Crate Palomino

[billcreller]

The guys who have the recording studio,  that I've fixed stuff for before,  brought over a Crate Palomino amp,  and they said that it " blows pre-amp tubes".....

Just what the hell that means is a mystery to me.

  Anyway, when I removed the cover on the back,  I saw that it's a PC board amp with tubes..  I declined to work on it.....
 The last one I worked on with a PC board, was a Delta Blues (?) and real PIA, so I said  nope !

 Are  those amps any good ? 

[tubenit]

Bill,

I wouldn't repair it either.  I'd take on the task to gut it and rebuild it into something that I'd value.  In my experience, Crate amps are not well thought of.

With respect, Tubenit

[bnwitt]

Bill,
I have a lot of experience with those amps.  They do have some inherent design issues but they are great sounding amps and they are really not that hard to work on.  See a thread where I modded one to fix the overheating problem in the chassis.

http://music-electronics-forum.com/t11813/

Barry

[billcreller]

Thanks for the replies folks.  Good article on cooling one off Barry ! 
 I'll have to ask these guys some questions about the problem they have.  My info was second-hand from my son.  Not sure I need any more projects right now....the plate is full,!

BILL

[Ritchie200]

Bill,

For a retired guy, you sure are busy!  Keep on keepin' on!

Jim

[billcreller]

I think the key part of that word is "tired" !   I need a vacation!  The trick ( so far) to staying alive, is to keep movin' 

We (the wife & I )are going to Honolulu in December,  for the graduating ceremony for our youngest son, who gets his PHD/doctorate degree at University of Hawaii on the 20th....
  And of course we are very proud of him!
And I'll be sitting in with my musician friends on my steel guitar too !

Sorry to mud this up with BS !!

[tubenit]

We (the wife & I )are going to Honolulu in December,  for the graduating ceremony for our youngest son, who gets his PHD/doctorate degree at University of Hawaii on the 20th....
  And of course we are very proud of him!
And I'll be sitting in with my musician friends on my steel guitar too !

Sorry to mud this up with BS !!

NO mud there at all ................ just pure GOLD !!!!!    Very cool!   

With respect, Tubenit

[PRR]

> Sorry to mud this up

Doctor Son is *much* more important than some old crate.

Congratulations.

[kagliostro]

Oh, yes, it is, CONGRATULATIONS

Franco

[Ritchie200]

Soooo.... While we are sitting in our snow covered homes with teeth chattering, scraping ice and snow off our cars, bundled up and looking like the Michelin Man - YOU will be frolicking on the beach surrounded by long haired bikini clad Hawaiian girls.

I really don't want to talk to you any more.....

Congrats on your son and find some time to relax and recharge!

Jim

[billcreller]

I don't think I'll be doing much "frolicking"     Although there are very many beautiful girls/women there !!    One of my Hawaiian friends is taking that time off of work, vacation time, so we can hang out     He is a musician of course, and I rebuilt several vintage/old steel guitars for him, all Rickenbackers, or, Rickenbachers if they are 30s instruments.  I guess Old Otto changed his last name as WW2 came along !

[billcreller]

In regard to the Crate amp, fixing the hot problem is likely something I can do for those guys......I haven't turned it on yet.

[Ritchie200]

Bill,

Make sure to take some pictures of your jam sessions and beach frolicking so we can all live vicariously through you!

Jim

[billcreller]

Maybe the jam sessions ......... .

I'm having trouble trying to print the schematic for this amp.  My printer will print a test page, but not the schematic.
Probably have to wait until my son comes over tomorrow (Saturday) to get it to work.

I turned it on this evening, with a guitar plugged into it, and it worked for about 5 seconds, then, dead silence !

I'll take voltage measurements & see if there's power in there someplace !  Tubes appear to be all recent,  Electro Harmonics.

[DummyLoad]

congrats to you and your family and may your vacation be all that you hope for.


--pete

[DummyLoad]

P.C.B.A.R.T

[Willabe]

 

[billcreller]

  That's a "kool tool !"   The only solid state amp I have is the little Roland Micro-Cube, which fits in luggage !

The Crate amp doesn't work when the "clean/overdrive is in the clean position.  So when I first turned it on it didn't work at all.
  I think I'll pass on this one.....and I have a half finished National clone on my bench to finish....