Author Topic: Martamp/Ceriatone Plexi!!! (Read 21637 times)

sgmypod · « **Reply #60 on:** June 20, 2008, 09:34:09 AM »

*L* ahh I see

MrBump · « **Reply #61 on:** June 25, 2008, 05:37:53 PM »

So how are we getting on here? Are we back up and running?

martinw · « **Reply #62 on:** June 25, 2008, 05:45:56 PM »

Sam is on hols and I have arranged to go down there as soon as he is back.

MrBump · « **Reply #63 on:** June 25, 2008, 06:00:43 PM »

Cool.

Can't be left in suspense like that!!!

Twinfan · « **Reply #64 on:** June 30, 2008, 12:21:43 PM »

Any update on the amp, Sam?

(Martin has headed down there to fit and re-bias new output valves today)

sambo · « **Reply #65 on:** June 30, 2008, 12:28:43 PM »

Martin should be arriving at around 1 today.

I'm still praying it's just the valve! :lol: :oops:

Twinfan · « **Reply #66 on:** June 30, 2008, 12:45:08 PM »

I'm sure it will be :)

If you're making him a cup of tea, he likes it strong. Too much milk in it and you'll upset him ;) :lol:

Let us know what the problem was and how it sounds when he's fixed it :D

sambo · « **Reply #67 on:** June 30, 2008, 12:48:04 PM »

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: !!!

Perhaps I'll stick with coffee, to be on the safe side... ? :lol:

Quote

Let us know what the problem was and how it sounds when he's fixed it

Will do! :D

Twinfan · « **Reply #68 on:** June 30, 2008, 01:06:15 PM »

Quote from: sambo

Perhaps I'll stick with coffee, to be on the safe side... ? :lol:

Yeah, he's a bit less fussy with coffee. Keep it strong though ;)

FELINEGUITARS · « **Reply #69 on:** June 30, 2008, 01:26:50 PM »

I am impressed with Martin's attention to detail and customer service ethic.

I am having him make me a special project for the workshop:
A low power power amp 10w and a rack case to go with it , so I can get rid of my Marshall JCM800 split channel(2205) which is just too loud for using in the workshop.

I will end up using several rack preamps (Soldano, Engl, Rocktron Pirhana and maybe an ADA MP1) via a TC effects unit and BBE and a mixer into the power amp.

The power amp will be single ended so I can change between different power tubes if I wish till I find the one that is my fave tonally.

Because I use Celestion sidewinders which are hugely efficient speakers (103db/m or whatever) every Watt seem to count double
So a 10w amp will still be blooming loud

sambo · « **Reply #70 on:** June 30, 2008, 03:29:12 PM »

Update:

Martin has just left after replacing and biasing the power valves. Amp is now in full working order! :D :D

Customer service at it's best, really; I can't thank him enough. :)

Also discussed a cab which is the next purchase on the cards, (to replace the (very) poor cab I'm having to run it through) which will hopefully be ordered in the near future.

Very happy!

:D

Twinfan · « **Reply #71 on:** June 30, 2008, 03:36:38 PM »

Top stuff Sam - turned out to just be a faulty valve then? A pain in the backside, but one of those things that can happen.

Martin's actually bought a valve tester now so he can check things more thoroughly before they go out, plus he's going to ship new amps with a few spare fuses just in case.

A matching cab will look, and sound, awesome. You'll not need another Plexi type amp ever again.

Can you get some sound clips done of the Tangerine Dream?

sambo · « **Reply #72 on:** June 30, 2008, 04:04:32 PM »

Quote from: Twinfan

Top stuff Sam - turned out to just be a faulty valve then?

Either just a faulty valve or Possibly something to do with the speaker cable I was using having a dodgy connection (doh!).

Quote

Can you get some sound clips done of the Tangerine Dream?

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Unfortunately not, I'm afraid. And they probably wouldn't do it justice even if I could, because of the shoddy cab. But some time when I have the new cab sorted out I'll look into getting an SM57 or something. :)

I have an urge to change my forum-name to Tangerine Dream now! :D :lol:

38thBeatle · « **Reply #73 on:** June 30, 2008, 04:22:00 PM »

Sam I am really pleased to see that you are up and running and that is extremely impressive customer service.

martinw · « **Reply #74 on:** June 30, 2008, 07:35:36 PM »

Quote from: Twinfan

Top stuff Sam - turned out to just be a faulty valve then? A pain in the backside, but one of those things that can happen.

Martin's actually bought a valve tester now so he can check things more thoroughly before they go out...

I think I'd prefer "even" more thoroughly! :D

Not sure a valve tester would have helped in this case, as the glass of the valve had cracked at the base, caused (probably) by the speaker cable being intermittent (actually completely o/c when we first powered the amp back up), thus leading to severe overheating and weakening of the envelope. It's also possible this was a structurally weaker or damaged valve, but not likely IMO.
In any case, my normal procedure of running the amp into a dummy load with a sine wave, measuring it's clean output power, checking all the appropriate voltages and playing the amp is pretty rigorous. The tester will help with matching, and detecting the very rare electronically weaker valve.

Glad it's all sorted out now Sambo, and good to meet you.