Nice amp. I have had the privilege of working on at least one of those and an SB-12. They’ve got their quirks, but they’ve got the sound and are easier to work on than the modern tube amps 😀
Love watching your videos off and on and really pleased to see one on the b-15. I picked one up from a lady for free who just wanted it out of her garage several years back before I even knew what a portaflex was. 2 repair techs, a power transformer, and a not insignificant amount of $$$ later and she sounds fantastic. At around 10:15 you mention thinking the amp was dead because the octal plug completes a circuit (I think I paraphrased that correctly). My second tech modified that in an attempt to lower noise. It largely acts like a glorified 1/4” jack now… just have to remember to make sure it’s plugged in first.
Lol I called someone recently about a couple older Fender tube amps, and the first thing the guy told me (proudly) is that he had sprayed the tube sockets with WD40. I politely thanked him for informing me and promptly ended the call. I could only imagine what other brilliant things he might have done to them.
Probably the amplifier was being run at the studio with the ground lifted because the ground would be provided via the bass preamp / effect pedals through the signal cables to avoid earth loops. Not ideal but what is one to do in the face of noise? -- Make the input connection via a balanced transformer -- Remove the ground from the preamplifier instead
Nice Sylvania 6sl7 very classic sound there. Wd-40 is an oil based lub like diesel and motor oil . Good for chrome not so for electronic things. Measure the leakage voltage from primary to chassis . I have seen the hot side be closer to the chassis then the neutral side . Reverse them and they will be much quieter . This action is only for the skilled tech not the average DIY because of a total lack of understanding of design of transformers . Floating the ground is very dangerous even thou it can effect the noise . They may have a ground loop problem at the studio . Seen that at much newer studios than Sun .
I just acquired one of these and can't find any videos on how to remove the head unit from the wood base plate - please help - the pots are noisy and I want to clean them - Thx for any help
I have an off topic question that you may be able to help with. Do you know if shrink tubing is gasoline resistant, I used it over a couple of solder connections for my electric fuel pump inside my gas tank.
I would venture a semi-educated guess that heatshrink tubing is almost certainly *not* gasoline resistant, at least not any normal heat shrink tubing that you would find online or at Walmart or in some electrical supply store. Few soft plastics or types of rubber are sufficiently gasoline proof That you can submerge them in gasoline. Even modern spillproof "safety" nozzles made for use with plastic gas cans will typically swell if you leave them sitting downward, submerged in the gas being stored in the can. I would do a search online to see if you can find something specially rated for that type of use because you really don't want wiring to be short circuiting inside a gas tank!
It depends on the manufacturer! Some of the heat shrink tubing made, is indeed fuel safe. You'll need to consult with the manufacturer / product documentation. Generally, the super cheap stuff, is not.
I know it's an iconic bass amp but is there a reason why it seems/gets neglected/overlooked as a guitar amp? ...and, and so please give us/me a taste of it with you plunking your Strat (thanx in advance) Cheerios, frum your loyal follower-Jonny (That's me 😎)
@@PsionicAudio a "groind" lift switch; is that similar to a truss? My wife is a nurse, I'll ask her. "Hey honey, come here, my groind needs a lift and you gotta flip my switch" !🤣
They actually allow smoking in Sun studios? Most recording studios banned smoking years ago because the nicotine tar is really rough on the faders in the mixing deck.
I'd hate to be the technician that has to clean the faders on their mixing console. On the other hand you might be able to earn enough money to take a nice vacation!
Have no idea why people do not take care of their equipment? All that is needed is one second of your time and just throw something over it and done...
Nice amp. I have had the privilege of working on at least one of those and an SB-12. They’ve got their quirks, but they’ve got the sound and are easier to work on than the modern tube amps 😀
Love watching your videos off and on and really pleased to see one on the b-15. I picked one up from a lady for free who just wanted it out of her garage several years back before I even knew what a portaflex was. 2 repair techs, a power transformer, and a not insignificant amount of $$$ later and she sounds fantastic.
At around 10:15 you mention thinking the amp was dead because the octal plug completes a circuit (I think I paraphrased that correctly). My second tech modified that in an attempt to lower noise. It largely acts like a glorified 1/4” jack now… just have to remember to make sure it’s plugged in first.
I enjoyed hearing you ramble on.
Lol I called someone recently about a couple older Fender tube amps, and the first thing the guy told me (proudly) is that he had sprayed the tube sockets with WD40. I politely thanked him for informing me and promptly ended the call. I could only imagine what other brilliant things he might have done to them.
Those are such cool old amps... love to play through one some day.
Love those amps. Classic bass tone.
Probably the amplifier was being run at the studio with the ground lifted because the ground would be provided via the bass preamp / effect pedals through the signal cables to avoid earth loops.
Not ideal but what is one to do in the face of noise?
-- Make the input connection via a balanced transformer
-- Remove the ground from the preamplifier instead
"Get the funk, "
"Outta my face... " (...etc)
Nice Sylvania 6sl7 very classic sound there. Wd-40 is an oil based lub like diesel and motor oil . Good for chrome not so for electronic things. Measure the leakage voltage from primary to chassis . I have seen the hot side be closer to the chassis then the neutral side . Reverse them and they will be much quieter . This action is only for the skilled tech not the average DIY because of a total lack of understanding of design of transformers . Floating the ground is very dangerous even thou it can effect the noise . They may have a ground loop problem at the studio . Seen that at much newer studios than Sun .
WD-40 is designed to displace water hence the W and D. It’s okay for keeping water out of locks but not good for much else.
That's what happens when we get old: we go from Things We Used To Do, to Things We Used To *Remember* How To Do!
Octal paradise (?) ...and the dust, hmmm, they say dust is human
(Sun Studio no less) rockin' and boppin' SKIN
I just acquired one of these and can't find any videos on how to remove the head unit from the wood base plate - please help - the pots are noisy and I want to clean them - Thx for any help
Have you used or have thoughts on WD-40 contact cleaner?
At 13:00, Lyle is Ramblin' On....
I have an Ampeg BA-115 that hisses. It’s the newer solid state amp design. Is it possible to make it stop hissing? Any hints would be awesome.
I have an off topic question that you may be able to help with. Do you know if shrink tubing is gasoline resistant, I used it over a couple of solder connections for my electric fuel pump inside my gas tank.
No idea.
I would venture a semi-educated guess that heatshrink tubing is almost certainly *not* gasoline resistant, at least not any normal heat shrink tubing that you would find online or at Walmart or in some electrical supply store. Few soft plastics or types of rubber are sufficiently gasoline proof That you can submerge them in gasoline. Even modern spillproof "safety" nozzles made for use with plastic gas cans will typically swell if you leave them sitting downward, submerged in the gas being stored in the can. I would do a search online to see if you can find something specially rated for that type of use because you really don't want wiring to be short circuiting inside a gas tank!
It depends on the manufacturer! Some of the heat shrink tubing made, is indeed fuel safe. You'll need to consult with the manufacturer / product documentation. Generally, the super cheap stuff, is not.
Could help but imagine you saying "I will return the original dust to the owner."
I know it's an iconic bass amp but is there a reason why it seems/gets
neglected/overlooked as a guitar amp? ...and, and so please give us/me
a taste of it with you plunking your Strat (thanx in advance)
Cheerios, frum your loyal follower-Jonny (That's me 😎)
Possible they lifted ground to run a multi amp / DI setup?
A good DI has a groind lift switch that uses a transformer to safely lift audio ground.
@@PsionicAudio a "groind" lift switch; is that similar to a truss? My wife is a nurse, I'll ask her. "Hey honey, come here, my groind needs a lift and you gotta flip my switch" !🤣
They actually allow smoking in Sun studios? Most recording studios banned smoking years ago because the nicotine tar is really rough on the faders in the mixing deck.
Not anymore. But in a studio going since about 1950...
"must be nice to own a studio"...apparently feel on hard times and had to lay off the cleaning crew...or misplaced the vacuum cleaner....
I'd hate to be the technician that has to clean the faders on their mixing console. On the other hand you might be able to earn enough money to take a nice vacation!
Have no idea why people do not take care of their equipment? All that is needed is one second of your time and just throw something over it and done...
The one I played was saggier than an elephant's trousers. No me gusta.
Risking your life for tone. Big no no.