Help, my Einstein died!

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RG955TT

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I was playing for a while, left the room to check something on the computer, a little while later I hear this low frequency sound, didn't think much of it since the TV/(suround sound and sub) and my computer were both making noise, came back into room and Einstein is dead...power on switched but no led's no nothing. So I pulled the fuses and one looks OK (inner) but the other had totally disinegrated into 2 metal caps and some busted glass. I tuned it upside down and shook all the pieces out, put new fuses in both sockets (100 watter) and plugged it back in to see what would happen, no lights no power to anything. I noticed that the larger of the two transformers was hotter than the other but everything else looks OK. Re-tubed about 2 months ago with winged C EL34's & checked bias twice. Does anyone have any insight on what I should look for next? I've never seen a fuse as far as I can tell more or less shatter. Please help. Thanks
 
Dumb question first...but just checking - the wall socket is hot right? No GFCI or breaker tripped?

What I would do is a little trial and error....grab some extra fuses. Pull the two inner tubes and see if the amp will run without blowing the mains fuse. If not, replace them and remove the two outer tubes and see if it will run. If it runs, replace the tubes and play. If not..........

Steve
 
replaced both fuses, replaced each pair of tube, each in pairs. Nothing...The mains front panel blue LED's don't even come on. The whole thing is lifeless!
 
Did you check the Mains fuse? Sounds like you have no power at all...There is a fuse holder where the AC plug is on the back...pull out the tray and look at that fuse..There should be a spare fuse in the same tray...
 
Please take the amp out of the headshell and check all fuses.
 
I didn't see the mains fuse but it was cooked too. I put the spare in and she fires up (phew) I rechecked the bias for both tube sets and outer pair where a tad low (53ma) so I set them both back to about 62ma. There does seem to be a low hum that comes and goes now that I didn't notice before. What would cause the mains fuse to blow and also the outer 2 tube fuse to shatter?

Sounds fine but I haven't cranked it up, too late. Man, I do feel better. Honestly I went downstairs and got my Bogner XTC head and although nice was honestly more than a bit of a letdown after playing my Einstein for so long. Just got a Suhr Modern today so I was even more bummed when the Einstein went down. Any advise would be appreciated. Thanks everyone.
 
I didn't see the mains fuse but it was cooked too. I put the spare in and she fires up (phew) I rechecked the bias for both tube sets and outer pair where a tad low (53ma) so I set them both back to about 62ma. There does seem to be a low hum that comes and goes now that I didn't notice before. What would cause the mains fuse to blow and also the outer 2 tube fuse to shatter?

Sounds fine but I haven't cranked it up, too late. Man, I do feel better. Honestly I went downstairs and got my Bogner XTC head and although nice was honestly more than a bit of a letdown after playing my Einstein for so long. Just got a Suhr Modern today so I was even more bummed when the Einstein went down. Any advise would be appreciated. Thanks everyone.
 
Turn down the master and listen to the hum.
If it stays the new power tubes are bad.
 
Thanks Peter, everything seems fine now. What would cause the tube fuse to break into little pieces and the mains fuse to blow like that? I'm using the same tubes and everything seems OK now.
 
Sometimer power tubes have a short and work again without issues
 
Thanks everyone (especially Herr Diezel) for the assistance. Seems all is back in order. Do I perhaps have some sort of issue within my Einstein? This is the 3rd set of tubes in a short period that have had some sort of failure. Initial TAD's went red plate, then changed to KT77's which one then a second red plated within 3 weeks and now these winged C SED's. Sees that the same tube position seems to always be the one to go first. Always check and re-check the bias values. Is there something that needs attention in my amp? Never had this happen before with the 7 or 8 other amps I have.
 
Anyone have any insight on this? As much as I love this amp's sound I am thinking when gigging I'll have to bring a backup as sadly I feel I can't trust this anymore to be reliable. I've never had an amp go thru brand new tubes like this...ever, and I own 8 or 9 different amps from 3 major manufacturers. Now when I take the standby off after 1 minute plus warm up I have a low frequency hum that seems to disipate after about 20 seconds but has me worried again. Any insight would be appreciated.
 
Please check that the power tube sockets are tensioned. IMO, if the amp came with EL34B's they have a much bigger pin than the JJ's or SED's.
With the EL34B's having stretched out the sockets, it's harder for the smaller tube pins to make contact. Any quick spike or short between pins
1 and 8 on the power tubes can blow the tube fault fuse to bits. I tighten tube sockets with a dental pick and get them nice and tight.
Again, unfortunately the Diezel takes the blame for a tube. They are tanks and with a small amount of preventative maintenance should
be 100% with little need for a backup.

Power tube removal should be a slow upward circular motion to prevent this possible issue again. I check the tube pins after every re-tube.
 
Thanks for the info MarkIIC...is there somewhere a specific tool or tutorial on doing this?

I know you said how it's another "tube" problem, thing is I have 8 or so other amps including Bogners and Boogies, Fender and Music man, gigged solidly all thru the 80's and 90's, and never have a single power tube issue like aI have had in my first 6 months of ownership so something has to be up with this head. This amp had never moved from next to my chair in the living room so it's not a transport or vibration issue. I also run it typically at very low uotput levels compared to live gigs. I will try what you suggest. What is the danger potential (voltage/amperage) accessable from the tube sockets?
 
We would be happy to get the tube quality
from the 80s and 90s, but it´s no more
available.
 
Thanks again for the ideas. I found a good tutorial online for socket retensioning. I know I need to discharge the caps before doing this.
 
Hi Peter, please understand I am not commenting unfavorably on the quality of your product when new (I LOVE this amp's sounds and bought 2- 2x12 cabs to match the head so I have a considerable investment I made in your products), just saying perhaps there is an issue with my head in particular that needs addressing and that is the feedback I am seeking. It is a very early Einstein #008 I believe. I also understand your tube comments as well but some of my other amps are less than 5 years old & I have never experienced tube issues. I've also never had a fuse shatter in it's holder into little pieces like this and blow the mains fuse too. No one seems to be able to explain this.

What do you make of the fact that I get a low frequency hum after turning the standby on for about 15-20 seconds which then fades away & does not come back until the next fireup and switching off the standby? Does that tell you anything that might help me with this? I'm sure you'd agree that 3 sets of bad tubes (X4 so 12 tubes), all 3 were different brands and one of which was completely different tube type seems suspect in 3-4 months time frame? I know the current crop of tubes are pretty poor in your opinion but there are a ton of tube amps on the market right now so they all can't be that bad we we'd all be switching to solid state amps & all the manufacturers would be having a hell of a bad time. I am just saying perhaps there is something else at play here? Thanks for the help.
Bob
 
I would like to have the amp on my workbench.
Where are You located ?

To save tubes You can decrease the value of
the screen resistors to 4,7k.
 
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