Grateful Dead Music Forum

I lean towards pro-active on all my amps. Partially because I can do the work and like doing it... but mostly because nothing rattles me more than equipment breaking down (like at a gig). When I replace the caps, check resistors, etc... I'm pretty much assured 10-15 years as worry free as can be expected. I typically even bring a back up amp and extra tubes/fuses. There is enough to worry about...

Oh, I agree with servicing an old amp. But I'd want to try out the amp first to see how it sounds and if any actual repairs might be necessary (like if it can play at full volume or is distorting at low volumes, etc.).

I hear you. But to me, caps especially are parts that you pretty much have to replace periodically because they naturally wear out . Like breaks, belts, and tires, you can push 'em but then you risk them blowing at an especially inopportune time and taking other parts out along with them.

Jon,

How long is it going to be until you test out the new rig and give us a review/report?

It may be as long as a couple of months but I promise to be thorough when I do and I'll do my best to include clips.

Jon S. wrote:It may be as long as a couple of months but I promise to be thorough when I do and I'll do my best to include clips.

Ouch. Man, I'd try it out before sending it out...

If you had my exact same work and family situation and existing rig, you just might also take my approach - send it on it's way and forget about it until it returns.

MC50 delivered and dropped off at a audio tech right down the street from me here in Austin. He's been working on Macs for 30 years. Convenient!

They looked at me as if I was out of my mind when I asked them about the mods, IEc power connection and replacing the RCA with 1/4" female jack. They said they would not do it because it would be against McIntosh's blah, blah, blah. And it would severely ruin the resale value, duh.

Anyway, they'll check out the caps, resistors, and transistors and have back to me in a week.

Then, I sit and wait for the SMS to arrive. Gonna be a long 6-8 weeks looking at the Mac all by itself.

You're a lucky man to be able to drop your MC50 off locally. I'm shipping mine cross-country! Then again, the guy working on mine is open to anything I request. (AudioClassics in NY wouldn't agree to my requested mods, either.)

Where in Austin? I have a mc250 and 2105 that need fixin! I have read bad reviews about the guy in dripping springs offering restoration on ebay. I'm in Austin quite a bit. Thanks for any info you can give me. Q-

Pyramid Audio
305 East Braker Ln. / Austin, TX 78753-2746
Phone: (512) 458-8292 Fax: (512) 453-4542
http://www.pyramid-audio.com/

Thanks! You rock! It means a lot! Have a great weekend............

Has anyone contacted Dan Healy about restorations on these amps?
He restored a vintage amp for a local Steel player back in 2007.
Not sure what he's up to these days, but, from the net:
Dan Healy – Repairs and restores radios. “Classic Radio Service”, 25 Maple Rd., Woodacre, CA 94923. 415-488-4596.

Here is the post from the guy who he did the restoration work for:
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... ight=healy