Garnet Sessionman from 1970s Needs Repairs

[tinkering]

This is my first repair topic on this forum.

We have a Garnet Sessionman that needs attention. I see a number of Garnet threads already started but I didn't see one on a Sessionman.
I won't have access to the amp for quite some time but if I get the thread up and running I can come back later and proceed.

Going by memory:

- The Fuzz does not work. If you turn the pot up the output tubes light up like a Christmas tree, and it sounds like a train horn.
- There are some hums and buzzes that flipping the polarity switch does not eliminate.
- It was originally a 4x12" cabinet. It was a devil to move around so I separated the speakers at the hip. I removed the old Marsland speakers, halved the cabinet and put a couple of Yamaha speakers in. I made an extension cabinet out of the other half. I did a nice clean job of it all so please don't beat me.  :think1:I am not sure if I ever wired the  speakers in properly so the impedance matched?
- I suppose the thing will need some new tubes, and capacitors and stuff?

That's all I can remember right now. Who has some ideas of what might be required on this unit. I know some say Garnet doesn't rate with the big boys but others say it had a sound like no other... but I love it, and so does my son now.

Does Hoffman have a line on instrument amplifier tubes, like MesaBoogie or something?
I was snooping in the parts section and I saw capacitors and stuff.

Thanks

[sluckey]

Not much point in troubleshooting/discussing the amp until you have it in hand and can try this, try that, measure this, measure that, etc. While you are waiting to get the amp, try to locate a schematic for it. There are several Garnet Sessionman schematics in the 'Tube Amp Schematics library' (link at bottom of this page). Are you electronics savvy?

Hoffman probably has everything you need to repair this amp. Lot's of knowledgeable folks here. Quite a few live in Canada.

[tinkering]

I will search out the Garnet Sessionman schematics in the Tube Amp Schematics Library.

I am half electronics savvy. I need to be led around by the nose a lot of the time but I am capable of following along. I should have closed my mouth and opened my ears when I had the chance.

Thanks

[tinkering]

Not much point in troubleshooting/discussing the amp until you have it in hand and can try this, try that, measure this, measure that, etc. While you are waiting to get the amp, try to locate a schematic for it. There are several Garnet Sessionman schematics in the 'Tube Amp Schematics library' (link at bottom of this page). Are you electronics savvy?

Hoffman probably has everything you need to repair this amp. Lot's of knowledgeable folks here. Quite a few live in Canada.

Here is the schematic for the Garnet Sessionman g250ftr amp; the ftr = fuzz tremolo reverberation:

http://el34world.com/charts/Schematics/files/garnet/garnet_g250ftr_sessionman.pdf

[sluckey]

Here is the schematic for the Garnet Sessionman g250ftr amp

That's a good start.   

[tinkering]

Should I start a new thread? This will be in the running for the oldest active thread but starting a new one would just be duplicating things on my part. It's still all valid.
My son came to me, "Get shopping and fix the Garnet." Maybe he can do some of the work now?

[tinkering]

Ok, it looks like this thread is too old. I have started a new one.
Follow this link:

https://el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=31427.0