2. amps-preamps
  3. 133087-106951

Did I just ruin my amp

First, this is my first tube amp hence the dumb mistake.  Over the past few days my stereo has been making an intermittent high pitch squealing sound which I thought was caused by some ground or feedback issue but now see was a power tube dying.  Yesterday my wife said she heard some weird sound coming from the speakers. She called me in and I saw what looked like fire in one of the power tubes. I immediately unplugged everything and that is where things now stand. Help on what to do next would be appreciated. I have a full set of extra power tubes which I was thinking of putting in the amp but I wanted to hear from more experienced people before doing this. Thanks. 
westside15
folkfreak's avatar
folkfreak
1,349 posts
 
I think @stereo5 is correct, it’s alarming but nothing to worry about. Depending on what the amp is you may have also lost a protection resistor. I used to own AirTight amps that blew power tubes with great regularity and every time I needed to solder in a new resistor. Needless to say I keep plenty on hand

let us know what amp it was
westside15 OP
7 posts
 
Thanks that makes me feel better. It’s an melody el34 PP amp. Unfortunately I don’t know how to replace the fuses. About all I can do is replace tubes but I am willing to learn!
maelob
10 posts
 
I am a tube newbie too, I am still trying to understand the whole bias thing, please make sure you read your manual carefully on how to install new tubes.  I believe some require bias adjustments while other amps have self bias for same class of tubes. 
gdnrbob
4,409 posts
 
It looks like Melody is still in business, why not give them an email?
B
jond's avatar
jond
5,660 posts
 
Replacing a fuse should be very easy, first make sure the amp is off. Looking at the back of some Melody amps online it looks like the fuse is in a compartment above the iec power inlet. You should be able to just pop that out with a flat bladed screwdriver and there is your fuse. The value should be on the fuse itself and it's also printed on the back below the iec inlet. Go to Radio Shack or any electronics store get a replacement fuse and pop it in. I concur on the arcing tube which is in and of itself not a big deal but if you're getting noise probably time for a retube anyway. Good luck!
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