Plush 3000B...Need information!

[RalphL]

I found an old Plush 3000B in storage. I got it 30 years ago after a friend handed it to me as he left town. I have looked all over the net and have found photos and some info (very little out there!) but this one is truly an oddity. In small ways, it looks older than what apparently became a standard look for these babys and also has the logo in a different spot. It has seven (7) 6L6 power tubes and 3 12AX7 preamp tubes. Though it will not work without all the tubes, the center power tube of the seven does not light up much nor get very hot. Both channels work as they should as far as I can tell.

Can anyone give me some good information on this unit?

Secondly, it has a slight hum that does not go up in volume when either volume is raised. What can that be??

Finally, is this more valuable as it is or changing out obvious parts that wear such as the capacitors and pots? I already put in a matched set of winged SED 6L6s and Svetlana preamp tubes.

I'll post photos in a day or two.

Thanks in advance for any help!!

[bongomania]

I don't know any tech specs for that amp, but I can tell you for sure its value as a newly-fixed-up, recapped, properly grounded gigging machine would be far greater than its current value as an unmodified collectible.

[johnk_10]

first of all, it doesn't have seven 6L6's. it supposed to have six of them. the center one may look like a 6L6 but its probably a 5U4GB (or possibly an OC3W) rectifier. IMO, they are very nice amps, mostly based on a Fender circuit.

[otis_thick]

http://www.plush-amps.com/

This site is alittle iffy some stuff loads some don't

I also found this on GearSlutz http://www.gearslutz.com/board/instr...ml#post5179344 note the comment about the schematics being "the same as 3000b minus reverb and tremalo"

"Byoungman,

I assume you have a Plush model 3000G sporting a white sparkle diamond tufted cabinet?

These are rated at 160 watts RMS (A 6L6 has a max plate dissipation of 30 watts). The circuit varies from amp to amp...Plush was truly a fly-by-night operation during their brief 5 year existance. You never know what Power or Output trannies will be on board.

Some have an OC3 screen voltage regulator tube...some don't.

Regardless, most sound rather good. Don't expect anything other than clean and loud out of it though if you get it up and running. Even when dimed, it'll only break up slightly.

The reverb will sound nice as will the tremolo assuming they are still functional.

I have a schematic somewhere in my stash-o-stuff for the 3000B which is the same as the 3000G minus the reverb and tremelo. Of course, the odds of it being the same as what you've got is pretty slim though it'll be close enough.

Some 3K series Plush amps are PC board while others are tag board Fender style construction. Some are hybrids mixing and matching PC boards with tag boards. I've even seen a few of them that are true "point-to-point" construction.

Like I said, you never know what Plush did under the hood until you open the amp up.

BTW, just about any competent tube amp repairman can fix the amp...they are very simple circuits. If the trannies are still good (probable) then it can be fixed."

[RalphL]

Many thanks for the quick replys!
Johnk_10, I had considered that but I am not much of a tube head; little experience in this corner. When given to me, they were all 6L6s. I'll find a 5U4GB and give it a shot, most certainly. But how can it work with the 6L6 in that position? Are they that similar?
Bongomania, I'll pull the chassis and see what I am up against. I'm fairly good at wiring and soldering and understand how to read values, etc. But if this sucker is too complex, which I assume it is not if based on an early Fender design, I'll have a local pro go at it. Next is a road case.....

[RalphL]

Check out this page:
http://www.plush-amps.com/PhotoPage3.htm
Mine is a combination of these two. The control plate is just like the brown one (3000B) but the case is like the black one (3000G). The rear of mine has 7 tubes like the black one (3000G) but connections like the brown one. My tube guard but has the blocks in place so I can rig one up. Also note on that page that the 3000B does not have preamp tubes (which mine has) and the 3000G does.
My 3000B is like these 2 amps Frankensteined together!

[RalphL]

Messed a sentence: My tube guard is gone (never was there) but the blocks are in place so I can rig one up.

[johnk_10]

Originally Posted by RalphL

Many thanks for the quick replys!
Johnk_10, I had considered that but I am not much of a tube head; little experience in this corner. When given to me, they were all 6L6s. I'll find a 5U4GB and give it a shot, most certainly. But how can it work with the 6L6 in that position? Are they that similar?

i don't know how it could work? my guess is that its not a 6L6 and its an OC3 or a 5U4GB in there. a 6L6 is a beam power tetrode, and an OC3 or a 5U4GB is a rectifier tube. you might try removing the center tube to see if if still works. if it does, then someone replaced the tube rectifier with diodes and the center tube socket isn't even in the circuit (also the reason it's not lit up). it won't hurt anything if you try it, as the amp won't power up if the rectifier isn't in the circuit.

[RalphL]

Otis Thick, many thanks for the link!

[RalphL]

Johnk_10, as I said, it has a 6L6 in that position and the amp works! As I said, it does not work without that tube in place. It does light a little and only gets warm. Is this a mystery or what??!! Yikes!

[johnk_10]

crazy man, crazy.