Weird smells from the Triple Rec.

[Abhorred]

After waiting for the tubes to arrive, I was finally able to get my new-to-me Triple Rec (3ch.) up and running tonight. This amp has had its shell get badly damaged (to the point of un-usability) in an earlier shipping accident, but its internals apparently checked out in the pre-sale look-over done by a local amp tech.

It played great, with no issues of sound dropping out, but there were also noticeable smells coming from both the (power and rectifier) tubes and both transistors - each had a distinct aroma, neither of which were comforting. I can see that some of the tube smell could be attributed to the glue connecting the glass to the plastic doing its first melt-in, but can't think of a similar reason for the transistors... There -is- a mysterious, yellow-ish substance on the one closest to the rectifier tubes, but I'm not sure what it is (no comments), or if it's something to simply "burn-off," while the other one has nothing noticeable on it and a slightly more metallic odour.

The previous owner suggests trying to remove the substance with a bit of Goo-Gone and see if the smells persist, but I wanted to get a second (and third, and fourth, etc.) opinion...

So... are they any acceptable smells, or is this one of those "uh-oh" moments in the making?

 

[screamingdaisy]

Sometimes tube amps smell a bit when you first light them up. Usually it's because the dust and/or finger oils that are on the tubes are being burnt off. This doesn't explain your mysterious yellow substance however.....

Any chance that what you're looking at is actually hot glue? It's not uncommon to use some to keep parts from vibrating against each other....

 

[Abhorred]

These smells persisted for the hour and a bit that I played it, but it was its first time being used in quite some time, and the first time with the new tubes.

I'll take a look at the yellow goo next time I'm near the amp (read: after dinner) and report back. For what it's worth, it's only on the top of the near-rectifiers transistor, not the sides. At this point, I'm more concerned about the metallic smell coming from the box nearest to the input.

Sometimes tube amps smell a bit when you first light them up. Usually it's because the dust and/or finger oils that are on the tubes are being burnt off. This doesn't explain your mysterious yellow substance however.....

Any chance that what you're looking at is actually hot glue? It's not uncommon to use some to keep parts from vibrating against each other....

 

[screamingdaisy]

For what it's worth, it's only on the top of the near-rectifiers transistor, not the sides.

You mean the transformer? (similar to the big black chunks of metal near the top of this amp)

 

[Elpelotero]

if the yellow goo is on the transformers, it's supposed to be there to protect them.

If it's somewhere else on the amp, chances are either that they were sloppy and some got smudged around, or there's a problem.

 

[dennq45]

New tubes smell. Its the glue that holds the base to the glass. It will pass.

 

[Abhorred]

Indeed, the smell did decrease over time... It's still somewhat present, but nothing that's making me worry.

Thanks, folks.