Posted by John Chleapas [ 71.245.225.155 ] on October 22, 2006 at 01:46:56:

In Reply to: Non Working gear posted by Leland Crooks on October 15, 2006 at 10:17:13:

Did you obtain the manual for the amplifier? For example the Dynaco ST-70 and Mk 111 have ways to measure voltage with the tubes out. Get a working basic tube tester. Anyone who wants to get serious should at the least have a good basic tube tester. The first thing anyone should do before plugging in any amplifier is to read the manual for that amp. Then on your power amplifier check the rectifier and the power tubes to make sure they are good. A.G. Tannenbaums has copies available for most vintage tube gear at very reasonable prices. There was also a free read at the Angela web site on how to reform electrolytics. (I just looked and it is no longer there. But you can search the web for "how to reform capacitors.") Anyone who simply plugs in a vintage amplifier without brnging it up very slowly over hours to reform the electrolytic capacitors is asking for trouble. I have received a few vintage amps in the mail that when the bottom plate was removed looked like a rat's next. One amp I bought that was supposed to be plug and play was not. It literally had a few large capacitors that were not secured and literally falling out. That would have caused a dead short had I just plugged it in without removing the bottom plate for a quick visual inspection. They do not call it the smoke test for nothing when they write about old amps going up in smoke when new owners buy them at yard or other sales, and then they rush home and plug them right in expecting them to work. The Sherwood amplifiers are supposed to be VERY good sounding. I also have a Sherwood S-3000V tube stereo tuner that sounds great. Sherwood tube gear is still a good bargain and below the radar screen luckily for the folks on a budget. Good luck! John

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