Silvertone 1484 twin twelve - worth fixing up?

[ebhaugen]

Hiya guys!

I've got a beautiful early sixties Silvertone 1484 twin twelve. I've had it for like 7 years now and I just don't use it that much.

Here's why: It hisses, crackles, and hums like a monster SOMETIMES. At my house it's terrible and noisy,but at some clubs it's quiet.

I've taken it to several amp techs and they've sorta just shrugged and said, "It's a silvertone, they're noisy amps." They threw in some new 6L6s and said it's good to go.

Is there anyone out there who knows how to get this amps to be reliably quiet running?

Thanks for your wisdom!

 

[blowtorch]

Has it got a grounded 3 prong power cord?

They do tend to be noisy. And sometimes they take awhile to heat up and get cooking.

Do you have the one with the glorious cardboard-tube reverb ?

 

[ebhaugen]

Yup, it's got a three prong power cord. And oh yeah, it's got the hilarious "reverb."

 

[dankilling]

No, send it to me and I'll dispose of it properly

 

[Fearnot]

Yeah... presuming it's been recapped and all that, if it's still too noisy for you, I'm sure you'll have no trouble at all re-homing it.

 

[ebhaugen]

Yeah... presuming it's been recapped and all that, if it's still too noisy for you, I'm sure you'll have no trouble at all re-homing it.

It has NOT been recapped. Seems like every tech I've taken it too was reticent to do that either because it's a pain in the ass or a suitable replacement cap-can is hard to come by.

 

[BobbyZ]

I'd replace every electrolytic in it. Can't get a cap can to match? If they can't figure that out they need to get out of the tech business!

Now it's noisy at home and quite at clubs? That leads me to believe you have something going on at home.

The fact that you gig with it is why I'd replace the electrolytics.

 

[ebhaugen]

I'd replace every electrolytic in it. Can't get a cap can to match? If they can't figure that out they need to get out of the tech business!

Now it's noisy at home and quite at clubs? That leads me to believe you have something going on at home.

The fact that you gig with it is why I'd replace the electrolytics.

Yeah, sounds like i need to find a less lazy tech.

There's definitely dirty, ungrounded power at my house. I don't even bother playing electric. One day, I'm gonna get a dedicated circuit put in. One day.....

 

[BobbyZ]

Run an extention cord over to the niehbor's place. If you have a bunch of druggys next door like me it'll go unnoticed for years.

 

[Greenmachine]

I did a bunch of stuff including star grounding with plastic nuts and washers. It's still noisy. I gave up its not so bad.

 

[ebhaugen]

I did a bunch of stuff including star grounding with plastic nuts and washers. It's still noisy. I gave up its not so bad.

Hrmmm...have you recapped your 1484 as well? Just trying to determine if it's worth the $$$.

Thanks!

 

[ebhaugen]

Here's a clip of the 1484 in action.

 

[vjf1968]

Hrmmm...have you recapped your 1484 as well? Just trying to determine if it's worth the $$$.



Thanks!

It really doesn't cost THAT much. Probably in the $200 to $300 range depending on the tech. Done right that amp will last a long time.

 

[Zipslack]

Here's my suggestions...
1. Get a power conditioner/UPS and see if that helps with the dirty power. Then call your power company to see if the problem is on their end.
2. Definitely re-cap it. Any halfway competent tech should be able to handle it.
3. While re-capping they should clean and 're-tension the tube sockets. Then check for bad solder joints and noisy carbon comp resistors (one resistor can make an amp hiss and crackle like crazy).
4. Finish up by cleaning all the jacks and pots.
This kind of job would have been 2 hours @ $60/hour plus parts when I was still doing repair work. Figure $2-300 for a full work-over by a competent tech, but it's worth it if you like the amp.

 

[Greenmachine]

Yep recapped. But they were the original electrolytics and coupling caps.

 

[BobbyZ]

Just a thought and likely wrong. If your voltage at home is higher than where you gig it might be enough to cause noise with old weak electrolytics.

Do your other amps make noise at home too ?

 

[ebhaugen]

Here's my suggestions...
1. Get a power conditioner/UPS and see if that helps with the dirty power. Then call your power company to see if the problem is on their end.
2. Definitely re-cap it. Any halfway competent tech should be able to handle it.
3. While re-capping they should clean and 're-tension the tube sockets. Then check for bad solder joints and noisy carbon comp resistors (one resistor can make an amp hiss and crackle like crazy).
4. Finish up by cleaning all the jacks and pots.
This kind of job would have been 2 hours @ $60/hour plus parts when I was still doing repair work. Figure $2-300 for a full work-over by a competent tech, but it's worth it if you like the amp.

Sounds like a plan - I'm gonna find a tech willing to spend some time on the amp and then run down this list. Thanks!

 

[ebhaugen]

Just a thought and likely wrong. If your voltage at home is higher than where you gig it might be enough to cause noise with old weak electrolytics.

Do your other amps make noise at home too ?

Honestly, yeah. All my amps are noisier at home. I live in a lovely 1949 bungalow in the south, so the wiring's pretty funky.

 

[nymtber]

Honestly, yeah. All my amps are noisier at home. I live in a lovely 1949 bungalow in the south, so the wiring's pretty funky.

Run one or two new electrical lines to the room you want to play in, using new wire and grounds. That should *help*.

Power conditioner is not a bad idea no matter where you live. Cleans up your power supply and provides a more pure sine wave signal I need one...

 

[BobbyZ]

Really if the amps working right it should work pretty well with the "vintage" two prong wiring in your house.
Have you tried flipping the plug?

That said I much prefer grounded cords and property wired outlets! I got my fair share of shocks years ago and still get plenty when I screw up inside an amp.