2. amps-preamps
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Levinson 20.5 monos - Time for a Refurb?

I bought my Mark Levinson 20.5 pure class A mono blocks new in 1990. I loved them for their sound and still do. They have been 100% reliable and I have never had them back to the Levinson or my dealer for anything.

However, they are 16 years old now and except for my Magnum Dynalab tuner, they are the only thing I have not replaced in my system.

Being pure class A amps they run pretty hot.

Question is, is it time I should consider having them checked out, refurbished, capacitors and the like replaced, etc?

If so, who should I consider for this work? Levinson? They are not what they used to be when they designed and made these amps, and I'm not sure they are up to the same quality work they did back then or whether I should trust that their parts will be as good as the original. Someone else? But who?

Has anyone been through this or does anyone have any thoughts about this they can share with me?
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Showing 2 responses by zaikesman

zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
Herman: Hey, I need to get two vintage tubed guitar amps serviced for new filter caps (at minimum) right now. But I will say that most of the original caps in each of these lasted about twice Unsound's 20 years.

Porziob: The useless comments from you just keep on coming, don't they? Nsgarch wasn't responding to the threadhead in the post you criticized, he was addressing Joemt's concern from 8/2. It's a little thing called trying to help somebody, and pseudoscience wasn't involved. If you can only get your thrills from predictable negativity and weak sarcasm, the least you could do is take the trouble to read what you're attacking first.
zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
Herman: At the moment it's a '64 Fender Super Reverb and a '62 Ampeg Reverberocket that need attention. The Fender did have some parts replaced around 15 years ago, the Ampeg is probably still original. The Fender obviously wants filter caps, the Ampeg surely needs more -- not only doesn't it sound well, but the last time I used it the panel got way too hot. It's actually somewhat remarkable to me how good the Fender continued to sound almost right up until it crashed, even garnering copious praise from other players who were pressed into using it onstage. But then a pre-CBS blackface Super is an all-time great amp.
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