Had a client bring in a vintage tube amp that nearly started a fire in my shop

This was last Tuesday, and it was a real wake-up call. The amp was a 1960s model, and the owner said it just 'stopped making sound.' I powered it up on my bench with my current limiter, which is standard, but the second I flipped the switch, I saw smoke from the power supply. I killed it fast, but the smell was awful. When I opened it up, the main filter capacitors were completely shot, leaking everywhere, and one of the old carbon resistors had cooked itself black. The owner had no idea it hadn't been serviced in maybe 40 years. It's a solid reminder to never trust old gear, even if it seems fine at first. Has anyone else had a close call with old capacitors that just gave up?

2 comments

2 Comments

richardknight1mo ago

Yeah, that "never trust old gear" line is so true. My buddy had an old radio where the wax capacitors just melted into a puddle on his bench. Total mess.

lily3601mo ago

Yikes, talk about a capacitor meltdown.