Do I need a cap job?

[Luckie]

I tried a search, but I couldn't get anything.
I have an old Road 440 solid-state head. It's 100% original and has served faithfully since 1972.
It should need a cap job right? 39 years seems like enough time.
What would indicate that cap replacement was needed? Anything I could tell from the sound/performance?
What would new caps do for the sound?

Thanks!

[Robby Hoinsky]

I'm looking forward to the responses too. My guess is yes, but I don't really know. If you open it up and see any fluid oozing out, then definitely.

Robby

[BurningSkies]

Originally Posted by Luckie

I tried a search, but I couldn't get anything.
I have an old Road 440 solid-state head. It's 100% original and has served faithfully since 1972.
It should need a cap job right? 39 years seems like enough time.
What would indicate that cap replacement was needed? Anything I could tell from the sound/performance?
What would new caps do for the sound?

Thanks!

Have you noticed a change in performance? Or have you noticed random noise and crackling, distortion, etc?

I have several amps from the 60's that still have the original caps and pretty much plan on leaving be unless something goes wrong...

[christw]

It won't hurt to run it by a tech. A $40 bench fee for peace of mind. That said, I wouldn't pay for a checkup unless it was on the fritz. I'm in college and poor though.

[BassmanPaul]

If an amp has been used regularly you'll probably find most of the caps in fair condition. It's mostly when an amp has been stored for a while that the caps dry out and fail. If the amp still seems to be working as it has before then leave well enough alone.

[okcrum]

+1 to Paul's observation. There are a couple of visual signals caps have failed, like evidence of electrolyte (fluid) leakage and bulging at the little pressure relief vents on caps, but you can almost always hear the effects of these without needing to take anything apart to see them.

[BigOldHarry]

If the amp works and doesn't stink like heck, it does not need anything.

[Coolhandjjl]

It's usually hi-fi amps that are more sensitive to old electrolytics going bad.

[Lazarus.Bird]

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

If the amp works and doesn't stink like heck, it does not need anything.

Stink like what?

I picked up an old Peavey Mark VIII from a pawn shop. It was covered in dust but still functional. I bought it for $100 as a backup head and right now it's being used as the PA at our practice space. Works great, but every time it runs I smell something funny. Not electrical fire smell funny, just funny. I just assumed it smelled funny because it was old (these adjectives are synonymous, correct?). Is this something I should have checked out?

[delta7fred]

Originally Posted by Lazarus.Bird

Stink like what?

I picked up an old Peavey Mark VIII from a pawn shop. It was covered in dust but still functional. I bought it for $100 as a backup head and right now it's being used as the PA at our practice space. Works great, but every time it runs I smell something funny. Not electrical fire smell funny, just funny. I just assumed it smelled funny because it was old (these adjectives are synonymous, correct?). Is this something I should have checked out?

It's probably all the old dust getting hot, bits of dead skin, old carpet, in fact anything that is small enough to get into the amp, I hate the smell so usually take a chassis outside and blow it over with an airline before I start repairing it.

To the OP, if the amp is not buzzing excessively and has no mysterious pops and crackles, other than dirty pots, then leave well alone unless you have plenty of money to throw at it. Once you start on old tube amps you can find all sorts of things that would be better fixed while you are in there that would probably go on for years, especially as has been pointed out if they are used regularly.

Edit - I have just read the OP again and it is solid state. and a Peavey VIII is as well, just ignore everything I posted.

[AwkwardLoudness]

Can you post photos or at least inspect the amp yourself? If the filter capacitors are bulging and/or cracked, then I strongly recommend replacing them. The area near the caps' terminals may not be easy to inspect depending on how they're mounted inside the amp. It would be a major inconvenience if one of them fails at the wrong time like at a gig and a cap failure can damage other components. I've re-capped most vintage amps I own or previously owned.

[Luckie]

I'll post some internal amp pics next time I get a chance, it's locked up in our practice space at the moment.

[Low Class]

Is that anything like a knob job?

[Calaverasgrande]

Often amps/gear will still work fine even when it could use a cap job. After gettign caps replaced the mud will be gone and the eq will actually work. I've done cap jobs on a lot of stuff like keyboards, preamps etc. Amps I dont really mess with due to the voltages involved. Also, solidstate amps usually have a lot of caps!