Lonestar Special rectifier tube mod

[adrianni]

Hello,
My Lonestar Special keeps burning the tube rectifier and fuse. Every other week or so. I understand that Mesa offers a mod to avoid this situation but I am not in the position to send the amp to Mesa for modification since I am in Romania. I tried various tubes, I ordered from TAD and they know about the LS problem with the rectifier tube. I installed the new set but the rectifier burned within a week. Replaced the rectifier but I noticed that the EL84 tube farthest from the 5Y3 was redplating. Is there something wrong with my amp? Any ideas?

 

[Don]

Swap the EL84 that's red plating to the EL84 socket farthest from it. Generally, if the redplate issue follows the tube, it's a tube issue, if it stays with the socket, it's an amp issue.

I don't know the details of the mod, but you could try an NOS 5Y3 or 5V4. They are much more robust than new rectifiers.