Guitar amp problem - Help! - Budda SD30

[RiverKing]

Okay, I have SD 30 point to point wired head that's been great for 5 years now. . . Yesterday, I powered it up, and as soon as I went from standby mode to active, the fuse blows. . . Four fuses later and switching wall sockets and reseeding the tubes, it still shuts down. . . The power tubes were just replaced a couple weeks ago, and it was working fine up until yesterday. Any thoughts? We have one main amp tech in this whole area, and he's always backed up. . . So, if there's anything I can do, I'd like to try it.

[thadood]

Damn. Nice amp.. sucks that happened to it. I really don't know what would cause it, so your best bet IS an amp tech. It's worth it to have your $1500+ piece of equipment functioning again.

I've never actually played a Budda, but I've heard them on recordings.. they do sound sweet. How often did you retube it?

[thadood]

Oh, hey, cool! You're from the Memphis area, too! So you're trying to get it to the amp store on Madison, right? I forgot the name of the place.. used to be called Tommy B's.

[David McCarroll]

You might have a shorted tube - try removing all the tubes and powering the amp up - replace the tubes one by one - when the fuse starts blowing, you have your culprit. I'm not sure all amps like this treatment by the way - anyone know enough about the Buddha's internal architecture to comment?

The fact that it comes so soon after a retube might give you a clue - try to putting your old tubes back in and see if that cures the problem .... you, er, did keep the old tubes as spares?

[RiverKing]

yeah, I took al the tubes out, but I haven't tried it one by one. . . It's just weird that it worked fine for two weeks and then BAM! And yes, it's a lovely amp, true brown tone! It's number #61, so low vintage. And as for ampwork, there's a guy in town here named Brad Hall (I think), and he's 'the guy' when it comes to amps. But you say there's a repair place that ysed to be Tommy B's? I was just down there the other day and didn't notice anything, do you have a name? Thanks, guys!

[thadood]

Originally Posted by RiverKing

yeah, I took al the tubes out, but I haven't tried it one by one. . . It's just weird that it worked fine for two weeks and then BAM! And yes, it's a lovely amp, true brown tone! It's number #61, so low vintage. And as for ampwork, there's a guy in town here named Brad Hall (I think), and he's 'the guy' when it comes to amps. But you say there's a repair place that ysed to be Tommy B's? I was just down there the other day and didn't notice anything, do you have a name? Thanks, guys!

http://www.memphisguitarworks.com/

That's the spot. It's a small little place, but they specialize in boutique amps.. Bogner, THD, VHT, etc..

I took my Genz Benz El Diablo up there when I had it retubed. Push comes to shove, they found out some of the resistors are going out, blew them (haha, fun to watch your amp go poof), then replace them and set the bias. Honestly, though, one guy didn't really know what he was doing when he was using the voltmeter.

[RiverKing]

Actually, they are out of business, too. Poor Tommy B.

[vaughn]

isnt Memphis thriving with musicians?.... and there is only one amptech? lol

[thadood]

Originally Posted by vaughn

isnt Memphis thriving with musicians?.... and there is only one amptech? lol

Don't let that lie in. Memphis has a HORRIBLE music scene. People thnk it does because of Elvis. You can't make it here as a musician.

And I didn't realize that place closed down =\

[RiverKing]

Yes, Memphis is a VERY tough market - and it's music community is very closed and limited. . . It's more of a tourist trap, really. Nashville is the place to be for the biz. . . And even the bands down here are all blues oriented, rock is few and far between (unless you're Saliva).

[thadood]

Originally Posted by RiverKing

Yes, Memphis is a VERY tough market - and it's music community is very closed and limited. . . It's more of a tourist trap, really. Nashville is the place to be for the biz. . . And even the bands down here are all blues oriented, rock is few and far between (unless you're Saliva).

There's some support for metal, but it's not nearly what it should be for such a large city. When my band plays, we tend to have to his the small, hole in the wall venues like the Rally Point.