Power tube question *HELP

[Jak0lantern01]

I lost a solder joint the same way and the resistor fell out. It almost makes me want to run a fan behind the amp.

 

[Charlie]

I lost a solder joint the same way and the resistor fell out. It almost makes me want to run a fan behind the amp.

What kind of amp did that happen in?

One thing I don't like about the construction of Mesa's is that they don't bother flipping the chassis for a lot of their heads so all of the heat from the tubes and transformers goes right up into the circuit board and the rest of the amp.

I searched the internet for troubleshooting volume problems like I'm having and it seems that 9 out of 10 times it's a bad solder joint or a bad resistor.

 

[stokes]

you have to test it without the hotplate to determine if the amp itself has a problem or the problem is related to the hotplate/amp combination.It sounds like a heat related problem,and although a few people have said the hotplate does nothing to the amp,that isnt quite right.One big thing the hotplate does is cause everything in the amp to heat up more than normal because without it you would not turn the amps controls so high.That is why amp manufacturers will void a warranty if they know you use one.If the amp is getting so hot that components are desoldering,you should stop using it,getting the amp that hot is asking for some catastrophic problems.

 

[Charlie]

you have to test it without the hotplate to determine if the amp itself has a problem or the problem is related to the hotplate/amp combination.It sounds like a heat related problem,and although a few people have said the hotplate does nothing to the amp,that isnt quite right.One big thing the hotplate does is cause everything in the amp to heat up more than normal because without it you would not turn the amps controls so high.That is why amp manufacturers will void a warranty if they know you use one.If the amp is getting so hot that components are desoldering,you should stop using it,getting the amp that hot is asking for some catastrophic problems.

The amp initially got super-hot because of a bad tube that was red plating which has been replaced. I think that *may* have done some damage to the amp I'm not sure yet. This would have happened with or without the HotPlate. The problem with the volume loss is happening when the master volume on the amp is only set to about 9 o'clock so it isn't being pushed that hard.

 

[Jak0lantern01]

I have the Rectoverb combo with the upside down tubes. In other words, the heat goes right up to the circuit board. It's the primary reason why I stopped using EL34's in my amp, they go too hot for the amp's own good IMO.

 

[Guitarzan]

The amp initially got super-hot because of a bad tube that was red plating which has been replaced. I think that *may* have done some damage to the amp I'm not sure yet. This would have happened with or without the HotPlate. The problem with the volume loss is happening when the master volume on the amp is only set to about 9 o'clock so it isn't being pushed that hard.

Ouch, this is a quick way to damage transformers as well.

 

[Charlie]

Just a quick update - looks like my amp is fine.

Must have been a bad cable... scratchy volume pot or maybe something else but *KNOCK ON WOOD* I've been using it on and off for the last few weeks with the new power tubes and everything seems fine so far.

Kinda weird that it was consistantly losing volume after having it on for about a half hour three times in a row but I'm not complaining 'cuz it's working now!

:wink: