SVT-CL dust bunnies/stuffing?!

[andrewto]

Anyone seen anything like this? I have to assume it's just MAJOR dust that's collected over the past 15 years, and I'm glad I haven't gigged it yet as I have to imagine it's a huge fire hazard. The previous owner didn't have the rear screen (which I will order from Ampeg), but still... was he gigging in the Sahara?? I paid $800 for it which I think is a decent deal.

It's a '94; I bought it a few weeks ago. The rest of it was very dusty as well, especially the fan. All Sovtek preamp tubes, including 12AX7s in the driver positions . I put a pair of old tested RCA 12AU7s and now I'm able to bias it with the LEDs. I replaced V1 and V2 (inside the preamp) which cured the noise problem I was experiencing.

 

[B-string]

That looks like a rodent was nesting in it, not dust bunnies. Inspect all the wire insulation very carefully, little buggers like to gnaw on it.

 

[andrewto]

Aaaand I just washed my hands... ew. That makes sense, although I didn't see any droppings. However, that confetti-looking stuff was indeed insulation. Plenty of exposed wires. I'm surprised something hasn't shorted already. Looks like my tech bill will be higher than I anticipated...

How could a rodent even get in there? Sheesh, I suppose they'll find a way into anything. I had one get into my Hammond at church, although that's a lot more common.

 

[beans-on-toast]

It shouldn't be there. Whatever it is, remove it carefully and dispose of it. Wear a mask. Treat it as if it were toxic.

I know a guy that wound up with serious lung issues as a result of breathing rat droppings and soaked in pee in a Hammond organ.

 

[B-string]

Aaaand I just washed my hands... ew. That makes sense, although I didn't see any droppings. However, that confetti-looking stuff was indeed insulation. Plenty of exposed wires. I'm surprised something hasn't shorted already. Looks like my tech bill will be higher than I anticipated...

Yep, furniture and floor padding. I have seen it many times and it usually can have that unmistakeable rodent urine smell. Liquid tape can be used on low voltage wires or free one end and use shrink tubing if no wires strands were damaged. High voltage wire SHOULD be replaced.

 

[B-string]

It shouldn't be there. Whatever it is, remove it carefully and dispose of it. Wear a mask. Treat it as if it were toxic.

I know a guy that wound up with serious lung issues as a result of breathing rat droppings and soaked in pee in a Hammond organ.

I understand from an animal show they are constantly peeing, basically no bladder. Gloves and mask are a very good idea. 90+% alcohol can be used to kill off what remains inside, spray bottle to wet it and let it dry at least twice.

Word of caution, don't do this on pots. You can damage pots if you get it inside the pots or inside the shafts. Unit MUST be completely dry before you apply power again.

 

[andrewto]

That's more gross than I thought... Whatever it was got to the OT and PT wires, along with one of the ribbon cables and a few others... I don't feel like replacing all of that; I'll let the tech take care of it.

 

[PolkaHero]

Looks almost like the inside of an old Leslie speaker I bought last year. Definitely the work of mice, those little black specks are their calling cards!

 

[andrewto]

Looks almost like the inside of an old Leslie speaker I bought last year. Definitely the work of mice, those little black specks are their calling cards!

Haha yeah, when I first found the Leslie in a storage room at my church, it looked a little like that. I ended up completely rebuilding it and the Hammond preamp.