Doh! Day wasted or learning experience?

[mhartman]

I guess it all goes back to keep it simple. Yesterday I finished up my Bluesmaster build (C'tone kit with Classictone iron). After reviewing everything and doing the lightbulb limiter checks, I fired it up and started taking voltage readings -- they were all incredibly high (6L6 plates reading around 700V and all others more than 100V too high). So, I went back and checked and rechecked everything and couldn't find anything wrong. After several hours of Googling, tracing wires, thinking and "troubleshooting", I noticed the "low battery indicator" on my meter. Once I replaced the battery, all of the voltages were spot on.

Oh well, I was happy to resolve the "problem", but a bit mad at myself for ignoring the obvious. By the time I figured everything out, it was too late to really crank it up, but it sounded good at bedroom levels and everything seems to be working well. I can't wait to get out of work tonight, tweak it a bit and hear it cracked.

All in all, I guess my time wasn't completely wasted. All of the troubleshooting really forced me learn and understand what's happening through the power supply side of the amp, which makes it even more fun.

[Structo]

Oh yeah!
Been there, done that!

I once thought I blew an output transformer in my 50w.
I had done some minor tone tweaks and went to try them out.
Turned on the amp and didn't have any output.
Nada, zero....
After spending about 30 minutes trouble shooting I was wiggling wires and bumped the speaker cable and got some noise.....

As it turned out, for some reason the speaker cable had taken that opportunity to break.
It was one of those cheap Marshall molded end cables that came with an amp.

Sometimes we forget the simple things and expect a much more complex problem.

Please tell us about your new amp and show some pictures.
There has been some renewed interest in the Bluesmaster amps.

[talbany]

I had a good friend call me yesterday with a problem getting the tubes biased..Turned out to be a low battery in his bias rite meter..Don't forget to freshen those up if you have them as well!!..

Good Luck with the amp!!

Tony

[sonicmojo]

Oh yeah!
Been there, done that!

Me too! Especially the cheap $5(on sale) Harbor Freight ones like I have (Cen-Tech red ones) can flake out on low battery or after getting zapped by the wrong type of current. Once I had one tell me exactly "half" of everything I was testing. Even though this happens I'm still fond of them - mainly because when working they are fine and cheap to replace. I usually keep a couple on hand just in case and sometimes it is handy to use more than one at a time.

[Luthierwnc]

Day wasted or learning experience?

Both. There's no getting around it -- especially when it comes to stuff that is right in front of your face for so long you can't see it. sh