newbie needs Help with 36 watt clone

[bassguy]

I really need some help!! I purchased a 36 watt clone off ebay a year ago
and for some reason when palying with the volume up around 6 to 7 the amp would fart out occasionally espcially on low notes on any speaker cab i try. I have tried 3 different cabs as well as bass cabs and no luck.
I looked at the amp and noticed the heater wires were very long and messy decided to rewire the heaters as well as clean up some things hoping this would fix the problem. After rewiring the heaters and replacing 2 power tube sockets (v6 and v7), the amp powered up fine, but now the amp makes a bad motorboat sound and very low volume. What is weird is i can pull the 2 outside tubes (v4 and v7), only running v5 and v6 and the amp sounds awesome better than it ever did! No noise no motorboating nothing!!I also measured voltages i will post them also they seem way off.

[zaphod_phil]

So maybe you have a pair of bad power tubes, or else two sockets have got bad solder joints.... Have you tried swapping tubes between the different sockets?

BTW are you playing bass guitar through this amp??

[bassguy]

HeyPhil thanks for replying!! I have swapped all 4 tubes around and i get the same thing. The amp will only work with tubes in v4 and v5. I dont think it is the tubes. I will check the solder joints tonight though. I bought this amp for my son he has only used it for guitar only. I have not used the amp for bass. I have check voltages also what do you think?

v1 pin 1= 143 v1 pin3= 1.2 v1 pin6= 143 v1 pin8=1.2

v2 pin 1=190 v2 pin3= 77 v2 pin6= 190 v2 pin7=0 v2 pin8=77

v3 pin1= 135 v3 pin2=0 v3 pin3=0 v3 pin6=214 v3 pin7= 135 v3pin8= 134

v4 pin3= 8.7 v4 pin7 = 301 v4 pin9= 294

v5 pin3= 8.7 v5 pin7= 301 v5 pin9= 294

v6 pin3= 8.7 v6 pin7= 301 v6 pin9= 294

v7 pin3= 8.7 v7 pin7= 301 v7 pin9= 294

[rjgtr]

I wonder what power transformer it is using. Maybe it doesn't have enough reserve for 4 EL84s.

[Phil_S]

You pulled the outer pair...have you tried pulling the inner pair?
I'd want to know if the result is the same or if the problem is restricted to a particular pair. The answer will suggest an approach to a solution.

[bassguy]

Hey phil i just pulled the inner pair and the amp is working great. I am not sure what kind of transformer i have i did not build the amp. The numbers on the power transformer is w025130.

[Chubsman]

I pasted W025130 in google and got this:

https://taweber.powweb.com/store/magnetic.htm

I think you answered your own question:
W025130 $50.00 Power Transformer for Deluxe, Deluxe Reverb, Tweed Tremolux, Weber 6M18. 120 and 125 Volt input.

I'm prettu sure you have a 2XEl84 transformer in a 4Xel84 amp...

Perhaps you should go to the webber forum for assistance with this transformer and amp.

[bassguy]

Thanks for the info clubsman. I have had the amp for about year and a half now and it has been working fine until a few days ago. If this is the wrong transformer (which it seems like it is), why would the amp work for almost 2 years and just now start to act up? would a new trasformer fix the problem? If so can you recommend one?

[rjgtr]

The transformer might work for a while, but all that time it is being stressed and finally reached it's breaking point. I'd also check the output transformer.

I have used the GDS 36watt transformers with great results. For the PT a transformer for a Vox AC30 size amp would also work.

Weber would also have an apropriate PT. Try calling or emailing them for advice.