it's all said and done, I'll be happy.
 
Re: Nad! This one will make you guys laugh!

That could be from overheating. The Crate V Series Amps I have all run really hot, that amp might benefit from installing a fan.
 
Re: Nad! This one will make you guys laugh!

schecterplayer said:
That could be from overheating. The Crate V Series Amps I have all run really hot, that amp might benefit from installing a fan.
Click to expand...

That's just a side effect from cathode biased EL-84 amps. They run hot.

The caps are probably fine for now, but they will go bad, eventually.
It's the risk you take on these type of amps. They sound great, but they are not built to last. Plus, fans always make a litle noise. It doesn't matter where you pull your voltage from. You will hear it.
 
Re: Nad! This one will make you guys laugh!

A lot of capacitors won't last much longer than ten years these days.
I come across dodgy caps in Flat screen monitors fairly regularly. These are monitors probably only five to ten years old. They have high voltage caps in them too.
 
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