Mike Lindsey Posted November 12, 2006 Author Share Posted November 12, 2006 Yes, if I put my hands on both sides of the transformer it would stop buzzing. Sometimes it would stop temporarily... other times for the remainder of the day. Hope you're right about the tube issue... I'll let you know. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOSValves Posted November 12, 2006 Share Posted November 12, 2006 Switch all the tubes from the amp that have never made the noise when you fire them back up. If the original noisy amp remains noisy then send it up here. Oh and when switching all these tubes check the bias on both amps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Lindsey Posted November 12, 2006 Author Share Posted November 12, 2006 Switch all the tubes from the amp that have never made the noise when you fire them back up. If the original noisy amp remains noisy then send it up here. Oh and when switching all these tubes check the bias on both amps. Will do... as a matter of fact I'll switch them now while waiting on the 5AR4, and then will bias after getting it. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben. Posted November 12, 2006 Share Posted November 12, 2006 Dude, no excuse for going without music in this situation - you've got a mono switch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garymd Posted November 12, 2006 Share Posted November 12, 2006 Mike, What kind of tube tester are you using? What all does it measure? garymd, What would cause a fuse to blow in the VRD other than a dead short? [*-)] Chops, I think one of my output tubes had a bad connection. I tightened the pin sockets and the problem seemed to go away. I have about 10 spare fuses. As long as the fuse goes and not the Mullard 5AR4, I'll be a happy camper. [] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Lindsey Posted November 13, 2006 Author Share Posted November 13, 2006 Mike, What kind of tube tester are you using? What all does it measure? It's a B&K something or other... I'll get you the answers when I get home. BTW, I bought this for $5 at a garage sale a few years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan Songer Posted November 13, 2006 Share Posted November 13, 2006 A buzzing transformer is something you shouldn't live with for 30 seconds!! But then I have never seen (heard?) one that stopped buzzing when you put your hands on it! Sounds a bit like faith healing to me!! Box it up, ship it to Craig and have it checked out. There is something wrong--probably more than just a bad tube since you've burned through a couple of rectifiers in a short time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kudret Posted November 13, 2006 Share Posted November 13, 2006 Yes, if I put my hands on both sides of the transformer it would stop buzzing. Sometimes it would stop temporarily... other times for the remainder of the day. I had a similar situation and slightly tightening the laminations solved the problem. It could be as simple as that. Kudret Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Lindsey Posted November 13, 2006 Author Share Posted November 13, 2006 Yes, if I put my hands on both sides of the transformer it would stop buzzing. Sometimes it would stop temporarily... other times for the remainder of the day. I had a similar situation and slightly tightening the laminations solved the problem. It could be as simple as that. Kudret What or where are the laminations? Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOSValves Posted November 13, 2006 Share Posted November 13, 2006 Yes, if I put my hands on both sides of the transformer it would stop buzzing. Sometimes it would stop temporarily... other times for the remainder of the day. I had a similar situation and slightly tightening the laminations solved the problem. It could be as simple as that. Kudret What or where are the laminations? Mike Mike, He means the 4 machine screws and nuts that hold the transformer itself together. Very doubtful that its the problem but you can give it a try without any ill effects possible. Just tighten the nuts as tight as you can get them with a nut driver. You most likely will need a screw driver to keep from turning the machine screw along with the nut. Which transformer is it by the way? One is slightly larger lamination wise then the other. Is it the smaller of the two or the larger? Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kudret Posted November 13, 2006 Share Posted November 13, 2006 What or where are the laminations? Four screws, one at each corner. Kudret Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Lindsey Posted November 13, 2006 Author Share Posted November 13, 2006 Thanks! I'll check them when I get home. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark1101 Posted November 13, 2006 Share Posted November 13, 2006 Mike, About the buzzing tranformer.....is it buzzing through the speakers, or is it a mechanical buzz you hear if your ear is up close to it (but not sounding through the speakers)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Lindsey Posted November 13, 2006 Author Share Posted November 13, 2006 The buzzing is from the transformer itself... the noise does not come thru the speaker. I can faintly hear the buzz sometimes from 8 feet away when there is a quiet passage between records. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebes Posted November 13, 2006 Share Posted November 13, 2006 I told you those VRD's were a piece of junk. Didn't I offer you to trade them even up for my bogen monos, 100 watts per side versus those wimpy 40 watts or so. Craig's a visgoth too. Probably assembles them with a cudgel. Sweet, sweet Bogen. Hexfreds instead of those tube rectifiers. Restored by Thebes himself to exacting standards of exalted craftsmanship. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Lindsey Posted November 13, 2006 Author Share Posted November 13, 2006 I told you those VRD's were a piece of junk. Didn't I offer you to trade them even up for my bogen monos, 100 watts per side versus those wimpy 40 watts or so. 60... but who's counting? [] Sweet, sweet Bogen. Hexfreds instead of those tube rectifiers. Restored by Thebes himself to exacting standards of exalted craftsmanship. Ahhh, Thebes, miss you buddy... where you been lately? Hope you've been staying busy and staying out of trouble. Let me know when it gets too cold up there and you want to come down for a few days. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben. Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 Wasn't Rusty Lams a blues singer from the 30's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erik Mandaville Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 "Quit buying the Sovteks -- they are pure unadulterated junk." Well, sorry to have to be on the other side yet again, but I've had Sovteks that gave good performance for literally years without a single problem. I find their output voltage to run a little lower than some, including Mullards and some others, but I've never had one simply fail, and in fact ordered a couple of extra for the Moth amp during the summer. I think it's important to retain the subjective aspect of all of this. I agree that the newer Chinese 5AR4s or rugged, seemingly well-made rectifiers, but I haven't found your evalutation of the Sovtek versions to be the case. Erik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deang Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 Seems you and Craig are in agreement. Uh, has that ever happened before? Hey everyone -- bookmark this thread!! Maybe Parts Express got a bad batch of them. I had a situation similar to Mikes and went through four of them over two weeks time. I went to Rubys and haven't had a problem since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fini Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 Wasn't Rusty Lams a blues singer from the 30's? Yes, most famous for his single, "Bogen Monos." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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