Eden WT-550, maintenance advice?

[huff]

I picked up a Montrose built WT550, it works ok but I wanted to know if there are any common maintenance issues to check out?

I see there are some test points inside. Is there a service manual that explains how to verify the health of the unit?

Due to it's age I'm being cautious before using it a lot. Primarily aim is studio use.

Thanks for any help

 

[agedhorse]

Leave it alone, if it’s not broken don’t break it!

 

[huff]

heh!

That is my modus, generally. But I wanted to check in & ask

Thank you

 

[huff]

there are some bad & cracked solder joints inside I will touch up.

IMO It is crazy to buy old gear & just start using it blindly

 

[agedhorse]

there are some bad & cracked solder joints inside I will touch up.

IMO It is crazy to buy old gear & just start using it blindly

Clearly you haven’t had to repair amps that people thought they needed to repair, where there was nothing wrong before their attempt…

 

[huff]

Yes, and if it dies in a month maybe I'll have to buy a new Mesa Boogie?

 

[huff]

I can see your angle, haha

 

[Wasnex]

Yes, and if it dies in a month maybe I'll have to buy a new Mesa Boogie?

Plenty of other fish in the sea.

 

[agedhorse]

Plenty of other fish in the sea.

Of course

 

[Jeff Scott]

Plenty of other fish in the sea.

 

[huff]

Thanks but I just bought this, plan to keep using it a while

 

[Geri O]

there are some bad & cracked solder joints inside I will touch up.

IMO It is crazy to buy old gear & just start using it blindly

You determined this how?

 

[J Wilson]

The thing to remember is parts for those (and most amps in that time frame) are full of parts that are becoming harder and harder to find, not to mention bespoke electronic parts that were made particularly for this or that amp that are no longer available.

This really is a case of if it's working, let it keep working and stay out of it: There may very well be no fixing it.

There's no angle to what @agedhorse told you, only many years of experience of designing and servicing many brands of amps.

 

[huff]

I know, I was joking around. But there is some truth in it

I can't believe you people want me to flog a bass amp with 30 year old electrolytics, heat stress & bad solder joints, who knows what else

How many dead Eden amps could still be running if they'd been checked out occasionally?

Those irreplaceable parts probably didn't just up & die on their own. Something else likely failed & took a bunch of things out.

I hope you are all proud of your boat anchors

 

[Geri O]

I know, I was joking around. But there is some truth in it

I can't believe you people want me to flog a bass amp with 30 year old electrolytics, heat stress & bad solder joints, who knows what else

How many dead Eden amps could still be running if they'd been checked out occasionally?

Those irreplaceable parts probably didn't just up & die on their own. Something else likely failed & took a bunch of things out.

I hope you are all proud of your boat anchors

Believe it.

We are.

I give up, how many Eden amps would still be running f they'd been checked out occasionally? You seem to know, right?

And what would that "something else" be? Again. you seem to know.

I don't know if I'm proud of those boat anchors or not. You know why?

BECAUSE I'VE NEVER OWNED ONE OR MADE ONE!

So what have I done wrong? I'm 67 years old and Lord Only Knows, I've had many chances......

(I can do this all day....)

 

[agedhorse]

In most cases, 30 year old electrolytics still have 20 years of life left.

I see more otherwise functioning amps that would have been better off just left alone than had repair attempts made in them, especially by non-professional techs. “Cap jobs” and “pot cleanings” are high on the list of good intentions honestly wrong, sometimes making the amp economically unrepairable.

Also, there is absolutely no “angle” here, just sharing 45+ years of real world industry knowledge and experience.

 

[J Wilson]

I'm proud we did our best to offer practical advice from a collective many years of experience.

 

[huff]

Thanks to whoever sent me the documents

I don't see many exotic parts in there. lots of TL072. Now I can check the bias on the outputs those were my concern.

 

[Wasnex]

A suspicious lack of information about working on these.

Again, your comments suggest that you probably have no business poking around in the amp.

If you insist on proceeding, you can download schematics from the following (among other places):

Invalid Link Removed

Whether this is the correct version for your amp is another matter.

If you don't really know what your doing or don't have appropriate test equipment, consider sending the amp to a qualified technician for a checkup. If you gank the amp, it's on you!

Good luck!

 

[huff]

Absolutely