Blues13
180 posts
Mar 28, 2012
4:24 PM
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Hi guys, I bought my first amp recently a Zoo model 2 and I'd like to learn how take care of it. Everything from keeping the cab in good condition to how to bias, everything that will keep the amp up and running for lots of years.
Martin
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Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.
Isaac Asimov
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Frank
515 posts
Mar 28, 2012
4:48 PM
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Believe it or not one of the main things to keep in it in great shape is to play it a lot...
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HawkeyeKane
813 posts
Mar 28, 2012
4:50 PM
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Have you looked at the field guide yet? It has a ton of tips on how to shield, how to ground, etc.
I can tell you this much on upkeep of the cab. Find some kind of protective case to carry it in. The particle board won't take a great deal of abuse. A hardshell suitcase with foam or a well padded gig bag of some sort will do the trick.
Original tubes should be left alone if they're still intact and working. But it's a good idea to have a spare set just in case of "shit happens". The 6X4 is a little more difficult to find than the others, but not impossible. Tubedepot.com has NOS JAN ones for a good price.
And as I'm sure Greg has already told you, DON'T UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, use a three prong to two prong adapter on the power cable to create ground lift or any other reason. It's a one way ticket to getting 120 volts to your person because the default ground on it is the steel chassis. Make sure whatever outlet you plug into is truly grounded.
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Hawkeye Kane
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bluemoose
708 posts
Mar 28, 2012
4:59 PM
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(don't drop it in the dark, in the rain off the back of the car trunk!)
MBH Webbrain - a GUI guide to Adam's Youtube vids
FerretCat Webbrain - Jason Ricci's vids (by hair colour!)
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5F6H
1125 posts
Mar 28, 2012
5:41 PM
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Play it more often than once every 6 months or so. Keep it somewhere dry, not in a garage or damp basement...just about every critical component in the amp will absorb moisture if given the chance.
If the "filter caps" have not been changed, get them changed.
You do not "need" to bias the K'zoo model 1 or 2. They are cathode biased, via a fixed resistor, just like the preamp tubes in every amp - you just change the power tube as/when it needs it. Ditto the preamp tube.
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www.myspace.com/markburness
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harmonicanick
1521 posts
Mar 29, 2012
12:52 AM
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If you take a taxi to a gig and put the amp + case in the luggage, do not let the taxi driver take it out when you arrive, especially at night, (as per bluemoose)
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bloozefish
15 posts
Mar 29, 2012
8:24 AM
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I was told to not store it someplace that I would not want to sleep.
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Greg Heumann
1551 posts
Mar 29, 2012
9:07 AM
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About the only thing you have to worry about with a properly functioning Kalamazoo is letting it get wet. My "shop amp" has been sitting on my workbench for years now. The outside takes a beating because I drag tools and cables all over it. But it lives in my unconditioned shop - temps range from 30 to 100 over the course of a year. I turn it on and off many times a day. It still has its original tubes. In this amp, they last and last and last and last. The only tube you risk blowing is the rectifier tube, and then ONLY if the power filter caps haven't been replaced. It needs no special care. Just be aware that the particle board is soft even if it has been dry so banging the amp into things will damage the corners quickly.
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/Greg
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chromaticblues
1203 posts
Mar 29, 2012
9:25 AM
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There really isn't anything you can do if it is working right. It's more important what not to do. As 5F6H said don't put it in your basement or garage. When it's not on stage or in your car it should be in your living room or bedroom. If it smells take it apart and clean it. If it is in good shape then the tubes probably haven't been used much and the original tubes are better then anything made today so don't put new tubes in thinking your giving it a tune up. If it doesn't have a three prung chord have some one install one and also a star ground set up with all ground points connected in a parralell (Not in series)!
If it's noisy have the filter caps replaced.
The filament winding on power transformer isn't center tapped and causes noise also. Easy fix: just connect 1/2 watt 100 ohm resister at the terminals on the 6x4 socket with the green wires soldered on coming from the power transformer. There are two so you need to solder one resister at each socket terminal with a green wire. Then connect the other end of the resisters to the terminal on the 6bq5 (power tube) socket that has the 150 ohm resister going to ground (it's the only big resister connected to this socket). Then from that same terminal on the 6bq5 wire a 100uf or 220uf cap at 25 volts to ground along side the 150 ohm resister.
If you do that it will be as quit as any amp!
Anyone that is capable of doing that stuff should also try lowering the value of the cathode resisters on the 12ax7's down to say 2.7K. Fender used 1.5K resisters alot, but that will really change the way the amp sounds.
If your amp is hot and feeds back try a 12au7 in the first socket. If that is to mellow you can try replacing the plate resisters for that tube from 100K to 220K with the 2.7K cathode resisters.
These are just some ideas for you guys that just have to get in there and do your thing!
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MP
2135 posts
Mar 29, 2012
9:39 AM
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what Frank and 5F6H said. if you don't or can't play it a lot, plug it in and just and let it cook for 30 minutes. that's an old trick w/ tube stereo systems.
i have my amps looked over by a tech every year. not just any tech but a vacuum tubeophile tech- an amp guru guy who can rattle off tube configurations, speaker specs,and cap and resistor values of anything that comes down the pike from the 1940s on up. the guy whom if you say 'Gibson BR1' doesn't give you a blank look.
be wary of the techs who want to improve the performance of your amp.
if your input jacks or volume on/off/tone pots are noisy you can spray contact cleaner in the jacks. for the pots-turn on the amp, remove the dials, spray the stems and replace the dials turning them back and forth till the noise goes away. ask someone in the know about contact cleaner. NOT the Radio shack guy. there are cleaners w/ silicone in them and that can ruin connections because they are lubricants- do not use!. you need the spray cleaner that evaporates quickly.
oh,i play a model one.
howzit chro! how ya doin? with all due respect, the stock tube configuration on Zoos are optimal and shouldn't be changed:)
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MP
doctor of semiotics and reed replacement.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
Last Edited by on Mar 29, 2012 11:05 AM
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LSC
198 posts
Mar 29, 2012
1:09 PM
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Keep it away from dogs and cats that have not been neutered.
Do not use it as an item for self defense. Use your harp like a roll of nickels instead.
If pressed by your dearest friend to borrow it adamantly refuse. If they beg or pull an automatic weapon (see above), offer your wife/girlfriend/sheep instead. Zoo's are harder to replace.
When carrying it into or out of any jam or other situation likely to be frequented by several other harp players be sure to handcuff it to your wrist. Harp players are normally a friendly lot but can turn evil when confronted with such temptations. It is beyond their control.
After playing it you will fall in love and be tempted to shower with it. Do not. Also do not be tempted to shag it. That is not what the input is for and if you can fit into there you should turn in all harps and related gear forthwith. You're just not built for it.
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LSC
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HawkeyeKane
816 posts
Mar 29, 2012
1:18 PM
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"If pressed by your dearest friend to borrow it adamantly refuse. If they beg or pull an automatic weapon (see above), offer your wife/girlfriend/sheep instead."
LMAO!!!
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Hawkeye Kane
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MP
2136 posts
Mar 29, 2012
1:41 PM
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:)
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MP
doctor of semiotics and reed replacement.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
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wolfkristiansen
110 posts
Mar 29, 2012
4:08 PM
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Dave Vidal is a great tube amp tech and guitar player from Vancouver, B.C. Here's something he told me years ago:
"Don't store your amp anywhere you wouldn't sleep"
I took my 1962 Concert amp out of the basement the next day. It's still going strong.
Cheers,
wolf kristiansen
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Blues13
181 posts
Mar 29, 2012
8:11 PM
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Thanks a lot guys. It' getting played a few hours a week and I don't plan to stop. I do keep it in the bedroom because that is where I do most of my playing. It still as the original tube and speeker. I also have a new in box weber ceramic sig 10f that came with the amp, I was curious so I tried it the experience lasted 10 min, the zoo is really great original.
I would prefer keeping the wife and I don't have a sheep do you guys think that a rabbit or one of the kid would do :) thanks again
Martin
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Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.
Isaac Asimov
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HawkeyeKane
817 posts
Mar 30, 2012
9:55 AM
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@chromaticblues
LOL! Yeah. Throw in a pet rabbit to keep the kid busy for while. There's the deal-sweetener right there. ;-)
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Hawkeye Kane
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MP
2137 posts
Mar 30, 2012
12:33 PM
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i can offer step children,the neighbors barky dog, a bucket of fried chicken,and a bag of jerky.:)
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MP
doctor of semiotics and reed replacement.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
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