Reconditioning a Vintage Traynor Amp

[CGT]

Hey folks. I've got an ancient Traynor Guitar Mate amp that I haven't used in years, primarily because I was playing it one afternoon and it started smoking then stopped working entirely. I'm guessing that the transformer blew (and in the process took out the tubes as well). I spoke to a local music shop a couple of years back was told that getting the amp reconditioned would cost roughly $300 (parts included. Now given that amps are fairly simple things, I was wondering if this was something I could do myself with a couple of simple tools. However, I have been warned that replacing the transformer and playing with the guts might result in a lethal shock if the caps are still charged. Also, I have no idea how to test that it is indeed the transformer that blew and not the tubes/caps/etc due to some overload. Also of note, the previous owner took out the fuse and bypassed it entirely.

Some insight would be appreciated. Or should I simply take it in and let a pro handle it?

[Dave_P]

Most of the repairs are probably simple you may even be able to tell, visually, if something really got fried (by smell too sometimes) I have no idea why someone would take the fuse out I'm pretty sure you want that to prevent what happened to your amp. There are a lot of write ups on how to discharge the caps safely and a good rule is to always keep one hand in your pocket while reaching around in the chassis (as not to complete a circuit through your body). There is definitely a risk involved.

I'm not an expert by any means and have debated with myself for years(literally) on a simple repair to my amp, it's a $9 part I was quoted $100 to repair it by a local tech and I just can't bring myself to pay that much but also don't really want to mess with the lethal voltage thing. In my case the amp still works, just no tremolo, so it's easier to put off.

That's probably not much help, but good luck those old Traynors are nice

-Dave

[darwinohm]

Chet, if you have a schematic for this amp and can read it you could do the work but if you have not done electronic repair I wouldn't recommend it as the soldering is very important. Secondly, if you have components that are burned to the degree that they have lost their identification marks, there is not anything you can do without a schematic and often burned resistors and components are not usually the cause but a result of something else malfunctioning. it can be a crap shoot. I have bypassed fuses in 12 volt lighting systems to isolate the problem by watching for smoke but I wouldn't do it in a amp. -- Darwin

[CGT]

As I said, I've been quoted about 300 dollars for the repair/recondition (parts included) and I'm thinking that, if the tech can bring it back to as-new condition, it's a good deal. At the same time, I'm thinking, if it's up in that price range, am I better off getting a more recent offering from Fender or Egnater in the the 300-500 price range?

Thoughts would be appreciated.

[darwinohm]

I thought you already owned it. There is a reason why it hasn't been restored. I think it would be a good do it yourself project for someone who has electroncis experience but I would question its value if you hire it done. -- Darwin

[louis cyfer]

Hey folks. I've got an ancient Traynor Guitar Mate amp that I haven't used in years, primarily because I was playing it one afternoon and it started smoking then stopped working entirely. I'm guessing that the transformer blew (and in the process took out the tubes as well). I spoke to a local music shop a couple of years back was told that getting the amp reconditioned would cost roughly $300 (parts included. Now given that amps are fairly simple things, I was wondering if this was something I could do myself with a couple of simple tools. However, I have been warned that replacing the transformer and playing with the guts might result in a lethal shock if the caps are still charged. Also, I have no idea how to test that it is indeed the transformer that blew and not the tubes/caps/etc due to some overload. Also of note, the previous owner took out the fuse and bypassed it entirely.

Some insight would be appreciated. Or should I simply take it in and let a pro handle it?

from your post it certainly appears that this is not a job for you. 300 for transformer, tubes and recapping the amp is not that bad actually. you have to consider what the amp is worth when functioning properly.