Old Amp Issues

[TomT]

I just got an electric guitar over the weekend. I'm on a tight budget so I found this banged up black and gold Epiphone Les Paul that just plain rocks. Long story short, I've been playing acoustic for the past twenty years and my old Peavy Renown amplifier has been sitting all that time. So I fired it up and rediscoved a problem I had with it back in the day and never resolved.

Every time I adjust the gain knob, the amp crackles and spits very badly. Plus, I have to keep adjusting it just right because the signal loses power or cuts out almost completely. There's a pre and post gain so if I get the post just right, I can turn the volume up and down just fine with the pre gain.

Down the road I have some serious equipment upgrades I need to do but the amp has an excellent sound when it's behaving and I wanted to take a solid crack at fixing it. I'm trying to do these repairs myself because again...budget, budget, budget.

So I've been looking without a great deal of luck for some websites that might help or if anyone here could throw in their two cents that would be great too. I just want to get an idea of what i'm getting into before I start taking it apart.

[john]

Sounds like you need to get the gain pot (potentiometer) replaced. Sometimes they can be cleaned but usually you are simply better to replace it. It shouldn't be expensive. If you are competent with electronics you could do it yourself, however if not I would recommend that you put it into a shop. Amps contain various capacitors that are dangerous as they can contain a lethal charge long after power down, so better safe than sorry.

Component wise it's likely to cost less than $20. Labour wise it's likely to be a 30 minute job.

I used to have a Peavy Renown. Great transistor amp!

[TheOminouseRecreation]

yeah you can get silicon spray that fills in coroded gaps in the Pot, but its definetly better to replace it if its that old.

[TomT]

Thanks. Yeah, I suppose this might not be the best time to start experimenting with electronics if there's the possibility of being zapped like that. Still, it doesn't sound like majorly expensive surgery so I don't feel that badly about taking it to the shop.

[Xenicus]

Yeah I had the same problem with my Fender BXR. I had to change the pots on it and clean the eq with spray. If you like the amp it is more than worth being reunited with an old friend! Works great now

Brian

[Xenicus]

But like John said sometimes your better off taking to a pro and be safe!

 

[Rudi]

I keep on of those switch cleaner sprays in my gig bag but have only used it acouple of times (in 14 years).

 

Sprays are ok as a temporary measure, but I agree that the pot should be replaced (no I wouldnt do it either).