Right, latest installment !
I've organised for Steve at Steve's Amps, in Godalming to sort it out.
It'll definately need a new set of EL34's and I would like a full cap job done anyway, as a problem-preventing thing for the future. Also, he can troubleshoot any other problems for me.
If I don't get the amp sorted and never hear it at it's best, I will never know if a 2204 is the "one", the ideal amp for me. I'm pretty close in my amp search with my 1987 but, as I'm trying to find my perfect amp "soulmate" I really do need to try a fully functioning 2204.
So in the end, I'll have a fully functioning (almost "reconditioned") amp, still all for less than £500.
If after all that I STILL don't like it, then it will be a very saleable amp I think. I'll have the receipts to prove that it's just been fully gone over, so it should be pretty attractive to a potential buyer.