FIXED - Carlsbro PA 60

So, that Carlsbro PA 60 I took on from Mr. Foxen all that time ago is finally all fixed.

I got a big new resistor to replace the one that was smoking, wired everything up, put the valves in and tested it with the nearest convenient cab, which was a Peavey Deuce VT combo.

It crackled like Rice Krispies while Snap and Pop are on their hols. That was a shit metaphor but I'm keeping it, okay?

Anyway, fast forward past the eating lunch and doing the weekly shop and I lug the chassis upstairs to test it with my Orange OBC 115. And it appears that the thing actually works. Pots are a bit scratchy, but that's no biggie. It has a nice, warm clean sound and does not appear to drive the preamp by itself so that would need a booster. I ran my Retrovibe RVT-40 into it via my Nine of Swords Burial at Sea and it sounds pretty good running fuzz. I think with the right booster and right fuzz this amp could doom pretty hard.

Once it's been all cleaned up it will be put up for sale.

Retrovibe RVT-40

Well, it works perfectly! The sound is so much clearer and definitely a bit more Rick-like when I have the settings right.

Can't wait to test it at band volume.

I may do a recording at some point.

Carlsbro PA60 Blues and Retrovibe RVT-40

The Carlsbro amp still isn't working. Having sorted the filter caps and the HT fuse (which it turns out needed to be slow-blow) the choke resistor (basically a great big resistor that sits between the power transformer and the rest of the circuit) is duff, smoking when the power's on and reading about twice as much as it is supposed to. Sigh.

I've also rewired my Retrovibe RV-4 to roughly approximate the wiring of a Peavey T-40 bass. Thus, Retrovibe RVT-40. I got all excited when I finished it and forgot to get a picture of the wiring, but here's the outside of the bass with classy-looking new knobs and a wee switch that does phasey stuff to the bridge pickup (in theory) and the T-40 wiring diagram.

I can't test that it works until tomorrow, on accout of it being quarter to eleven at night... but once it is tested I'll report back either in celebration or lamentation.