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Re-Capping an older amp - Peavey Encore 65 tube amp
http://rivercityamps.com/electraforum/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=6243		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  A914Man [ Fri Feb 17, 2012 11:16 am ]
Post subject:  Re-Capping an older amp - Peavey Encore 65 tube amp
I've been told/warned/forewarned whatever you want to call it, that my tube amp should be "re-capped", that is replacing all the large electrolitic capacitors.

I'm an electronics goob, so I don't nuthin' 'bout working on amps.

The amp is a Peavey Encore 65 1986 model, so it's over 25 years old.

I'm getting conflicting advice though, one person says that capacitors of those vintage last much longer, and I shouldn't run into a problem. The other advice is change them now before the amp cooks itself.

What say you?? :huh: :huh:
Author:  mortarman120gang11c [ Fri Feb 17, 2012 11:21 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Re-Capping an older amp - Peavey Encore 65 tube amp
If it ain't broke don't fix it. The old peavey stuff is tough as a tank. It may need it eventually but it all depends on how you use it. At max output power for long periods of time then I would consider it but for just at home jammin I would leave as is.
Author:  Jead [ Fri Feb 17, 2012 11:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Re-Capping an older amp - Peavey Encore 65 tube amp
If they're over 10 years old and especially if they haven't been used much in along period of time - change them. They may look fine but over time they can leak - which you would probably see - and dry out - which you won't see. It's possible to reform the caps by a slow start up with a variac, but in the end, electrolytics need changing.

that's mt 2 cents.
Author:  drdave [ Fri Feb 17, 2012 5:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Re-Capping an older amp - Peavey Encore 65 tube amp
Sooner or later the electrolytics will need to be replaced - and that is the most common problem I encounter with old tube amps -- I'm not a tech, but do have some skill with repairs of this nature. It's possible they may last a LONG time (I have a 1952 RCA pa head that sounds great and still has the original caps) -- but if you choose not to replace them, be prepared to shut the amp off at any sign of a problem - and then DON'T turn it back on until it's fixed !! I cooked a transformer once by not following my own advice !! Jead is quite right, if the amp has been used regularly, less chance of a problem -- if it's been sitting for years, well..........( and Mortarman has a point, too - Peavey stuff is darn near mil-spec - and Arthur would know !!)
Author:  A914Man [ Sat Feb 18, 2012 7:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Re-Capping an older amp - Peavey Encore 65 tube amp
The amp was gigged for a few years at first, then used by me occasionally at home for about 4 years, sat for another 4, gigged for about 6 months, then sat for about 12 years used only a couple times a year, and now I'm using it nearly every day for practice, with about two gigs a month.

I like the amp a lot, I just don't want it to fail during a gig, and I don't want to cook it either.

Thanks for the advice, keep those cards and letters comin'
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