Honestly, your videos exposing the dirty, little secrets of modern “boutique” amp builders is some of the best (and helpful!) content you produce. It’s all great and appreciated, but these videos can really help people out there spend their dollars wisely.
What's dirty is the fake assclown wannabe amp builders that can't even make a decent pedal. Thanks for the laughs. Other than our name, Insight? No, you have been lied to by Liar Lyle. It's actually a slanderous video. Morgan Amps has a lifetime guarantee. This Lyle moron has never built an amp in his life. Knows nothing about amps, and you should look elsewhere for legitimate information. There are a lot of boutique amps that meet or exceed any of my expectations as a 40 year player, but this dipshits-r-us isn't one that even sells an amp, and this idiot doesn't even make a product other than silly-ass pedals you would not want anyway. I will be posting all of his his pedal issues (since he does not build amps). Difference between him and me is that I actually have a degree in EE and CS with a math minor and forgot more than this idiot knows. Other than my last name name, I have no affiliation with Morgan Amps.
These couple of videos of the Morgan amps saved me from making an apparently bad decision and pull the trigger on one. Much appreciated that you share your knowledge with all these videos.
When you hit that cap and said "Ah ha!", I smiled wide because of the comedic timing and how it made THE perfect example of what you said. Outstanding work. Thank you for sharing it with us!
Using the highest quality components without question and then testing different components to bring out the best sound is imperative. Safe and solid circuit design, and knowing how to solder well helps a lot too!
I learned to solder correctly when I was 10 (I'm 57 now) under the watchful eye of my dad. I used to make circuit boards for him in his shop. His company manufactured high voltage test equipment (spark testers) and I was well schooled on the problems of dry joints. People dont always realise how many problems a simple dry solder joint can throw up. Anything from voltage drop off to arcing, intermittent switching etc all because the joint is bad. That board seems to be full of dry joints a nightmare in the making! I kinda miss drilling and tapping bakerlite for tube sockets Lol! Great video. Subbed.
15:00 "Ah HA!" I don't think I've every felt anything so strong vicariously. The joy of going from theory to definitive fault. That put a smile on my face.
I bought a PR12 2 months ago and upon seeing this video opened it up to see what is what. Mine has ARS 500 VDC capacitors in place where you note the inefficient caps in your PR12. Mine has very neat and proper looking solder joints. It sounds amazing to my ears and I had a new HW Princeton that went bad when only a month old that I replaced with the PR12. I am in the UK. Hum-wise it does have low level hum that does not increase with volume. It is not an issue at all but i did think that it crept in at some point rather that always being there. . Also my PR12 does not have a boost switch as that is only in the JS12. Just thought I would add what i see in my amp to this thread as I am happy with mine and thankfully it seems to have been put together to a very high standard unlike the one you have there. It really feels rock solid compared to the Fender HW 64 Princeton.
It says Tone King assembled in the USA. So that must mean it's made somewhere else. Why are they so vague you can't get any information on why they labeled it assembled in the USA. If you Google just assembled in the USA it says that does not mean made in the USA
I really appreciate these videos. I learn so much about amps from them. I'm in the market for this _type_ of amp, and came here because I was considering this brand, but now I don't know what I should be looking at.
It's not even a Morgan Amp. This is pure slander. Anyone that actually has owned a real one knows. Go find a dealer and play one. There is a lifetime guarantee on the amp. Lyle is NOT an amp builder, nor does he know anything about amps (other than watching youtube videos) lol Other than my last name name, I have no affiliation with Morgan Amps.
This episode reminds me of an old recurrent skit on the Conan O’Brian late night show, back when they were still on NBC. It was named “Secrets” and always involved a celebrity sitting at a plain wooden table inside a stark cinder block room illuminated by a single dangling bare light bulb. There was a whiskey bottle and shot glass on the table. The celebrity would proceed to spill some dark, gritty (yet humorous) secret. I feel like these videos are the tube amp nerd equivalent of those skits. Lyle sits at the table, takes a shot of whiskey, gains his composure, and then proceeds to spill ugly, unwelcome truths about the build quality of a well-regarded boutique amp, and how the reality inside the chassis contradicts the hype surrounding such amp.
Scornflakes! Wow! How in the hell did I get to be as old as I am now and this is the first time I am hearing the term! Or maybe I have heard it before, but I forgot? I am pretty old. Regardless, kudos, good sir!
Just wow! Judging from the price, how these amps are promoted on the net and glancing at the eyelet board instead of a circuit board one would think these are really great amps! Just wow! Unreal.
I have a Morgan MVP23 Head/Cab, I have played it almost every day for the past 2 years. Not a snap, crackle, pop, blown fuse, or anything negative. Solid every day for a minimum of 1.5 hours per day. You are pretty venomous with your critique. I'm wondering who is reviewing the amplifier line you've built from the ground up, distributed, and supported? With no serial#, how can you even be sure this was a production ready amplifier? Something fishy here. Morgan's are solid amps. Don't let this video dissuade you from finding the Morgan amp that suits your playing style.
I have had just about every Morgan Amp made. I have not had a single issue with one of my amps except for one - the LED died on my M logo.What is funny is an asshole like you, who is clueless, spouts about shit they know nothing about. Good thing Morgan Amps have a lifetime warranty. Let me know if you want to breakdown any of your idiotic BS - happy to go toe to toe with you. I will be at the guitar show in Dallas May 5th-7th and in Nashville in June - just let me know where you want to meet up to have the discussion. You, are clueless and am happy to oblige your stupid, ignorant ass. I am guessing your Peavey Bandit or Quilter blows it away - bwahahahahahahaha.
I bought a Morgan AC20 deluxe over a decade ago thinking it would be a more reliable Vox. It sounded pretty good. It didn't sound as warm as a real Vox, but it wasn't a bad difference. I thought it might just have come down to the brand new speaker. Within a couple weeks of buying it new the amp died, and I spent the following month shipping it back and forth to California four times after it kept dying. I decided to get a refund. Joe was a pleasant guy, and seemed as upset as I was about the whole thing. I had a friend who also bought the same amp during that time. His head/cab version died on him five times. He got his refund shortly after I did. Our amps originally shipped with Celestion blue speakers, which were only rated for ~15 watts. We thought that might be why these 20 watt amps died, but then he started giving us 50 watt Celestion gold speakers. The amps still died. We have no idea what happened, but we moved on. My friend bought a new Matchless DC-30, and I bought a 1993 AC30TB/6. I'm much happier with the tone, and performance. I've never had any problems with the amp other than tubes. I also tell people to avoid Morgan amps. Joe is a nice guy, but his amps just aren't reliable.
Good to know I'm going through the warranty process for a Tone King PT failed after only 25 hour's They still say it's going to be months Was instructed to send to Sweetwater but they just affirmed it was broken Now they are shipping to BAD No refund though because it took several months but only 25 hour's of actual play time. Grrrr
If Joe cared about his name and the company he created he would look at these videos and take the manufacturing back. I keep hoping Joe would reply to one of these videos and explain the quality and control issues everyone sees when they open a Morgan. I am a tech and I can tell you that my pre 2012 AC20 Morgan that was made by Joe and his team did not look like this, and the components were of higher quality. I would not buy one of these current Morgan amps based on the same issues that Psionic has pointed out.
As an alternative review to the above, I’ve been using two Morgan RCA35 amps exclusively (one since 2017), and there hasn’t even been the slightest peep of an issue. Same valves etc etc, and they both still run perfectly.
The inventor of the theremin was a Russian immigrant to the US; there's a fascinating documentary film about him, simply titled "Theremin!". Also, if you look on UA-cam, Rob Scanlon interviewed the master Theremin player Caroline Eyck not too long ago (a lovely woman, playing things that should be impossible). Much hilarity ensues as Rob tries to get something resembling music from her theremin BTW, I was just watching a documentary about female pioneers of electronic music the other day, titled "Sisters With Transistors".
Love this! Thank you for exposing the crap that is Morgan. I called CME and inquired about buying a Morgan or Carr. Before the words were out of my mouth the CME rep said “Carr! No doubt.” NOW I see why. Thank you!
thanks for your insight, sir! the fact is, i like these amps so much, particularly the ac 20, that i would buy anyway, knowing what to look for and how to fix it...point to point is a beautiful thing in so many ways.
The internet is a very special place. In a snap shot a video can change (some) peoples perception of a product. I have had a Morgan PR12 for more than 4 years. Have gigged the biip out of it. Never experienced one single problem. A true pleasure and the best sounding and reliable amp I have ever had in +40 years of playing and being a tone nerd. I just changed the speaker, because I wanted to try another. A friend who is a amp repair guy did it, and looked at the amp and gave it a service check at the same time. He said its perfect and very very well produced. I dont doubt your findings, but going from that to bashing Morgan amps is not okay. Its a great great amp. I have tried many Fender Princetons, even the custom and the newer Chris Stableton - they are not even close in quality of sound - and both the custom and CS are more expensive. So please relax a bit and be fair….
It's not even a Morgan Amp. This is pure slander. Anyone that actually has owned a real one knows. Other than my last name name, I have no affiliation with Morgan Amps.
It's almost criminal at this point. Why these companies are not sued when they blatantly don't respect safety code and undersize such critical components will always baffle me.
Just wondering if same thoughts exist on Morgan amps? I've had a AC 20 Deluxe since 2011 and use it just about every weekend in a small time cover band. Works great and no issues all these years (knocking on wood). I bought it back then based on what I heard and loved the tone, loved the ability to switch from 12ax7 to ef86, etc., but at that time had never heard of Morgan and not owned any other version, no interaction with that company and I can't speak for the insides/technical stuff nor for Morgan amps in general. Regarding this video, I know if an amp had my name on it, even if a prototype (as I saw in some comments) I would make sure anything that went into the public was pristine. Else, I'd have a no named chassis /cabinet and have it labeled PROTOTYPE or something. I guess I've been lucky that I've owned a ton of amps over the years and only one has gone to repair (an old Bedrock if anyone remembers that old amp company).
The thing is that very few people really know what a good guitar amplifier should sound like. There's a scientific aspect and a creative/artistic synergy which marketing kind of ruins. Amps are bought and assessed mostly in an emotional way when they're very technical devices but the players generally don't understand the technical side. Only a few players really know what they're looking for and what it should sound like, I don't have that talent so I wouldn't know how to tell a good amp from a bad amp.
@@jdl2180 Yes of course that's true! But most people don't really know how to assess that and simply go by a brand or what their heroes play. Nothing wrong with that of course but there are people out there who really have a knack for knowing what an amp should sound like both technically and creatively.
@@jdl2180 That's great, find gems and throw them in your next lo-fi album, that's what that gear is "good" for. Just don't kid yourself about the audio quality/fidelity of a cost-effective or poorly made amp compared to one where an expert builder's gone all out. (like a Dumble) in response to OP: Yeah, its a shitty situation. Pretty much every field with even a little creativity gets flooded with "subjective" marketing. i.e. "Buy our multi-fx amp simulator, it sounds JUST LIKE THE REAL THING!!!"
This is common with many products: The flagship release is done well and uses quality parts. Over time, the maker starts to see dollar signs by cutting production costs, and then we end up with what we have here. Everything (everything) is built *down* to a price when investors are involved.
@@paulcowart3174 - I think Joe Morgan had the amp for about two weeks. This was after a local tech butchered it for two weeks, solder blobs everywhere chasing a the hum. After getting it back and playing a show, I resisted it on Reverb and the guy I bought it from bought it back. I don’t know how long the Tone King thing will be. I had other amps so it wasn’t a problem
Cough... $2100 US.... cough...with those cheap caps and crappy solder joints, and a non existent safety wire. Huh. Shame on Morgan. ( There's a guy here in Stettler, Alberta, builds amps one at a time, perfect solder joints, high quality components. Sells a 5E3 for $2100 Canadian. Spectacular deal compared to most mass produced junk. ). Love your videos, it's almost like going to amp school.
Oh god, at least I bought mine direct at a discount. I’m wanting a Princeton in its original size with a 12” and was researching using a kit and what upgrades I could use. Also wanting a single channel DR in a Princeton sized package; any suggestions? Good builders? Good kits? Do you teach/train? I live in a mountain town and sol on anyone who can even bias an amp properly.
Sir, outstanding rundown. Saved me from ever getting a Morgan. I'm not certain if you have a connection to Josh Smith's amp tech, but I suspect he or she holds many dark secrets from all of the PR and JS12's they serviced while on the road. Now that would be a fireworks show of a video / interview to put on this channel. Thank you for your insight and wisdom. Everyone one of these videos is similar to a campfire folk tale, full of wisdom you can't get anywhere else. Respectfully, Andrew
@@SRHMusic012 Josh did an early episode of the Tim (Pierce) and Pete (Thorn) Show from his then under construction home studio. Morgan had built 2 amps for him replicating Josh's vintage Super reverb and AC30 so he didn't have to take his vintage stuff on the road.
It's not even a Morgan Amp. This is pure slander. Anyone that actually has owned a real one knows. Go find a dealer and play one. There is a lifetime guarantee on the amp. Lyle is NOT an amp builder, nor does he know anything about amps (other than watching youtube videos) lol Other than my last name name, I have no affiliation with Morgan Amps.
Watching all your videos cures GAS for purchasing all those "boutique" amps.. Mesa, Morgan, Tone King... The list just keeps on going. But, wanting to spend about 2000 for the amp for life, no vintage nor local builder, what would you then suggest? Maybe going for a Chinese Vox AC15 with the Blue Alnico speaker would be the best bet? What experienced people here suggest? 2000 dollars 10 to 15w with reverb.. Maybe Cornell from UK? Marshall 2525c Jubilee (minus the reverb on this one..) Gosh, almost brain damage at this point 😅
If you ever get across a Marshall 2266 Vintage Modern, I'd love to hear your opinion. It was designed by Steve Dawson and people on the forums think it's great quality for a modern Marshall at this price. On the other hand, the tech who fixed my amp was puzzled by the some design decisions and the way it was assembled. And he hated the reverb. ^_^
Very cool video, that you found two suspected issues in real time here. By the way they're saving only about $6 or $8 - the difference between the $1.50 caps and the more expensive ones. Even at $3.50 it's a difference of $2.00, or $8 for four. Fender probably had similar savings with the low temperature rated, short life rated UC caps, too, in at least a few models.
You are correct. The difference of cost for one amp is not even worth discussing. So for truly small, skilled, honorable amp builders, the answer to that question is completely obvious. But, when you are dealing with corporations that are building thousands of amp in a year, those $5-8 start adding up to some big numbers - the numbers that will actually show up on an engineering or accounting report. So those accumulated numbers are the ones that the big-wig know-nothings in the corner offices see. For them, those number differentials look pretty huge. So since they are ones who will make the decisions, they don't care if the customer 'might' have a problem if the cost of replacement/repair works out less that the cost difference of the better components. Years ago, in many industries, when it was engineers, machinists, builders, designers who were running the companies, quality wasn't so easily set aside. Now decisions are being made by the people who have no idea at all about what the product is, and they don't care. They are MBA - taught that they can run any business - no need to worry about the product, just follow the corporate steps the increase profits, show company growth, and keep the day-traders happy.
I bought this amp about a year ago. No problems up to this point, probably wouldn’t have bought it though if I would have known that people have issues with them 😂. However, no complaints so far
I would infer that you are not a fan of Morgan amps. And then the caps howl on cue. Brilliant. After watching a metric ton of your vids, I tend to proceed with trepidation every time I turn one of my amps on. I just know there's some sort of disastrous "gotcha" lurking within just waiting to bite me in the ass. You have a scary channel.
Selecting the highest quality and best sounding components throughout the circuit is absolutely imperative. And of course knowing how to make good solder joints helps a lot too! 🎸
Great video. I own an old Morgan made probably 20 years ago and it actually has the correct cap values. (500V) Soldering looks the same however but at least the caps were right on this one. I'm the second owner and know the amp wasn't modded. This explains why I hear so many bad things about these amps thanks!
Of course I had to open up my AC20 after watching. The caps in there have “500VDC” printed on them, I suppose that is sufficient? My eye is definitely untrained in this area but I’d like to think I have a good ear and the amp sounds great, I hope it lasts.
I wonder if this amp was built before Boutique Amp Distribution took over production. It's suprising those filter caps are so poorly spec'd. Now I wonder if all of B.A.D.'s amp brands (Soldano, Friedman, etc) suffer from similar shortcomings.
Mr. Soldano and Mr. Friedman sign off on all their amps. Listening to them on Tone Talk, I get the feeling they are men of integrity. Morgan, on the other hand, not so much...
@@luizdejesus6240 Joe Morgan on Tone Talk was the worst one, he was too busy playing video games to answer questions…really took away some respect that I had for his brand. Now I would by a Friedman or Soldano any day!
@@islanderwinder B.A.D. did have a “bad batch” of caps awhile back that went into who knows how many amps. I wish they sent out “recall cards” like car companies, lol
There's a old guy from England who opens up tube amps and goes through them on his UA-cam channel. He went through a brand new Friedman and he found some shoddy workmanship and corner cutting also. I'm starting to see a pattern emerging. I sounds you have to be leary of buying products from B.A.D.
Thanks so much for the insight... I've been learning a lot from all your videos...would like to give my drri some of you suggested upgrades...thanks a bunch!
There are other bad ones but I'd rather point out the good ones when possible. And I don't know if all Morgans are like this. The four I've had in all had major issues like this.
Hi Lyle, about your comments on not using the stand-by on an amp with a tube rectifier, could you say if this is true for the Marshall 1974x (2x EL84 & 1x EZ81)? I have always thought that the stand-by was there to 'save' the power tubes. Cheers.
EL84s don't need saving. The only purpse of a standby is if the unloaded B+ voltage exceeds the voltage rating of the filter caps (or a cathode follower grid). None of the tubes we use in guitar amps can be harmed by a lack of a standby (except cathode followers but that's not what the myth is about). Unless you are operating a radio station using tube gear, tubes don't need standby.
The "who's hands?" Comments really resonated with me. I see a lot of talk about how hand wired is the cream of the crop etc but I'll take a machine blasting out a PCB any day of the week if it means the product I'm thinking of buying is more consistently reliable. Not that it's always the case for either design but this obsession with "hand wired boutique" builds is very tiresome especially if this can be the result!
I buy nothing but handwired. Not because it’s cool, but because when playing out often the pc board amps (Laney, a few Marshals, and one Mesa) I had, had to have multiple wire jumpers installed over the years because the PC boards heated up and got brittle and lost connection. The Marshalls were the worst, but the Laneys were almost as bad. In fairness to Mesa, it only happened once, but had other issues. I now use mainly Victoria amps. I did recently but a DR Z Maz 18 MK-II, we’ll see how well it holds up.
I’m starting to wonder what amps you actually think are good? Every amp you breakdown has some inherent flaw. What amps do you believe are actually good from the factory? I have a DRRI and Mesa Transatlantic 30, both have issues. DRRI is always putting off excessive noise, and the Mesa sometimes just decides it wants to turn off then turn right back on. Happens about five minutes after turning on, almost every time, then just plays and sounds pretty good.
I define "good" differently at different price points. A Vox AC15C1X is very good at its price point. A Fender '65 Princeton Reissue is not as good at its price point as the AC15, but it's better than the '68 Custom PR or the Blues Junior. In the next tier, a Magnatone is better than a Dr Z which is better than an Orange. A Marshall SV20 is better than a Marshall Origin. A Ceriatone will kill either Marshall. Anything is better than a Morgan, a Tyler, or a Lazy J. It's too long a list to cover extensively. Maybe I should do a "I've got $500 and need an amp - what is on Reverb?" video. And $1000. And $2000. Wouldn't be exhaustive but it would be realistic. Would have to do maybe 2-3 genre choices per video.
@@PsionicAudio yes please do these videos! More than once I’ve decided on a new amp and then watched you repair said amp which change my mind. Even better would be a series on these amps with your included recommended “mods” or upgrades - for a knowledgeable tech to perform of course:)
Please correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that Morgan's are built by Boutique Audio Devices. Who also build Soldano and Friedman. I am constantly amazed at the so-called hand built amps that are so bad as this one is. I could build a better one with my eyes closed, well, almost anyway. Also, aren't those coupling caps made by the same company that makes Sozo caps?
jeez. i have a joe-built sw22 i bought s few years ago and have played it everyday for anywhere from 2 to 6 hours with no issues. please tell me the fact that my head was not built by BAD but by joe himself is why it’s been trouble free??? or, am i gonna see sloppy solder and shabby electronics if i open it up??? 🙁
Whoa whoa, question. You expressed a lot of concern over those 450v filter caps. The Ceriatone Lightning has 450v caps in their layout, so should I replace those for 500v caps? You've got me a bit anxious now!
It depends on what the unloaded voltage in the amp is. Lightning probably uses an EZ81 so 450V caps would probably be fine. As Douglas said, don’t panic.
Oh I thought it was a 15W thing with the smaller rectifier. You are probably still fine. It’s a mistake very very few manufacturers make. I can’t see Nik making it.
@@PsionicAudio So, funny thing, I checked a photo of a gutshot I took, and lo and behold, all four of the 22uf caps had already been changed to 500v (the 33uf caps are still 450v). And yes, the Lightning is a (very loud) 15w amp.
I bought a Mesa Nomad. Had to go in and replace some pots. I replaced them all. They were the cheapest pots I ever came across, fell apart in my hands.
could one substitute the GZ34 rectifier with a 5y3 to get voltages down to safe levels.. I do not get the point of running those tung sol 6v6gt up at plus 450V plate.. I have seen one schematic of an older princeton reverb and that had 420V on the B+. But that old princeton had a much smaller power transformer that would limit the power.. compared to the deluxe reverb that also calls for 420V B+ but with a larger power and output transformer.. ( I think I have seen a schematic with a B+ of 396V on a modern fender reverb reissue.). Some modern 5e3 deluxe amps have the same problem.. original is supposed to have a plate voltage of 370V but has a 5K dropping resistor to screen limiting voltage on the screens.. modern variants with the 250 ohm bias resistor and plus 400V on the plate are biased to hot at idle.
Are there any good amps out there at all apart from DSL 40 or JCM 900? I am scared to buy a Fender low voltage issue and other stuff you said on Blues Jnr and Hot Rod Deluxe.
I've understood the newer GZ34's are junk, just spent a good buck on a NOS GZ34 due to this. Maybe you've had better experiences with the new ones. I'm hip to not using a standby switch too, especially with a tube rectifier, good advice.
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Honestly, your videos exposing the dirty, little secrets of modern “boutique” amp builders is some of the best (and helpful!) content you produce. It’s all great and appreciated, but these videos can really help people out there spend their dollars wisely.
Luckily there are some fantastic builders out there. Morgan is not representative of boutique amps.
It’s why I decided to pay my local guy to build an amp for me. Actually costs less than a lot of these boutique builders
What's dirty is the fake assclown wannabe amp builders that can't even make a decent pedal. Thanks for the laughs. Other than our name, Insight? No, you have been lied to by Liar Lyle. It's actually a slanderous video. Morgan Amps has a lifetime guarantee. This Lyle moron has never built an amp in his life. Knows nothing about amps, and you should look elsewhere for legitimate information. There are a lot of boutique amps that meet or exceed any of my expectations as a 40 year player, but this dipshits-r-us isn't one that even sells an amp, and this idiot doesn't even make a product other than silly-ass pedals you would not want anyway. I will be posting all of his his pedal issues (since he does not build amps). Difference between him and me is that I actually have a degree in EE and CS with a math minor and forgot more than this idiot knows.
Other than my last name name, I have no affiliation with Morgan Amps.
totally - i was researching the Morgan Mvp 23 when I came across this - needless to say i'm not buying it
😅
These couple of videos of the Morgan amps saved me from making an apparently bad decision and pull the trigger on one. Much appreciated that you share your knowledge with all these videos.
Well, I wish I had seen these videos before buying my RCA35 a couple of years ago. Meh.
When you hit that cap and said "Ah ha!", I smiled wide because of the comedic timing and how it made THE perfect example of what you said. Outstanding work. Thank you for sharing it with us!
Using the highest quality components without question and then testing different components to bring out the best sound is imperative. Safe and solid circuit design, and knowing how to solder well helps a lot too!
I learned to solder correctly when I was 10 (I'm 57 now) under the watchful eye of my dad. I used to make circuit boards for him in his shop. His company manufactured high voltage test equipment (spark testers) and I was well schooled on the problems of dry joints. People dont always realise how many problems a simple dry solder joint can throw up. Anything from voltage drop off to arcing, intermittent switching etc all because the joint is bad.
That board seems to be full of dry joints a nightmare in the making! I kinda miss drilling and tapping bakerlite for tube sockets Lol! Great video. Subbed.
15:00 "Ah HA!" I don't think I've every felt anything so strong vicariously. The joy of going from theory to definitive fault. That put a smile on my face.
Me too! That was great.
I'm sharing this to a friend that told me he's saving to purchase one.
I like it when bs gets pointed out, thank you sir.
I bought a PR12 2 months ago and upon seeing this video opened it up to see what is what. Mine has ARS 500 VDC capacitors in place where you note the inefficient caps in your PR12. Mine has very neat and proper looking solder joints. It sounds amazing to my ears and I had a new HW Princeton that went bad when only a month old that I replaced with the PR12. I am in the UK. Hum-wise it does have low level hum that does not increase with volume. It is not an issue at all but i did think that it crept in at some point rather that always being there. . Also my PR12 does not have a boost switch as that is only in the JS12. Just thought I would add what i see in my amp to this thread as I am happy with mine and thankfully it seems to have been put together to a very high standard unlike the one you have there. It really feels rock solid compared to the Fender HW 64 Princeton.
Every video is a journey and education. Without a doubt the absolute best training and demonstration of Amps anywhere. Congrats!
Gosh I would’ve fallen for the Morgan amp hype had I not watched this- I appreciate both your humor and candor!
Tone King as well Beware
@@Starch1b2c3d4a just the simplest first, If you can't see those garbage solder joints your blind and dumb, I wouldn't trust anything coming from you.
@@paulcowart3174 what is the issue with Tone King? I was considering buying an Imperial mkII and I would appreciate your insight.
It says Tone King assembled in the USA. So that must mean it's made somewhere else. Why are they so vague you can't get any information on why they labeled it assembled in the USA. If you Google just assembled in the USA it says that does not mean made in the USA
It's BS. Lyle took a prototype (not even a production Morgan amp) and slandered it. Liar Lyle. Gonna be famous, buddy.
"Monkeys. Typewriters. This ain't Shakespeare."
So funny.
It was the best of times, it was the blorst of times.
I’ve been duped too until I figured out how to build my own amp never again thank you sir !
Well do not ask this idiot, he is clueless.
I really appreciate these videos. I learn so much about amps from them. I'm in the market for this _type_ of amp, and came here because I was considering this brand, but now I don't know what I should be looking at.
Honestly watching your channel scares mw about my amps but I also absolutely love getting the information that you are giving us all
It's not even a Morgan Amp. This is pure slander. Anyone that actually has owned a real one knows. Go find a dealer and play one. There is a lifetime guarantee on the amp. Lyle is NOT an amp builder, nor does he know anything about amps (other than watching youtube videos) lol
Other than my last name name, I have no affiliation with Morgan Amps.
"Do you expect me to play music through this so-called handwired amplifier?" "No, Mr. Bond...I expect you to DIE..." ~ Evil Mastermind
Fantastic video. These “boutique” builders that gouge aspiring guitarists need to get called out more. Kudos
Lets just throw every boutique builder under the bus. Makes sense.
This episode reminds me of an old recurrent skit on the Conan O’Brian late night show, back when they were still on NBC. It was named “Secrets” and always involved a celebrity sitting at a plain wooden table inside a stark cinder block room illuminated by a single dangling bare light bulb. There was a whiskey bottle and shot glass on the table. The celebrity would proceed to spill some dark, gritty (yet humorous) secret. I feel like these videos are the tube amp nerd equivalent of those skits. Lyle sits at the table, takes a shot of whiskey, gains his composure, and then proceeds to spill ugly, unwelcome truths about the build quality of a well-regarded boutique amp, and how the reality inside the chassis contradicts the hype surrounding such amp.
Thanks, glad I watched this before taking the plunge!
Lyle that was the best bowl of scornflakes served up on a Saturday morning I have seen in along while, way to go man!
That was a steamin bowl of gloatmeal!
Scornflakes! Wow! How in the hell did I get to be as old as I am now and this is the first time I am hearing the term! Or maybe I have heard it before, but I forgot? I am pretty old. Regardless, kudos, good sir!
😂
😂😂🤣😂🤣😂👍👍
Lying idiot.
Just wow! Judging from the price, how these amps are promoted on the net and glancing at the eyelet board instead of a circuit board one would think these are really great amps! Just wow! Unreal.
I was literally heading out the door to buy one of these amps. Thanks man!
I have a Morgan MVP23 Head/Cab, I have played it almost every day for the past 2 years. Not a snap, crackle, pop, blown fuse, or anything negative. Solid every day for a minimum of 1.5 hours per day. You are pretty venomous with your critique. I'm wondering who is reviewing the amplifier line you've built from the ground up, distributed, and supported?
With no serial#, how can you even be sure this was a production ready amplifier? Something fishy here. Morgan's are solid amps. Don't let this video dissuade you from finding the Morgan amp that suits your playing style.
I have had just about every Morgan Amp made. I have not had a single issue with one of my amps except for one - the LED died on my M logo.What is funny is an asshole like you, who is clueless, spouts about shit they know nothing about. Good thing Morgan Amps have a lifetime warranty. Let me know if you want to breakdown any of your idiotic BS - happy to go toe to toe with you.
I will be at the guitar show in Dallas May 5th-7th and in Nashville in June - just let me know where you want to meet up to have the discussion. You, are clueless and am happy to oblige your stupid, ignorant ass. I am guessing your Peavey Bandit or Quilter blows it away - bwahahahahahahaha.
Agreed
Yeah, Morgans have a lifetime warranty, and Sweetwater has a generous return policy. That's why I no longer own my Morgan P.O.S. 12. @@NoelMorgan
I bought a Morgan AC20 deluxe over a decade ago thinking it would be a more reliable Vox. It sounded pretty good. It didn't sound as warm as a real Vox, but it wasn't a bad difference. I thought it might just have come down to the brand new speaker. Within a couple weeks of buying it new the amp died, and I spent the following month shipping it back and forth to California four times after it kept dying. I decided to get a refund. Joe was a pleasant guy, and seemed as upset as I was about the whole thing. I had a friend who also bought the same amp during that time. His head/cab version died on him five times. He got his refund shortly after I did. Our amps originally shipped with Celestion blue speakers, which were only rated for ~15 watts. We thought that might be why these 20 watt amps died, but then he started giving us 50 watt Celestion gold speakers. The amps still died. We have no idea what happened, but we moved on. My friend bought a new Matchless DC-30, and I bought a 1993 AC30TB/6. I'm much happier with the tone, and performance. I've never had any problems with the amp other than tubes. I also tell people to avoid Morgan amps. Joe is a nice guy, but his amps just aren't reliable.
Good to know I'm going through the warranty process for a Tone King PT failed after only 25 hour's They still say it's going to be months Was instructed to send to Sweetwater but they just affirmed it was broken Now they are shipping to BAD No refund though because it took several months but only 25 hour's of actual play time. Grrrr
@@paulcowart3174 is BAD that amp company making all those boutique amps now?
@@middle_pickup yes Boutique Amp Distributers
If Joe cared about his name and the company he created he would look at these videos and take the manufacturing back. I keep hoping Joe would reply to one of these videos and explain the quality and control issues everyone sees when they open a Morgan. I am a tech and I can tell you that my pre 2012 AC20 Morgan that was made by Joe and his team did not look like this, and the components were of higher quality. I would not buy one of these current Morgan amps based on the same issues that Psionic has pointed out.
As an alternative review to the above, I’ve been using two Morgan RCA35 amps exclusively (one since 2017), and there hasn’t even been the slightest peep of an issue. Same valves etc etc, and they both still run perfectly.
Eureka! I've always wondered how the sound of the Krell machine was produced in the movie "The Forbidden Planet".
A Theremin, but this amp does sound similar.
The inventor of the theremin was a Russian immigrant to the US; there's a fascinating documentary film about him, simply titled "Theremin!". Also, if you look on UA-cam, Rob Scanlon interviewed the master Theremin player Caroline Eyck not too long ago (a lovely woman, playing things that should be impossible). Much hilarity ensues as Rob tries to get something resembling music from her theremin BTW, I was just watching a documentary about female pioneers of electronic music the other day, titled "Sisters With Transistors".
UA-cam just recommended this channel, probably because I watch so much Mr. Carlson’s Lab. Great video, subbed!
Great job. Very informational.
I have a Morgan SW100 that I have had for years. I have never had an issue at all. Maybe I am lucky.
Love this! Thank you for exposing the crap that is Morgan. I called CME and inquired about buying a Morgan or Carr. Before the words were out of my mouth the CME rep said “Carr! No doubt.” NOW I see why. Thank you!
thanks for your insight, sir! the fact is, i like these amps so much, particularly the ac 20, that i would buy anyway, knowing what to look for and how to fix it...point to point is a beautiful thing in so many ways.
Watching these helps me choose. I have had mostly mid level amps save for my supertwin. I want a nice something one day
The internet is a very special place. In a snap shot a video can change (some) peoples perception of a product. I have had a Morgan PR12 for more than 4 years. Have gigged the biip out of it. Never experienced one single problem. A true pleasure and the best sounding and reliable amp I have ever had in +40 years of playing and being a tone nerd. I just changed the speaker, because I wanted to try another. A friend who is a amp repair guy did it, and looked at the amp and gave it a service check at the same time. He said its perfect and very very well produced. I dont doubt your findings, but going from that to bashing Morgan amps is not okay. Its a great great amp. I have tried many Fender Princetons, even the custom and the newer Chris Stableton - they are not even close in quality of sound - and both the custom and CS are more expensive. So please relax a bit and be fair….
It's not even a Morgan Amp. This is pure slander. Anyone that actually has owned a real one knows.
Other than my last name name, I have no affiliation with Morgan Amps.
I agree with you.
This is my new fav channel
I nearly bought one of these recently. This is pretty damning stuff
It's almost criminal at this point. Why these companies are not sued when they blatantly don't respect safety code and undersize such critical components will always baffle me.
I bet people could get together and try to sue them. Good luck going to court with fender amps or mesa boogie amps though.
thank you for this video!
My Tone King blew a PT after 25 play hours It's is criminal
Then sue. This is all lies.
Love your videos, love your work too
Brilliant education here on these design flaws 👏🏻
“…as I was saying…” amen, another great vid Lyle!
Morgan's simply sound good. Very solid evidence that they have some build issues, but I'd buy it and just get new caps installed.
....and reflow every joint
Just wondering if same thoughts exist on Morgan amps? I've had a AC 20 Deluxe since 2011 and use it just about every weekend in a small time cover band. Works great and no issues all these years (knocking on wood). I bought it back then based on what I heard and loved the tone, loved the ability to switch from 12ax7 to ef86, etc., but at that time had never heard of Morgan and not owned any other version, no interaction with that company and I can't speak for the insides/technical stuff nor for Morgan amps in general.
Regarding this video, I know if an amp had my name on it, even if a prototype (as I saw in some comments) I would make sure anything that went into the public was pristine. Else, I'd have a no named chassis /cabinet and have it labeled PROTOTYPE or something.
I guess I've been lucky that I've owned a ton of amps over the years and only one has gone to repair (an old Bedrock if anyone remembers that old amp company).
After following you for I don't know how long now...I keep picking up on hints of an English Major in your vocabulary and use of analogies...close?
Absolutamente.
The thing is that very few people really know what a good guitar amplifier should sound like. There's a scientific aspect and a creative/artistic synergy which marketing kind of ruins. Amps are bought and assessed mostly in an emotional way when they're very technical devices but the players generally don't understand the technical side. Only a few players really know what they're looking for and what it should sound like, I don't have that talent so I wouldn't know how to tell a good amp from a bad amp.
The way a guitar amp sounds is completely subjective. If I like the way it sounds than it's a good sounding tube amp.
@@jdl2180 Yes of course that's true! But most people don't really know how to assess that and simply go by a brand or what their heroes play. Nothing wrong with that of course but there are people out there who really have a knack for knowing what an amp should sound like both technically and creatively.
@@roderickbalt8993 that is true, I do see what you are saying.
@@jdl2180 That's great, find gems and throw them in your next lo-fi album, that's what that gear is "good" for.
Just don't kid yourself about the audio quality/fidelity of a cost-effective or poorly made amp compared to one where an expert builder's gone all out. (like a Dumble)
in response to OP: Yeah, its a shitty situation. Pretty much every field with even a little creativity gets flooded with "subjective" marketing. i.e. "Buy our multi-fx amp simulator, it sounds JUST LIKE THE REAL THING!!!"
Ur vids really need to reach more people. Great vid as always!
Wear eye protection while working on morgan amps noted. Good job investigating here! Loving the new camera animations as well ; )
thanks for your wizard knowledge Lyle... bless you and your wisdom
This is common with many products: The flagship release is done well and uses quality parts. Over time, the maker starts to see dollar signs by cutting production costs, and then we end up with what we have here. Everything (everything) is built *down* to a price when investors are involved.
Investors are usually just rich slags who don't want to work
This was a great watch. You got a new subscriber on your hands. Thanks for all the insight!
Seeing this makes me glad I take pride in my work, this is just shoddy. How do they get away with this, honestly? Thank you as always, Lyle! 😁
Lyle is a fake. This is not even a production Morgan Amp - moron youtuber.
Hopefully, this takes Morgan down a peg. Well done!
thank you for this revealing video.
Awesome video. It's so appreciated that somebody is out there exposing such garbage to the masses.
The only exposure is this idiot, Lyle.
So glad I sold mine. Terrible hum, even after a trip back to the factory, it never was right
My Tone King was just sent back by Sweetwater and hope the same thing doesn't happen How long did the process take ?? Thanks
@@paulcowart3174 - I think Joe Morgan had the amp for about two weeks. This was after a local tech butchered it for two weeks, solder blobs everywhere chasing a the hum. After getting it back and playing a show, I resisted it on Reverb and the guy I bought it from bought it back.
I don’t know how long the Tone King thing will be. I had other amps so it wasn’t a problem
Cough... $2100 US.... cough...with those cheap caps and crappy solder joints, and a non existent safety wire. Huh. Shame on Morgan. ( There's a guy here in Stettler, Alberta, builds amps one at a time, perfect solder joints, high quality components. Sells a 5E3 for $2100 Canadian. Spectacular deal compared to most mass produced junk. ). Love your videos, it's almost like going to amp school.
Hi I am in Edmonton Alberta.
Please advise how I can get in touch with the amp builder in Stettler?
Thanks
Who do you speak of in Alberta??
given your knowledge, Is there any superb commercial or "handwired" amp that IS made well and worth the money. I'm looking to invest into one
Sell whatever you got and get a TopHat Amp!
WoW !!!!!!!!! GREAT VIDEO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh god, at least I bought mine direct at a discount. I’m wanting a Princeton in its original size with a 12” and was researching using a kit and what upgrades I could use. Also wanting a single channel DR in a Princeton sized package; any suggestions? Good builders? Good kits? Do you teach/train? I live in a mountain town and sol on anyone who can even bias an amp properly.
Damn....at 8:41 those solder joints. Wow, was that factory???
Yup.
Sir, outstanding rundown. Saved me from ever getting a Morgan. I'm not certain if you have a connection to Josh Smith's amp tech, but I suspect he or she holds many dark secrets from all of the PR and JS12's they serviced while on the road. Now that would be a fireworks show of a video / interview to put on this channel. Thank you for your insight and wisdom. Everyone one of these videos is similar to a campfire folk tale, full of wisdom you can't get anywhere else.
Respectfully,
Andrew
Josh was using a Two Rock in the concert videos I 've seen for the last few years.
Josh used a Morgan GOAT for a while.
@@SRHMusic012 Josh did an early episode of the Tim (Pierce) and Pete (Thorn) Show from his then under construction home studio. Morgan had built 2 amps for him replicating Josh's vintage Super reverb and AC30 so he didn't have to take his vintage stuff on the road.
It's not even a Morgan Amp. This is pure slander. Anyone that actually has owned a real one knows. Go find a dealer and play one. There is a lifetime guarantee on the amp. Lyle is NOT an amp builder, nor does he know anything about amps (other than watching youtube videos) lol
Other than my last name name, I have no affiliation with Morgan Amps.
Watching all your videos cures GAS for purchasing all those "boutique" amps.. Mesa, Morgan, Tone King... The list just keeps on going.
But, wanting to spend about 2000 for the amp for life, no vintage nor local builder, what would you then suggest? Maybe going for a Chinese Vox AC15 with the Blue Alnico speaker would be the best bet? What experienced people here suggest? 2000 dollars 10 to 15w with reverb.. Maybe Cornell from UK? Marshall 2525c Jubilee (minus the reverb on this one..)
Gosh, almost brain damage at this point 😅
LMFAO!!! That aha moment was priceless! I think it was you poking at the caps with a vengeance to make a point that did it.
Wow glad I did my research cheers mate.
Good lord ... and I considered buying one of these.
And the common thing I hear on videos of Morgan owners is "Well I would love to own the vintage amp this is based on but those amps are unreliable".
LOL! Morons.
Outstanding. I’ve learned so much from viewing your videos.
I always learn a ton! Thanks 🙏
Luckily, this excellent sounding amp lives on with the Neural DSP vst.
How was the amp going again??? :). Great vid, and thank you.
If you ever get across a Marshall 2266 Vintage Modern, I'd love to hear your opinion. It was designed by Steve Dawson and people on the forums think it's great quality for a modern Marshall at this price. On the other hand, the tech who fixed my amp was puzzled by the some design decisions and the way it was assembled. And he hated the reverb. ^_^
I have one, built very well, reverb terrible cheap digital circuit, but Marshall reverb is not great no matter the model. What design decisions?,
Very cool video, that you found two suspected issues in real time here. By the way they're saving only about $6 or $8 - the difference between the $1.50 caps and the more expensive ones. Even at $3.50 it's a difference of $2.00, or $8 for four. Fender probably had similar savings with the low temperature rated, short life rated UC caps, too, in at least a few models.
You are correct. The difference of cost for one amp is not even worth discussing. So for truly small, skilled, honorable amp builders, the answer to that question is completely obvious.
But, when you are dealing with corporations that are building thousands of amp in a year, those $5-8 start adding up to some big numbers - the numbers that will actually show up on an engineering or accounting report. So those accumulated numbers are the ones that the big-wig know-nothings in the corner offices see. For them, those number differentials look pretty huge. So since they are ones who will make the decisions, they don't care if the customer 'might' have a problem if the cost of replacement/repair works out less that the cost difference of the better components.
Years ago, in many industries, when it was engineers, machinists, builders, designers who were running the companies, quality wasn't so easily set aside. Now decisions are being made by the people who have no idea at all about what the product is, and they don't care. They are MBA - taught that they can run any business - no need to worry about the product, just follow the corporate steps the increase profits, show company growth, and keep the day-traders happy.
I bought this amp about a year ago. No problems up to this point, probably wouldn’t have bought it though if I would have known that people have issues with them 😂. However, no complaints so far
You won't, but if you did, you would use the lifetime warranty, not go to some idiot hack know nothing.
I would infer that you are not a fan of Morgan amps. And then the caps howl on cue. Brilliant. After watching a metric ton of your vids, I tend to proceed with trepidation every time I turn one of my amps on. I just know there's some sort of disastrous "gotcha" lurking within just waiting to bite me in the ass. You have a scary channel.
Selecting the highest quality and best sounding components throughout the circuit is absolutely imperative. And of course knowing how to make good solder joints helps a lot too! 🎸
Thanks for your video. Like others this helped keep me from making a mistake buying one of these.
I am SO happy I didn't take a sip of coffee just before that cap oscillated! 🤣
Great video. I own an old Morgan made probably 20 years ago and it actually has the correct cap values. (500V) Soldering looks the same however but at least the caps were right on this one. I'm the second owner and know the amp wasn't modded. This explains why I hear so many bad things about these amps thanks!
Doesn't explain shit. He is a moron.
So which boutique builders actually make high quality amps with high quality parts?
Of course I had to open up my AC20 after watching. The caps in there have “500VDC” printed on them, I suppose that is sufficient? My eye is definitely untrained in this area but I’d like to think I have a good ear and the amp sounds great, I hope it lasts.
I just bought one from Sweetwater for 2 grand out the door. It has the best sounding, clearest heavenly tones I’ve ever heard. YMMV
Thanks man, I’m learning so much from your vids
I wonder if this amp was built before Boutique Amp Distribution took over production. It's suprising those filter caps are so poorly spec'd. Now I wonder if all of B.A.D.'s amp brands (Soldano, Friedman, etc) suffer from similar shortcomings.
Mr. Soldano and Mr. Friedman sign off on all their amps. Listening to them on Tone Talk, I get the feeling they are men of integrity. Morgan, on the other hand, not so much...
I was wondering the same thing about it being a preBAD amp ,i would think B.A.D would have better quality .
@@luizdejesus6240 Joe Morgan on Tone Talk was the worst one, he was too busy playing video games to answer questions…really took away some respect that I had for his brand. Now I would by a Friedman or Soldano any day!
@@islanderwinder B.A.D. did have a “bad batch” of caps awhile back that went into who knows how many amps. I wish they sent out “recall cards” like car companies, lol
There's a old guy from England who opens up tube amps and goes through them on his UA-cam channel. He went through a brand new Friedman and he found some shoddy workmanship and corner cutting also. I'm starting to see a pattern emerging. I sounds you have to be leary of buying products from B.A.D.
Thanks so much for the insight... I've been learning a lot from all your videos...would like to give my drri some of you suggested upgrades...thanks a bunch!
Thanks Mike!
Thanks for the info. I’m so glad I bought my ac20 combo used for $1000.
How do you like it/how has it performed?
Do you happen to know if Morgan fixed some of the problems you mention in the 2023 models?
Rhett Schull loves his Morgan.
Any other American boutique builders doing this? Or just Morgan?
There are other bad ones but I'd rather point out the good ones when possible.
And I don't know if all Morgans are like this. The four I've had in all had major issues like this.
14:59 the Eureka moment everyone is waiting for
What amp builders can we have confidence in? I’m looking at Ceriatone
Hi Lyle, about your comments on not using the stand-by on an amp with a tube rectifier, could you say if this is true for the Marshall 1974x (2x EL84 & 1x EZ81)? I have always thought that the stand-by was there to 'save' the power tubes. Cheers.
EL84s don't need saving. The only purpse of a standby is if the unloaded B+ voltage exceeds the voltage rating of the filter caps (or a cathode follower grid).
None of the tubes we use in guitar amps can be harmed by a lack of a standby (except cathode followers but that's not what the myth is about).
Unless you are operating a radio station using tube gear, tubes don't need standby.
The "who's hands?" Comments really resonated with me. I see a lot of talk about how hand wired is the cream of the crop etc but I'll take a machine blasting out a PCB any day of the week if it means the product I'm thinking of buying is more consistently reliable. Not that it's always the case for either design but this obsession with "hand wired boutique" builds is very tiresome especially if this can be the result!
I buy nothing but handwired. Not because it’s cool, but because when playing out often the pc board amps (Laney, a few Marshals, and one Mesa) I had, had to have multiple wire jumpers installed over the years because the PC boards heated up and got brittle and lost connection. The Marshalls were the worst, but the Laneys were almost as bad. In fairness to Mesa, it only happened once, but had other issues. I now use mainly Victoria amps. I did recently but a DR Z Maz 18 MK-II, we’ll see how well it holds up.
Just thinking...pretty wire dress and eyelet boards don't assure quality or tone, right!
And, are these things UL approved?
I’m starting to wonder what amps you actually think are good? Every amp you breakdown has some inherent flaw. What amps do you believe are actually good from the factory? I have a DRRI and Mesa Transatlantic 30, both have issues. DRRI is always putting off excessive noise, and the Mesa sometimes just decides it wants to turn off then turn right back on. Happens about five minutes after turning on, almost every time, then just plays and sounds pretty good.
he has mentioned some brands in past videos: Suhr, Germino, Metropoulos, etc.
I define "good" differently at different price points.
A Vox AC15C1X is very good at its price point.
A Fender '65 Princeton Reissue is not as good at its price point as the AC15, but it's better than the '68 Custom PR or the Blues Junior.
In the next tier, a Magnatone is better than a Dr Z which is better than an Orange.
A Marshall SV20 is better than a Marshall Origin. A Ceriatone will kill either Marshall.
Anything is better than a Morgan, a Tyler, or a Lazy J.
It's too long a list to cover extensively.
Maybe I should do a "I've got $500 and need an amp - what is on Reverb?" video. And $1000. And $2000.
Wouldn't be exhaustive but it would be realistic. Would have to do maybe 2-3 genre choices per video.
@@PsionicAudio Love your idea! We need professional opinions from techs and engineers, not bought influencers.
@@PsionicAudio yes please do these videos! More than once I’ve decided on a new amp and then watched you repair said amp which change my mind. Even better would be a series on these amps with your included recommended “mods” or upgrades - for a knowledgeable tech to perform of course:)
@@PsionicAudio Lyle, yes go for it!
Please correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that Morgan's are built by Boutique Audio Devices. Who also build Soldano and Friedman. I am constantly amazed at the so-called hand built amps that are so bad as this one is. I could build a better one with my eyes closed, well, almost anyway. Also, aren't those coupling caps made by the same company that makes Sozo caps?
Boutique Amp Distributers
Great video. Very valuable to see under the hood. Psionic Audio what would you say is the best made amp today?
Neural DSP.
jeez. i have a joe-built sw22 i bought s few years ago and have played it everyday for anywhere from 2 to 6 hours with no issues.
please tell me the fact that my head was not built by BAD but by joe himself is why it’s been trouble free???
or, am i gonna see sloppy solder and shabby electronics if i open it up???
🙁
Whoa whoa, question. You expressed a lot of concern over those 450v filter caps. The Ceriatone Lightning has 450v caps in their layout, so should I replace those for 500v caps? You've got me a bit anxious now!
It depends on what the unloaded voltage in the amp is. Lightning probably uses an EZ81 so 450V caps would probably be fine. As Douglas said, don’t panic.
@@PsionicAudio Thanks for the quick response. It's a GZ34/5ar4 in the Lightning.
P.S. I've got my towel.
Oh I thought it was a 15W thing with the smaller rectifier. You are probably still fine. It’s a mistake very very few manufacturers make. I can’t see Nik making it.
@@PsionicAudio So, funny thing, I checked a photo of a gutshot I took, and lo and behold, all four of the 22uf caps had already been changed to 500v (the 33uf caps are still 450v). And yes, the Lightning is a (very loud) 15w amp.
I bought a Mesa Nomad. Had to go in and replace some pots. I replaced them all. They were the cheapest pots I ever came across, fell apart in my hands.
Thanks Lyle. Saved me $ again!
could one substitute the GZ34 rectifier with a 5y3 to get voltages down to safe levels.. I do not get the point of running those tung sol 6v6gt up at plus 450V plate..
I have seen one schematic of an older princeton reverb and that had 420V on the B+. But that old princeton had a much smaller power transformer that would limit the power.. compared to the deluxe reverb that also calls for 420V B+ but with a larger power and output transformer.. ( I think I have seen a schematic with a B+ of 396V on a modern fender reverb reissue.).
Some modern 5e3 deluxe amps have the same problem.. original is supposed to have a plate voltage of 370V but has a 5K dropping resistor to screen limiting voltage on the screens.. modern variants with the 250 ohm bias resistor and plus 400V on the plate are biased to hot at idle.
Are there any good amps out there at all apart from DSL 40 or JCM 900? I am scared to buy a Fender low voltage issue and other stuff you said on Blues Jnr and Hot Rod Deluxe.
Thanks for showing the flows and shame on these unscrupulous companies.
I've understood the newer GZ34's are junk, just spent a good buck on a NOS GZ34 due to this. Maybe you've had better experiences with the new ones. I'm hip to not using a standby switch too, especially with a tube rectifier, good advice.
Luckily, this video is the first time I have ever heard of a Morgan amp.