amp warmup problem

ggk · Goldfish Joined: 28 Apr 2003 Posts: 58

Hi,
just experiencing new problem with my laney VHR100 and honestly I don't know what to do. It happens that, when I warmup my amp, power + standby, took at least 15 minutes to start playing. I tryied to replace my power tubes with a new quartet...It worked fine for 3 days and then the same problem happened. What it could be? During the 15minutes of "warmup session", if I plug in my tele custom and if I push the volume at its maximum value I can hear a weak and ultradistorted signal then the signal become slowly higher and cleaner and after 15 minutes the sound is ok and I can start playing... I never had this kind of problem before and I don't know what it could be. any idea? hints?

thanks in advance for your help
ggk

Guest

It could very well be the tension on the individual pin sockets. Try carefully pushing each one towards it's own center. I also employ a high grade high conductance grease, ( very very small amount ) to the pins of all my tubes before I install them. Power amp tubes have thick heavy guage pins and if you push in your tubes in a crooked fashion you may create this problem. This can also occur if you swap tubes a lot. The tube pins themselves can become scored and burred but you said you tried a new quartet so I'd suggest you have a close and carefull look at the sockets first.

Try that and let us know what the results are.

Craig

khingpynn · Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2003 8:39 am Post subject:

TimC also mentioned this fix in the thread "best tube"

Craig
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ggk · Goldfish Joined: 28 Apr 2003 Posts: 58

Hi,
I tryied to check the pins during the problem I've had with a broken valve. I've also used a quartet of GT EL34 (pins are bigger) and I've had the same problem. I don't really know what it could be...valve seems to be hot anyway...

TimC · Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2003 6:01 am Post subject:

gg, how old is this amp? Just to be sure, try a new phase inverter tube. It sounds like some component is failing. When it fails completely, it should be easy to find.

ggk · Goldfish Joined: 28 Apr 2003 Posts: 58

tim, it's only 10months old...

TimC · Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2003 7:55 am Post subject:

gg, this sounds like a problem that would be covered under warranty if Laney has one. Of course if you've done any mods to the amp, you're probably not covered by warranty anymore.

ggk · Goldfish Joined: 28 Apr 2003 Posts: 58

tim,
I did not modify nothing on this amp at the moment...the real problem to bring it back to a Laney authorized dealer is all about the time I will be without an amp in this period...I have a couple of important gigs in a few week, so the better solution to play with my complete set-up (you know I usually use two amps, this laney and a marshall) is to try to fix it by myself...I'll soon try to change the phase inverter valve, then see what happens.

TimC · Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2003 5:06 pm Post subject:

gg, I wish we lived closer to each other. I've got an amp to loan you. Very Happy

ggk · Goldfish Joined: 28 Apr 2003 Posts: 58

fixed...I hate delayed fuses....