UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Mullard 3 watt amp

Andrew2 · 2nd Dec 2010, 2:40 pm

Teriffic!
Back in the late 80's, I was called out to an elderly gent who had a pair of those he built from kits in the early 60's. They drove a pair of the 'small' Leak Sandwiches.
The reported fault was 'one channel dead', but even after fixing the fault (heaters out on one EL84), the system sounded tired and in need of some loving care.
Although the owner was 'short of brass', I convinced him to let me take both amps back to the workshop where I could do a proper job. I told him I'd go easy when I got to the invoicing bit.
At this point the story becomes almost a carbon copy of yours, Andy - including that decoupler.
I cleaned the pots and re-tensioned the valve-bases and re-valved both amps, and 'forgot' the 3 hours on the bench, just charging him for the original call-out and the parts.
He was such a nice bloke and over the moon to have his beloved Mullards sounding so good again, and we enjoyed a cup of tea while we listened to Gershwin's Cuban Overture from his immaculate vinyl collection. Ah.
Nice one, Andy.

2nd Dec 2010, 2:40 pm	#14
Andrew2 Nonode Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Dukinfield, Cheshire, UK. Posts: 2,038	Re: Mullard 3 watt amp - gobsmacked ! Teriffic! Back in the late 80's, I was called out to an elderly gent who had a pair of those he built from kits in the early 60's. They drove a pair of the 'small' Leak Sandwiches. The reported fault was 'one channel dead', but even after fixing the fault (heaters out on one EL84), the system sounded tired and in need of some loving care. Although the owner was 'short of brass', I convinced him to let me take both amps back to the workshop where I could do a proper job. I told him I'd go easy when I got to the invoicing bit. At this point the story becomes almost a carbon copy of yours, Andy - including that decoupler. I cleaned the pots and re-tensioned the valve-bases and re-valved both amps, and 'forgot' the 3 hours on the bench, just charging him for the original call-out and the parts. He was such a nice bloke and over the moon to have his beloved Mullards sounding so good again, and we enjoyed a cup of tea while we listened to Gershwin's Cuban Overture from his immaculate vinyl collection. Ah. Nice one, Andy. __________________ Andy G1HBE.