Author Topic: Orange Woes. (Read 4592 times)

MrBump · « **on:** March 08, 2008, 11:17:40 AM »

Damn it.

The Orange is f*cked.

Recording a nice clean, chorused piece, then loads of noise, then nothing...

Al the lights come on, the valves glow, but no sound.

There are two fuses in the one looks to have blown, the other has just dissolved! Think that I might need a pro to help.

So... who can recommend a good valve amp repair-person, preferably in the South East? Anyone with vintage Orange experience?

Mark.

Bird · « **Reply #1 on:** March 08, 2008, 02:45:48 PM »

I'd try replacing the fuses first. I had a marshall that used to go through them like nobody's business.

MrBump · « **Reply #2 on:** March 08, 2008, 02:58:52 PM »

Yeah, done that, it worked for a bit, then blew the fuses again...

I think it needs an MOT - been a few years.

Adam.M · « **Reply #3 on:** March 08, 2008, 06:41:36 PM »

Sounds like a tube is on it's way out? I hear of some valve amps having fuses as a fail safe, before the tube goes the fuse goes.

MrBump · « **Reply #4 on:** March 08, 2008, 08:08:11 PM »

Yeah, posted on the Orange amp forum and one of the moderators there suggested that this might be the case. Also, he gave me the details of an amp repair bloke in North Essex, so I've put a call into him to see if he can give the old girl an overhall...

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #5 on:** March 08, 2008, 08:46:15 PM »

here's an easy way to check if it's one of the valves (which it's 99% certain to be)... take the EL34s out, replace the fuses, then turn the amp on. If the fuses don't blow, it's a dodgy valve.

Spitfire · « **Reply #6 on:** March 09, 2008, 03:20:58 PM »

my ad3TC blew a fuse not too long after i got hold of it... not that this helps you, id change the fuse first.. then if it goes again take it in to get checked out

MrBump · « **Reply #7 on:** March 16, 2008, 05:34:28 PM »

OK, so the old girl has gone in for repair. My clinical obsession with volume is now being satisfied by by Peavey Bandit 65 circa 1988...

I feel really odd handing my amp over to a complete stranger (albeit someone pretty well know in the industry). It's like giving away one of my kids.

We opened up the amp in his workshop, and there were a few obvious problems - the power tubes looked to be completely shot, although the pre-amp tubes looked fine. There was debris around many of the components on the board, looked like some arcing had taken place, although he seemed to think that the transformes were in good condition.

I'm getting him to put a switch in it to disable a couple of the power tubes, halving the power - quite excited about this, as it never really makes it past 1 on the dial, and I want to turn to 11...

Miss my amp though...

Mark.

MrBump · « **Reply #8 on:** March 19, 2008, 06:21:19 PM »

... actually, the Blackstar HT Dual into the front of the OD channel of the Peavey sounds kinda cool...

:)

Adam.M · « **Reply #9 on:** March 19, 2008, 10:15:26 PM »

Do some clips, i need to hear more of this HT Dual! :twisted:

MrBump · « **Reply #10 on:** April 06, 2008, 12:44:37 PM »

Oh my word.

Just got the amp back...

I cannot believe how it sounds. Straight away, there was more clarity to the sound. But it was also breaking up, harmonically, at relatively low volumes (although my right ear is ringing right now...). I've just been playing through the low input jack, with the volume at nearly 10 o'clock (and that's where it starts to hurt). The tone is huge! I didn't bother with my Blackstar HT Dual, didn't need to - I've always used the green channel to get that plexi-type break up. Here, I have it straight into the amp. If I want clean, just back off the guitar volume. I was even using the split coil settings on my Charvel/Nailbombs, and getting SRV, Rory Gallagher, even (dare I say) Hendrix!!!

I took it to a guy called John Cooper, who does amp repairs for Robbie Gladwell (Dr Robert from Guitarist magazine), and I can't recommend him highly enough. He's a real old school engineer, brilliant bloke. He was going to put a power reduction switch in it but didn't in the end, just dropped out two of the EL34s. Relplaced loads of stuff on the board that was broken or incorrectly fitted (

).

God, it's amazing. I'm taking 3 days off next week, I think that I'm going to record something old school with it, some Peter Green or something. It is just sounding so perfect!

I'm a happy guy!

PS - never mind all the old school stuff, I also pushed the HT Duals red channel through it... :twisted: Un-F$£king-Believable.

Need to go. Wife and kids are about to kill me.

Mark.